No Intel hardware in Apple tablet, says analyst
updated 05:40 pm EST, Wed January 6, 2010
Device may use PA Semi processor
Apple is not using Intel hardware in its forthcoming tablet, says an analyst with Northeast Securities. Ashok Kumar claims to have learned the information from Apple's design manufacturing partners, who have discounted notions that the tablet might run an Intel Atom processor. Atom chips are frequently used in sub-notebook devices such as netbooks.
Another analyst suggests that Apple has gone with a chipset from PA Semi, a company acquired by Apple two years ago in a bid to develop mobile hardware. The claim backs a September report from Taiwan's Economic News, and may make sense as a means of coping with a tablet's specialized demands. It remains uncertain if the tablet will be limited to iPhone-like apps or will support some degree of Mac software, which would require Intel compatibility.
If true the analyst information could mark a serious blow for Intel. The tablet is widely expected to become a popular product, easily generating millions of dollars per year for firms supplying parts. Softening the blow for Intel may be the popularity of netbooks, and a host of rival tablets such as those based on Microsoft's Courier platform.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
How is this a blow for Intel... They make process
for over 94% of the computer industry. The tablet industry will probably account for what, one or two percent, if that tablet is even a success. Gimme a break, it's AMD that hardly has any space to breathe. Heck, it ain't even like Intel is making much money even with all those Atom processors they're selling. Those crappy things are runts of Intel's amazing processor roadmap. I could understand how Intel would be hurt if Apple decided not to use their 6-core Dunnington 7400 series in the Mac Pro line. Intel is getting beat by it's own low-end product line-up (thanks to the Atom), not by ARM processors.