IT-Director: Processors threaten Intel, boost Linux

“AMD has long fought for a share of the processor market, and
its Athlon chip seems to have hit the mark. Transmeta is a new
architecture that could have a big impact on the mobile market. And
Transmeta could boost the prospects of Linux in the embedded
market….”

“Transmeta is another challenge for Intel, and one whose
character is only slowly emerging. Long cloaked in secrecy, the
company is now shouting from the rooftops about its new processor.
Low power consumption and a new approach to Intel compatibility are
key features. The power consumption is low enough to offer the
tantalising possibility of laptop computers that run all day on a
charged battery. It’s a feature that will also appeal in the new
market for mobile wireless devices….”

“If Transmeta is successful, it will significantly boost the
opportunities for Linux market share. So far, we’ve seen
Symbian and Palm as the clear leaders in the exploding mobile
device sector, but Linux could yet become a significant
factor.”

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