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Tid-bits
11/7 - Dell is being blamed for knocking down the prices of Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) notebook computers. The first sub-$1,000 PC was a milestone, back in the days of the original Pentium and 200 MHz CPUs. So now Dell pricing an MCE notebook at less than $1,000 reaches another milestone. In order to lower the cost of these MCE computers, manufacturers have had to take out the TV tuner. This suggests that, whatever form of convergence between computers and CE may be going on, buyers are using these notebooks "not to watch TV".
The CPU industry, as you may know, is in the process of migrating from a 90 nm to a 65 nm process technology. Intel's Presler is to be available in early January but is currently "shipping ... for revenue". In the mobile space, there will be a processor called Yonah; in the server space Bensley. Presler is for desktops. While processors are moving to 65 nm, it is interesting to note that chipsets are only just now moving to 90nm. AMD is also moving to 65 nm and is in the middle of building a new fab for that purpose. IBM, too, is moving. The new manufacturing process allows the chip makers to produce a single chip for less money and to put more technology in their chips.
Execs from nVidia and other companies spoke at a recent conference on CE (consumer electronics) and semiconductors. Semiconductors in CE devices increased 40% over a four-year period from 25% to 35%, as measured by sales.