The Intel(r) article will be split up into two parts. First, we'll look closely at what Intel(r) calls the Consumer Desktop plans with a few tidbits from the Business Desktop roadmap and then follow-up later on in the week with our take on their plans for the Mobile CPU which (surprisingly) may interest gamers.

First and foremost Intel(r) looks to be expecting a significant increase in the sales of consumer PCs, which in no small terms could well mirror the fact that Y2K compliance is becoming talked about almost as much what the current US President does in his spare time. In somewhat simple terms, Intel(r) applies a 'segmentation strategy' in order to market their CPUs. We've seen it in their documents/road-maps and in the past it hasn't always been all that pretty. For example, back at Cebit 98, I was slightly miffed at how Intel(r) could see gamers as being at the bottom of the pile and only requiring 'entry level' solutions (before the Intel(r) Celeron(tm) processor days). Luckily though, their segmentation strategy has matured some and evolved much more advantageously to the gamer (through the Intel(r) Celeron(tm) processor's overclocking capabilities) as a result.

The transition from slot 1 based SEPP (Single Edge Processor Package) Intel(r) Celeron(tm) processors to the PPGA (Plastic Pin Grid Array) connector will happen mostly in Q1 and see the SEPP Intel(r) Celeron(tm) processors phased out completely in Q2 in favor of PPGA. Intel(r) feels that the packaging transition from SEPP to PPGA Intel(r) Celeron(tm) processors reduces the cost by some $10.