Intel's Chandraskher goes atomic in keynote

SOMEWHAT BANALLY commenting that "Internet growth continues unabated", Intel's senior veep and general manager for the firm's Ultra Mobility Group, Anand Chandrasekher, spent much of his keynote plugging the Atom processor, whilst waving small hand held devices around in the air.

Noting that the Internet was being rapidly transformed by the relentless onslaught of social not-working and ever increasing pervasiveness into our lives, Chandrasekher reckoned devices being used to access the internet were also undergoing significant changes in order to keep up and adapt to users’ needs. "We are at an inflection point," he mused, adding, "the internet is still very, very young. The best is still to come."

Claiming that people were actually desperate for a full on internet experience in their pocket, Chandrasekher posited that the Atom processor Z5xx series based mobile internet devices were, actually, the answer to all our collective prayers.

Of course, Chandrasekher emphasised, better pocketable Internet devices meant a growing need for performance, Internet and software compatibility, and wireless broadband connectivity, all of which he promised Intel was slaving away on.

After showing off a whole plethora of new MIDs by Clarion, Neusoft, Fujitsu and Lenovo, Chandrasekher invited two Panasonic execs to the stage to showcase the firm’s Toughbook cf-u1, the industry’s first atom processor based, ‘ruggedised’ UMPC. “Here”, shouted the Panasonic exec, pitching the netbook ac ross the stage at Chandrasekher. "Oh Sh*t!" came Chandrasekher’s startled, panicked and unscripted response as the huge bricklike machine hurtled its way towards his face. It clunked harmlessly to the floor as Chandrasekher breathed a nervous sigh of relief.

Calling the Atom the "fundamental building block for us," Chandrasekher added that the Atom delivered the highest performance in the sub 3w segment, all while purportedly consuming much less power. He quipped cheesily, "it is the coolest processor we’ve ever built – pun intended." Oh how we laughed.

Speaking briefly about the firm’s anticipated next generation MID platform " Moorestown", supposedly still on track for 2009/10, Chandrasekher grinning and holding up a massive round wafer announced that first silicon has already been produced. But after that, Chandrasekher remained tightlipped on the subject, noting towards the end of his keynote: "Some of you might have expected me to talk a bit more about Moorestown, come to spring IDF." µ