El Jerko Makes Nice With Intel

Yes, Intel's CEO may have another occasion at which to sport the clean room outfit he donned onstage with Apple’s Chief Jerkoff Steve Jobs at the Macworld conference in January 2006. Two years ago, Otellini handed Jobs a pristine silicon wafer to mark the announcement of the first Intel-powered Apple portable computer, the MacBook Pro.

This year, Otellini could suppress his nausea and show up in San Francisco to toss the Jerk a chip intended for inclusion in a variety of Apple mobile devices, including tablets, ultra-mobile computers and advanced versions of the iPhone.

According to fresh rumors from Apple blog AppleInsider, the computer maker will soon pledge support for Intel's upcoming new mobile chip platform, code named "Menlow," and is planning multiple products using the platform for 2008. Menlow chips, including one code-named "Silverthorne," are being designed especially for "mobile Internet devices" and "ultra-mobile PCs," according to Intel.

But since Silverthorne isn't expected to be ready for prime time until a few months in to 2008--Intel is expected to shed more details on the chip at another San Francisco conference in February--it is unlikely that whatever MID or UMPC Apple has planned will be detailed at Macworld.

But God forbid Apple fans should toss and turn at night or weep with despair--they'll still likely get something new in January. The slim, ultra-light laptop that analysts including Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster are counting on for a Macworld debut will include a more heavy-duty, older chip from Intel, such as the Core 2 Duo. This device is expected to be more like a laptop than an "ultra-mobile" PC.

Should Otellini appear on stage with El Jerko, however, it can mean only one thing: More mobile Apple products lifted directly from enthusiast wish lists are on their way. Blackfriar principal analyst Carl Howe believes Jobs will make a statement about his company's direction with regard to portable devices, but that the devices themselves won't show up for a while--the Intel chips simply aren't ready yet.

But Apple has to be careful about which products it puts these tiny Intel chips in, cautions Howe. Past Intel-supported mobile Internet devices haven't exactly been a hit with consumers. "Mini-notebooks," which include the hardback-book sized UMPC standard engineered by Intel and Microsoft. And if there’s one thing we know about the Steve, his sinus cavities (and others that will go nameless) get inflamed at the first sight of risk. "Nuff said?

http://www.forbes.com/technology/2007/12/24/apple-tablet-
silverthorne-tech-ebiz-cx_rr_1225appletab.html