Microsoft, IDF Crowd Applaud Intel Moves

Speaking at Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, Jim Allchin, Microsoft's senior vice president of platforms, also applauded Intel's efforts to bring dual core and multi-core chips to market. He spoke following a long series of product and technology roadmap updates, focused greatly around the chipmaker's focus on expanding its EMT64 technology across all product lines and rolling out advances to its multi-pronged virtualization strategy.

"We can use that technology, there's no question," Allchin said, as he shared the stage at the IDF conference with Pat Gelsinger, Intel's vice president and general manager for its Digital Enterprise Group.

"We are locked on 64-bit," Allchin said. "You should start (constructing) your applications to 64-bit in a native way," he said, looking at the audience of almost 5,000 developers and technologists. Allchin said Microsoft would ship a workstation version of its 64-bit operating system next month, but offered no other details.

Allchin spoke after Gelsinger recited a laundry list of processors, chipsets and new technologies the company is set to release within the next two years, including:

· A new, Intel I/O Acceleration Technology blueprint, which will focus on optimizing performance in system areas like network interface cards, chipsets and other supporting technology to reduce system bottlenecks

· A dual-core version of the Pentium 4, code-named "Averill," slated to be available in 2006

· Bensley, a server platform, would ship in 2006, based on a dual-core Xeon processor, code-named Dempsey

· The Lyndon platform, scheduled to ship later this year, will be based on the Intel 945/955 chipsets and the Intel Pentium 4 5XX and 6XX lines, as well as the forthcoming dual-core Pentium D, code-named Smithfield. That processor will support Intel Active Management Technology and virtualization technologies.

Several of the announcements, as well as Gelsinger's verbal commitment of Intel to 64-bit computing throughout its product line, drew applause. Microsoft's endorsement was also greeted warmly by many of those on hand.

Christian Paradis, a developer for CO Computer, a custom system builder in Quebec, said he was positive about the technology he heard Intel advancing, particularly the maturing of its 64-bit enabled processors. Additionally, he said he thought Intel's work on bringing dual-core processors to market was particularly timely.

"We've pretty much gotten to the point where frequencies are too high, and there is too much heat," Paradis said. Intel's dual-core and multi-core planning, along with the supporting supporting virtualization technology for management, security and performance, "are going to allow us to provide more products for our customers."

Hollis Lai, a Toronto-based student and member of Tech Collective, a developers group in Canada that closely follows Intel technology, said, "Microsoft's statement of support is very reassuring."

Another member of Tech Collective, Allen Lee, who is also a developer for a telecommunications company, said Intel's strategy will ultimately provide added value for the entire marketplace. "If you're going to get a dual-core CPU, you're getting the performance of two processors for the cost of one," Lee said.