Microsoft Corp, the world's largest software developer, unveiled a tablet computer developed by Taiwan's VIA Technologies Inc (
Microsoft is showing off a new operating system designed for the one-inch thick, one kilogram tablet PCs, and displayed several different machines from varying companies.
Not only is the Microsoft endorsement a pat on the back for VIA's work in shrinking components in order to make gadgets like the tablet PC, it also pumps VIA's chips against Microsoft's normal partner, Intel Corp.
The two have been such close allies in advancing computers over the past few decades that the duo earned the nickname "Wintel" due to the dominance of the Windows operating system combined with Intel microprocessors.
VIA, by contrast, has long been at odds with Intel, its major competitor in the US$2.6 billion computer chipset industry. And Microsoft's backing of VIA couldn't come at a time of more conflict between Intel and the Taiwanese firm.
The two are still battling in court over royalty payments for Pentium 4 technology used in chipsets, a business the two have locked horns over numerous times in the past.
"We are very close to Microsoft and they believe in open architecture on the hardware side," said Manuela Mercandelli, a marketing manager at VIA.
"[Microsoft] is pushing very fast on the development of tablet PC applications."
Mercandelli said VIA is not marketing the tablet PC it designed for TechXNY; it's a reference design made to attract interest in the tablet PC format -- and the VIA-made components inside.
The one showed off by Microsoft contained VIA's C3 microprocessor and Apollo Pro266T DDR (double data rate) chipset with graphics functions built in.
Although backing from a major company like Microsoft helps in the marketing of VIA products, according to SG Securities analyst Paul Wang, VIA still needs to boost the speed of its processors.
The company broke through the 1 Gigahertz speed barrier at Computex Taipei earlier this month, but Intel and Advanced Micro Devices Inc have already passed 2 Gigahertz with their premium chips and over 1.5 Gigahertz with their second-tier products.
He said VIA does have a slight cost advantage with its C3 chips.
The new tablet PCs are due out later this year, and Microsoft launched the promotion earlier this week in the hope of attracting people who need to carry a lot of information in an easy-to-use computer, such as nurses and insurance agents.
"The tablet PC represents a major advancement in how PCs can increase productivity in the workplace," said Jeff Raikes, group vice president of business services at Microsoft Corp.
"When they ship on Nov. 7, tablet PCs will enable information workers to use their computers in new ways, in new places and more frequently than they ever have."
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