Power and the future of Computing

This column does not have a single author, but is submitted by a number of experts that contribute regularly to our news source.  Some are in Canada, some in the UK and one is in the far east

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 The world's largest chip maker Intel has been putting a huge amount of money into Research & Development.  Ironically, they continue to invest heavily in hard times.

They do what is not obvious.  Why?   The reason is they believe they can outdistance the 'upstart' companies in hard times due to their dominant position and ability to withstand the storms... translation CASH.

What are they investing in now? 

Speed has been something that they have pioneered.  They are trying now to develop energy efficient chips for two general types of devices. 

Flexible Computers with low power requirements

The first type is for hand held devices.  For example, you're probably reading this on a PC.  In the future you will be reading it on a very low energy flexible screen device that you can carry, fold and put in your pocket.  Today's Laptops are power hungry compared to what future devices need to be.

20/01/2010 10:24 PM

A Server Farm.  Does it remind you of the days of the Main Frame?

The second type of 'device' is the Server Farm, which require a lot of power and customers want to reduce it.  It's not that they are environmentally conscious.  It's all about the $$ it costs to run these huge enterprises.

Intel stock has suffered recently.  Somehow investors feel they are a great company, but not a growth opportunity.  Intel has proved them wrong in the past.