Transmeta (Semiconductor) (TMTA)

[weaksidehelp]

BB, looks like the TMTA business plan is in accord with the IEEE vision. Will be interesting to watch it unfold over the next few years.

I looked in Google for the ViA PC Stick, and found a PR from ViA's wireless LAN supplier from the Summer of 2001:

http://www.intersil.com/pr/shell/0,1091,260,00.html

Intersils PRISM Wireless LAN Technology Provides Roaming Connectivity for ViA’s New PC Stick

PRISM 2.5s small form factor and USB connectivity adds functionality to ViAs body-worn PCs
IRVINE, CA July 12, 2001 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), and ViA, Inc., a leader in the design and production of body-worn mobile computers, today announced that Intersil’s small form factor PRISM® 2.5 wireless LAN chip set and reference design with USB interface successfully provided wireless network connectivity for ViA’s new "PC Stick" wearable PC.
ViA recently introduced its new body-worn PC, code named PC Stick. The PC Stick, a full-function PC about the size of a TV remote control weighs as little as 20 ounces and runs standard Microsoft operating systems such as Windows 98 or Windows 2000 and uses Transmeta’s 600 and 800 MHz Crusoe processors. Intersil’s PRISM 2.5 WLAN technology adds wireless connectivity through the USB on the PC Stick.
"ViA is an excellent example of manufacturers developing innovative products that are enhanced with wireless connectivity," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s Wireless Networking Business Unit. "ViA’s new body-worn PC Stick offering full function PC operation, combined with PRISM 2.5, enables truly mobile productivity."
User interfaces for the PC Stick include stationary and hand-held touch displays, wireless and USB devices, voice input and virtual and physical keyboard and mouse devices. The drive towards the convergence of computing and telephony will be realized as ViA integrates its computing and Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) capabilities.
"Intersil’s PRISM 2.5 wireless LAN reference design represents a major piece of the puzzle for truly mobile PC computing experience using our body-worn PC Stick," said David Carroll, ViA, Inc. founder and chairman. "The PRISM 2.5 radio module receives its power through the USB connection and offers both small size and high-speed performance. We think it’s a perfect companion for our PC Stick, providing our customers the freedom of staying connected while roaming."

More recent update on the PC Stick in Darwin Magazine 12/5/01:

http://www.darwinmag.com/read/machineshop/column.html?ArticleID=208

. . . One such company, Burnsville, Minnesota-based ViA Inc., has found customers for its wearables in companies whose field workers and technicians need access to data but can’t afford to be shackled to desktop or even laptop computers. ViA will be rolling out its “PC Stick,” an eight-ounce device (about the size of a TV remote control) that runs on the Windows platform in early 2002. The full system, which includes drives, battery and display, can weigh as little as 20 ounces. Pricing for the PC stick, which is intended for use in the hospitality, medical and mobile commerce sectors, has not been announced yet.

regards, wsh