IDF: Don't forget about Mobile Internet Devices

 

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By Darien Graham-Smith in San Francisco

Posted on 19 Aug 2008 at 16:27

The Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco kicks off today, but while attendees expect to learn more about the Core i7 and Larrabee multi-core processor, it's Mobile Internet Devices that are currently taking centre stage.

The first sight to greet delegates arriving at the Moscone Convention Centre is a showcase dedicated to mobile internet devices (MID). 19 devices are on show, all of them based on the Atom processor, with major names including Asus, BenQ, Fujitsu and Panasonic involved.

However, these household names are dwarfed by the number of unfamiliar brands, such as Hanbit, Digifriends and WiBrain.

MIDs are a controversial topic: Intel hopes they will become a major consumer success, but with fully-featured miniature notebooks such as the EeePC and the MSI Wind already available, they may face an uphill struggle.

Intel's choice of MIDs as the welcoming exhibit appears intended to affirm the platform's credibility. But since they've evidently had to scrape the barrel of manufacturers to do so, it's not a wholly convincing display.