INTEL has no intention of taking threats to its domination lying down. As
Transmeta
(see 鈥淨uicker, simpler, smarter chips鈥�)
launched Crusoe, Intel released a version of the
Pentium processor designed to extend the battery life of faster laptops. The
SpeedStep Pentium chip plays some clever technical tricks to save on battery
power.
Laptops often make batteries last longer by using processors that run slower
than those in desktop PCs. But SpeedStep will run at desktop speeds of 650
megahertz when plugged into the mains, then slow down to 500 megahertz when
switched to a battery. This reduces its power consumption from 14.4 watts to 7.9
watts.
Consumers will pay a high price for this innovation: many computer
makers鈥攊ncluding IBM and NEC鈥攚ill sell SpeedStep-based laptops for
around 拢3000. Intel鈥檚 Northern Europe director David Hazell insists the
new chip is worth the extra money: 鈥淵ou can watch a full-length movie on the
move,鈥� he says, demonstrating a SpeedStep laptop playing The Matrix on
DVD. But New Scientist has discovered that SpeedStep鈥檚 savings are
small compared to the power consumption of a laptop鈥檚 DVD drive鈥攕o users
may still not be able to watch a whole movie on one set of batteries. The
highest capacity lithium ion batteries for laptops can deliver around 20 watts
for three hours if the screen is dimmed and you don鈥檛 use the hard disc too
much.
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But if the PC has a DVD drive, it consumes an additional 10 watts and must
run continuously while playing a movie. Many feature films run for over 2 hours.
The Matrix runs for 131 minutes. So how did Intel get a laptop to play
the whole movie on the move? 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 actually tried it,鈥� Hazell says. 鈥淵ou
would need a spare set of batteries.鈥�