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   Anonymous
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   ntel has confirmed it is winding down its desktop motherboard operations, as desktop computer sales continue to decline and tablet sales surge.
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   "We've decided to look at shifting our focus to some of the more innovative spaces," an Intel spokeswoman told ZDNet on Thursday. "In the desktop space, that includes the Next Unit of Computing (NUC), but also a more fundamental shift to focus more on ultrabooks and other products, like tablets."

   The Santa Clara chip giant intends to stop making desktop motherboards over the next three years.

   The fourth-generation Haswell chips, which are still under development, have the potential to be used in devices from smartphones to ultrabooks to desktops, due to their low power consumption.

   Intel will continue rolling out desktop motherboards that are currently in production, in addition to the fourth-generation Haswell desktop boards that are in the design and development phase and due to be released later this year. These products will have a typical lifecycle of about 18 months, said the Intel spokeswoman, adding that Intel customers will continue to be supported with a full warranty during that time.

   "Out of our Q4 earnings, we did see a slight decline in the PC market but we think there are healthy growth opportunities in the other markets," the Intel spokeswoman said. "But we do believe the ultrabook and some of our other innovations, especially all-in-ones and the NUC, are going to continue to help reinvigorate the PC space."

   The NUC devices are small 4x4-inch computers that are designed to appeal to consumers who need a computer for basic tasks like playing media or web browsing.

   In addition to pursuing new form factors, Intel is also looking to expand its Form Factor Reference Design (FFRD) work it does with third-party OEM partners on developing new board designs for desktop PCs.

   article

   Summary: More evidence that the desktop's days are numbered, as Intel says it will exit the desktop motherboard business to focus on all-in-ones, NUCs and tablets.

   Posted 11 years ago #
2. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21750&Itemid=8

   Desktop PC: Intel Says the End is Near

   Back on August 2010, I made a prediction: desktop PCs have an expiration date, and that time may not be far off. I followed-up that article with several more editorials, arguing on both sides of the position that enthusiast desktop PCs would be killed by unnecessary overclocking products, but might later possibly be saved by enthusiast-level overclocking products. Both had their points, and both contained plenty of truth, but when I published the statistical obituary a few weeks later our readers commented in revolt. Even some of my industry peers said I was pessimistic, and that the enthusiast desktop PC industry would continue to thrive and grow. We disagreed, even as mounting evidence supported my claims.

   Based on an announcement made earlier today, it turns out my prediction was dead on. Intel has just announced the end of the desktop platform, or rather a slow three-year wind-down toward an end by 2016. It turns out that mobile phones, tablet devices, notebook computers, and console video game systems were killing the desktop PC platform faster than games like Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, or Battlefield could recharge the desktop user base with stunning graphics and addictive gameplay. Intel knew this, as they monitored their own production of components for competing platforms, and today's announcement marked the official beginning of the end for their desktop motherboard business:

   We disclosed internally today that Intel's Desktop Motherboard Business will begin slowly ramping down over the course of the next three years. As Intel gradually ramps down its motherboard business we are ramping up critical areas of the desktop space including integration of innovative solutions for the PC ecosystem such as reference design development, NUC and other areas to be discussed later.

   Source: Intel Public Relations notice
   What this means to consumers is that desktop PC enthusiasts will still have options, but only as many as vendors such as ASUS, GIGABYTE, and MSI can afford to produce. Since sales of desktop PC hardware are so low, there's very little profit to be made and these vendors may follow Intel's lead by making a complete exit.

   Posted 11 years ago #

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