Transmeta`s Crusoe to power Microsoft tablet PC - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[panik]

Transmeta`s Crusoe to power Microsoft tablet PC
By John G. Spooner
Special to CNET News.com
March 25, 2001, 10:30 p.m. PT
Microsoft`s Tablet PC will have Transmeta inside.

The companies will announce Monday a join effort to produce a number of development Tablet PC machines that will be distributed widely.

These development systems, of which there will be several hundred, are the next step in the development of Tablet PC.

Tablet PC is a notebook PC-based computer designed to allow PC users to use a more natural way of interacting with a computer. At the same time, Tablet PC will remain connected to the Internet or the office network, even if the user is only moving down the hall to a meeting room or the café.

Tablet PC packs a new pen-based user interface, along with handwriting recognition software into a portable form factor. When not being toted around, the device rest in a cradle on a user`s desk and connects to a full size keyboard and mouse.

Transmeta will provide its 600-MHz Crusoe TM5600 processor and LongRun power management software for the development systems. At the same time, the company will assist Microsoft with tweaks to the Tablet PC`s Windows XP operating system.

PDAs, many of which are similar in form to Tablet PC, have made new and simpler interfaces, such as pen-based input, more popular and more acceptable.

"I think that is what Microsoft is heading toward, but whether this is going to be that big jump is another story," said Alan Promisel, an analyst with IDC in Framingham, Mass.

It remains to be seen if Tablet PC will be more successful than Microsoft`s previous efforts, such as its failed Windows for Pen software.

"It has that big `ooh, ah` factor, but people want something they`re familiar with, which is the keyboard," Promisel said.

The success of Tablet PC could certainly help Transmeta. However, despite its role as processor provider for the demo units, Transmeta is not claiming to be the exclusive processor provider for Tablet PC.

Instead, Transmeta`s David Ditzel, vice chairman and chief technology officer, exudes the confidence that his chip is the right choice, among several. As far as he is concerned, Crusoe is the only chip "that could give (Microsoft) the long battery life and the performance" needed for the Tablet PC.

"We`re not going to say Crusoe is the only processor that will be in" tablet PC, he said. However, "Crusoe is in there" now, making it the processor incumbent.

While Microsoft is choosing to build its own demonstration systems, the company will leave it up to PC makers to build final versions of the Tablet PC.

Microsoft will, instead, provide the operating system, the user interface and applications, such as its electronic ink software. The application, as demonstrated by Microsoft, allows users to create, edit and annotate Word documents using a pen.

Microsoft will also likely provide a hardware reference specification for Tablet PC. If the company follows the it has set with other devices, such as its Windows CE-based PocketPC devices, the reference specification will likely call only for an X86 chip.

Each individual device manufacturer would be able to choose from several processors from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, VIA Technologies or even National Semiconductor.

However, Transmeta`s work to help perfect the operating system for things such as power management might give it the inside edge.

"We`ve got a great relationship with Microsoft. This is just more evidence of it," Ditzel said.

Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect for Microsoft first publicly demonstrated Tablet PC during his opening keynote at Comdex/Fall last November.

At the time, Gates called Tablet "One of the most amazing projects we`ve ever done."

Aside from the Transmeta chips, the development Tablet PCs will likely follow a hardware outline, also given at Comdex. The devices will likely include 128MB of RAM, a 10GB hard drive, a docking cradle, a universal serial bus (USB) keyboard and mouse, along with built-in local-area networking based on the 802.11.

Overall, the device will be about the size of a legal pad of paper, measure between 1.5 inches and 2 inches thick and provide a color touch screen with a resolution sharp enough to allow users to read electronic books.

[panik]

26.03. 09:51
Transmeta CPUs für Microsoft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(©BörseGo - http://www.boerse-go.de)

Nach Angaben von Microsoft wird Transmeta seinen stromsparenden Prozessor Crusoe für das neue Wireless Gerät von Microsoft designen. Microsoft zeigte im November auf der COMDEX eine erste Version seines neuen Kleinstcomputers. Für Transmeta ist dies ein wichtiger Erfolg, da Microsoft normalerweise stark mit Intel verbunden ist. Denn die Mehrheit der weltweiten PCs läuft mit der Kombination Intel-Microsoft.

Das neue Gerät wird nächstes Jahr auf den Markt kommen und von mehreren Firmen produziert werden. Die Produzenten haben dabei die Wahl andere Prozessoren nutzen zu können, obwohl das Design, welches Microssoft anbietet, speziell auf den Crusoe zugeschnitten sein wird. Doch durch diese Tatsache wird der Crusoe Prozessor die wahrscheinlichste Wahl sein.

[Montezuma]

Ist doch schon eingepreist!

[ostm]

Ja genau, bei Kursen von 24-29 würde ich auch von eingepreist ausgehen, aber auf Tiefstständen?

[panik]

Transmeta Collaborating With Microsoft on Tablet PC
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 26, 2001--Transmeta Corporation (Nasdaq:TMTA - news) today announced that it is working with Microsoft Corp. to incorporate Transmeta`s low power Crusoe microprocessor into next-generation Tablet PCs.

``Microsoft is pleased to be working with Transmeta to include the Crusoe microprocessor into the Tablet PC effort,`` said Jeff Raikes, group vice president of productivity and business services, Microsoft. ``Working together, the two companies can further optimize these next-generation mobile PCs for demanding environments.`` Microsoft and Transmeta are focused on optimizing Windows XP for the fast growing mobile segment by providing features and functions that are ideal for the professional and consumer user. These capabilities, which are embodied by the Tablet PC, include high performance, low weight, cool running temperatures and extremely long battery life.

``Transmeta and Microsoft have a common vision of bringing very user-friendly and long battery life mobile computers to consumers and business users,`` said David Ditzel, vice chairman and chief technology officer, Transmeta Corporation. ``Our close work together is a natural outgrowth of that vision.``

The Tablet PC is a new notebook computing concept, optimized for mobility and designed to be convenient, light and ergonomic. The Tablet PC technology enables any Windows-based application to take advantage of pen-based input. With software developed and optimized by Microsoft for the new platform, the Tablet PC can function as a sheet of paper. Handwriting is captured as rich digital ink for immediate or later manipulation, including reformatting and editing. The linkage between the pen input process and a wide range of Windows-based applications will give users new ways in which to collaborate, communicate and engage their PCs for new tasks (e.g., annotating and updating documents on the fly and then wirelessly transmitting the finished version). A high-resolution display makes the Tablet PC ideal for immersive reading and rich multimedia applications.

For more information about the Microsoft Tablet PC, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/PressPass/press/2000/Nov00/TabletPC… and for more information about Transmeta, please visit http://www.transmeta.com.

About Transmeta Corporation

Transmeta is a publicly traded company located in Santa Clara, Calif. Transmeta develops and sells software-based microprocessors and develops additional hardware and software technologies that enable computer manufacturers to build computers that simultaneously offer long battery life, high performance and x86 compatibility. Transmeta`s family of Crusoe microprocessors is targeted at the notebook and Internet appliance segments of the mobile Internet computer market.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:

Transmeta Corporation, Santa Clara
Phillip Bergman, 408/919-6818
[e-mail]
or
Ketchum (for Transmeta)
Carla Cook, 650/596-2281
[e-mail]

[panik]

Transmeta`s Q1 loss narrows, within estimates
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 19 (Reuters) - Transmeta Corp., a designer of low-power microprocessors, on Thursday reported a first-quarter loss that narrowed from a year ago, falling within analyst expectations.

For the period ended March 31, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Transmeta (NasdaqNM:TMTA - news) said its pro forma loss narrowed to $13.2 million, or 10 cents a share, from a loss of $16.7 million, or 56 cents a year ago. Revenue rose to $18.6 million from $4,000.

Analysts had forecast the company would report a loss of 11 cents, and estimates ranged from a loss of 10 cents to 12 cents.

The company said it expected second quarter revenue to be slightly up from first quarter levels.

Transmeta shares rose 34 percent, or $6.30 to $24.60 on the Nasdaq amid a rally in semiconductor stocks. The stock has underperformed the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index by about 26 percent since the end of last year.