John G. Spooner

SAN FRANCISCO—Intel is unfolding its plan to help create a new class of small and inexpensive mobile computers it calls “ultramobile PCs.” The chip maker on March 7 said ultramobile PCs or UMPCs represent a category of computers, due this quarter, which will be handy for businesses whose workers shuffle packages or stock shelves. It […]

SAN FRANCISCO—Attention to power consumption has formed the core of a new generation of Intel chips coming out later this year. Justin Rattner, Intels chief financial officer, kicked off the companys spring Developer Forum here March 7 by taking the wraps off some of the features behind the chip makers Core Microarchitecture. Core Microarchitecture, otherwise […]

Jeffrey Skolnick, of the Georgia Institute of Technology, used to just worry about harnessing enough computing power to chase down cancer genes. Today, hes worried about his electric bill, too. Skolnick, director of the Institutes Center for the Study of Systems Biology, in Atlanta, said concerns about server power consumption and heat weighed heavily on […]

Microsoft is preparing to unfold what it hopes will become a new type of computer: the “Lifestyle PC.” The software giant intends to bring to market a new class of smaller and more versatile, battery-powered computers that offer users greater utility—they could connect to networks and download e-mail or make VOIP (voice-over-IP) phone calls, as […]

Google has keyed in on Advanced Micro Devices chips, a report said. The search giant has begun using AMDs Opteron processor in its Google servers due to the chips energy efficiency, according to Mark Edelstone, a financial analyst with Morgan Stanley in San Francisco. Google, which has been known for having a tight relationship with […]

Lenovo Group is putting its name down on a new strategy to pursue the small and midsize business market. Lenovo executives, speaking at an event in New York on Feb. 23, are expected to unveil a broad range of desktops and notebooks under the brand name Lenovo 3000, some of which will offer Advanced Micro […]

Virtualization is becoming commonplace in the data center as companies seek to wring more out of their servers. But its broad use on the desktop is a year or two away at best, experts say. Chip makers Intel and Advanced Micro Devices have begun paving the way to client-side virtualization—the technology can partition a computer […]

A new generation of networking chip startups is attempting to find a path into businesses networks by making 10 Gigabit Ethernet networking gear more palatable to their technology budgets. The companies, ClariPhy Communications and KeyEye Communications, are crafting optical physical layer interface chips and copper media transceivers, respectively, that they say network equipment makers can […]

Gateway has gone with an unusual combination of chips for its latest line of business desktops. The PC maker on Feb. 16, released two new E-Series desktop models based on ATI Technologies Radeon Xpress 200 chip set. It will pair the chip set, silicon that serves as a PCs nervous system, with Intels Pentium and […]

Dell says we live in exciting times for servers and other corporate computing gear. The PC maker, based in Round Rock, Texas, posted on Feb. 16 a higher-than-expected fourth fiscal quarter 2006 profit of 43 cents a share after a tax adjustment. Revenue for the quarter, which ended in January, jumped 13 percent year over […]