Replies to post #116207 on Intel Corp (INTC)

[herb will]

The reason for the time gap?

"Clover Trail should be released in the second half of 2012 and they appear to be on track to launch right along side Windows 8."

[Saturn V]

Thanks for your links showing that Intel did show a reference design in Jan 2012, promising a launch alongside Windows 8. However Clovertrail tablet launch ran into snags, because the Intel software driver had a bug and tablet would not power down correctly. Most OEMs delayed the Clovertrail launch awaiting a Microsoft certified driver.

I guess such last minute problems or snags can occur which can increase the time between a reference design and actual launch, but this should not be the norm. I wonder if Microsoft dragged out the certification, because of political reasons, ie giving the Windows RT product more breathing room. Some OEMs released the Clovertrail tablet without a Microsoft certified driver , but OEMs like HP and Dell did not.

Luckily the Medfield phone launch was free from such problems, and hopefully the Baytrail will have better luck ! And hopefully the Intel-Microsoft spat is behind us. Intel released the Clovertrail+ chip at CES. There is going to be a plethora of Tablet chips by year end. Ivybridge tablets, Haswell tablets,Clovertrail Tablets, Clovertrail+ tablets, and BayTrail tablets. OEMs may not choose to launch all the possible tablets, and the pick only some of them. Lenovo and Samsung may launch most of them,but Dell and HP will be more selective because of their tight financial situation.

[techno_bull]

Time gap...

The reference design would not include the production graphics drivers and since that time frame included the Win8 release I would surmise that there may have been issues getting the graphics driver out the door in time for OEMs to have product for the second half 2012 shopping season. No such issues should occur for Bay Trail. Win8 is now a 'known' platform and the driver release cadence should be back on par.