Transmeta (Semiconductor) (TMTA)

[weaksidehelp]

Knowjack, TMTA should get a big share if not the bulk of the Tablet PC business, but most of the activity is still in the R&D stage.

As you probably know, MSFT is attempting to control the Tablet PC marketplace by signing up authorized OEMs and requiring minimum standards for performance. This includes a clock speed of 600MHz minimum (if I recall) and certain battery life. To date, MSFT has only named TMTA and INTC as authorized chip suppliers for Tablets. Now that MSFT has announced an Oct 2002 date for introductions of Tablet PCs, things should really speed up.

As for OEMs using Crusoes, we know so far of: PaceBlade (PaceBook), FIC (Aquapad), and the new startup Motion Computing. A few weeks back Toshiba announced tablet-like models. SONICblue builds a tablet with the Crusoe, and so does Innolabs (Evita I think) and Hitachi. Compaq has indicated it was introducing a Tablet PC, and there have been rumors they would use the Crusoe.

The Acer on display at CEO Summit uses a INTC chip, but I doubt it reaches MSFT's performance requirements on DC. Also, it really is a laptop than can function like a Tablet.

In the next few weeks we should know much more about actual Tablet PCs headed to market. Some may be introduced next month at TechXNY (formerly PC Expo). My hunch is that many if not most will be Crusoe-based. Just think about Tablet PCs as would an engineer. A Tablet PC in Gate's image is a true tablet, not a convertible laptop. A TFT screen sits right on top of a fully functional PC in small and enclosed space. A big chip (600-800MHz) is required, but noise must be minimized (no fans). The unit is to be hand held so it cannot get too hot to the touch. It is supposed to have six hours of battery life (probably no one will reach this target). So, what chip do you use? If I was the designer, and I knew I would have no problems with supply, specing the Crusoe at 900MHz would be a no-brainer.

regards, wsh