Intel (INTC) Shows Off ‘Haswell’ Chip Capabilities

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) was the dominant chipmaker in the era of laptops and desktop PCs. But over the last several years, since the introduction of he iPhone in 2007, the world of computing has become more mobile, portable and efficient. However, Intel was not keeping up, while QUALCOMM Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) took over the market share of mobile processors.

But Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) tried to convince people not to give up on it entirely, as it unveiled an early prototype of a fourth-generation processor at the annual Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco this week. Going by the code name “Haswell,” this new chip is designed for more mobile devices, primarily next-generation “ultrabooks” and laptops that would use voice- and gesture-activated technology, similar to many current smartphones. The chip could be easily converted to be used tablet computers.

This new chip, expected to be available by the 2013 holiday shopping season, would boast nearly twice the battery life of current third-generation processors, and is expected to use just 10 watts of power instead of the 17 watts of current processors.

“It was designed with mobility in mind … from sleek tablets to ultrabooks to high-performing desktops,” said David Perlmutter, general manager of Intel’s architecture group. He added that Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) would be prominent in some newer laptop models, showing off versions with expandable screens and others with removable keyboards, which would make those easily compatible with the new Windows 8 operating system by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), which has been a life-long partner of Intel.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) believes that the new chip will lead current PC users to change their PC every three years instead of a current trend of 4.5 years. Getting consumers to change their PCs more often would certainly expect to benefit Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), though it seems that the company will need to be more nimble in the current mobile culture. While this new processor seems to be a year away, showing the possibilities with this new chip should be encouraging for investors in Intel stock like hedge-fund manager Ken Fisher of Fisher Asset Management.
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