Computers Today, December 1-15, 1998 Front End pg 2

December 1-15, 1998 FRONT END

Shape of the Future PC

Cheaper, faster and easier to use, it would also handle speech, video and handwriting, predicts Intel architect

By A CT Report

Bhatt: PCs will go to new market Future personal computers will be cheaper, faster, easier to use, and will have enhanced capabilities to handle more efficiently and effectively speech, video and handwriting, according to Ajay Bhatt, principal engineer and manager for Intel Corp.'s measurement, architecture, and planning (MAP) group based in Oregon, USA.

Bhatt delivered last fortnight a lecture on the key forces shaping the future of desktop computing, to over 100 engineering and computer science students and faculty of the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.

The activity is part of the Asian leg of Bhatt's ongoing 'Intel Distinguished Lectures in Technology Series' geared to familiarising higher educational institutions with the enhancements of Intel architecture platforms in handling 3-D, multimedia applications, and other technical forces that will affect the future of desktop computing.

A Peep into the Processor

Bhatt said that the performance vector for both IA 32 (32-bit) and IA 64 (64-bit) architectures continues to improve as processor performance doubles every 18 months. He noted that as the world moves toward one billion connected computers, "PCs will go to new markets with new users and new uses."

"These developments, along with the revolution in the rest of the computing platform are bringing high performance and emerging technologies to the volume PCs," he stressed. Another factor that will affect the directions taken by desktop computing is the increasing number of private networks turning into globally accessible networks, he added.

Bhatt noted though that innovation in the IT industry is a co-operative effort. The main rationale for innovation should be to make a certain technology more available to more people, he said. "You can say that Intel is a catalyst of changes," he declared, clarifying, however, that it has "fellow allies and travellers." He cited that Hewlett-Packard is Intel's development partner in the 64-bit Merced processor.

It is also not enough to focus on the chip alone, Bhatt said. He pointed out that they also need to think about the changes in memory, graphics technology, and management features of the PC that would have to be introduced to ensure that the next generation processor works faster and better than the older ones.

People can expect a "brilliant PC paradigm," comprised of more intelligent, easier to use, and hopefully, cheaper computers by the year 2001, said Bhatt, as he disclosed that Intel plans to deliver one GHz chips by that date.

As reported earlier by Computers Today, Intel's one GHz chip, code-named Foster, which is set to replace by the year 2001 the current Pentium II Xeon, is a 32-bit processor targeted at the lower end of the server market.

To accompany Foster is a chip for desktops code-named Willamette, which will reportedly replace the current Pentium II chip line. Intel has also reportedly indicated that it will follow up the Merced processor with a 64-bit chip code-named McKinley aimed at servers and workstations with special capabilities for data mining and data warehousing.

To complement its research initiative, Intel runs an academic relations programme with institutions of higher learning. The objective is to advance science and technology in countries where Intel is present. And to create markets.

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