“A senior IBM executive confirmed that the company will ship a
notebook PC based on chips from Transmeta this fall, as long as
Transmeta lives up to its promises.”
“At the PC Expo show next week in New York, IBM will feature the
next-generation Transmeta TM5600 chip as part of a technology
demonstration using an IBM ThinkPad 240 notebook chassis, said Leo
Suarez, director of worldwide product marketing at IBM, Raleigh,
N.C.”
“The ThinkPad, which is IBM’s entrant into the 3-pound
“mininotebook” or “ultraportable” market, will feature a custom
motherboard and chipset, Suarez said.”
“Suarez cautioned that the demonstration is not quite a design
win, although IBM does intend to design the chip into the new
ThinkPads. Two constraints must be met: First, IBM must be assured
that its customers will demand such a part; second, Transmeta will
be required to live up to its own expectations, both from a
performance and supply standpoint, Suarez said.”