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Transmeta OK'd for Mira Displays

Posted by timothy on from the definitely-not-dead dept.

viewstyle writes "eweek is reporting that Transmeta's Crusoe chip has been approved by Microsoft for use in the Mira smart displays -- a move that further edges out AMD and Intel from the mobile processor marketplace."

9 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting by Zebra_X · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Microsoft has been showing less and less interest in being an exclusive "partner" with our good friends at Intel... Maybe MS is taking the Tel out of WinTel.

    1. Re:Interesting by Hoser+McMoose · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Good god! Do people STILL believe in this myth of some "Wintel" connection?! Microsoft and Intel have never been more than forced friends, and for the most part they've been more like advisaries!

      The only company that Microsoft can't push around in the PC business is Intel, and the only company that Intel can't push around in the PC business is Microsoft. For this reason alone the two have been trying their damndest to find alternative suppliers. Both companies realize that they are heavily dependant on the other for their own success, but given half a chance to support a third party, they always jump all over it. Intel has been a strong supporter of Linux, while Microsoft has gone out of their way to support AMD and now Transmeta.

      The whole "Wintel" thing exists only because Microsoft and Intel have pretty much been forced to work together, whether they like it or not.

  2. Not exactly. by ObviousGuy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    x86 is only one processor supported by the Mira platform.

    To say that Transmeta is edging out a giant like Intel who has the PXA255 is just wrong. Transmeta doesn't have any edge in this market whereas Intel certainly does.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  3. Intel's Not Out Yet by rsmith-mac · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Don't count out Intel quite yet. The Pentium-M is still one of, if not the best mobile pure x86 processors out there. The rumor that Intel is additionally working on an ultra-ultra low-power version of the chip(600mhz, smaller L2 cache) would further prop themselves up in the Mira market, with their brand name tagging along for the ride. Transmeta has had a lot of problems so far breaking in to the US market, and I don't see them winning that easily so soon, especially with Chipzilla on the lookout.

  4. This could really help Transmeta out by SlashdotMirrorer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    With the dot-com bust giving Transmeta a hard time, an approval by Microsoft could be just what they need to get back on their feet and out of bankruptcy.

    Maybe this will be a lesson learned for the GNU/Linux community as well, to support the companies that use open source and contribute back to the movement. Everyone's all about freedom, but nobody seems to want to pay the price for it. Apparently Transmeta has seen this and is moving on to greener and more friendly pastures. Good for them I say, and I'm looking forward to the product.

    Think about that the next time you Bittorrrent the latest release of Redhat instead of purchasing it. What would you do if they decided to switch over to Microsoft? You'd all be screwed then.

  5. What is Mira? by ObviousGuy · · Score: 5, Informative

    It seems like this question has been asked several times in this thread.

    Here's the short version:

    Mira (Smart Display) is a small, tablet-like device that becomes a remote terminal to a Windows XP machine. It uses wireless networking to create a Virtual Private Network (VPN) with the XP host. When connected, the Mira device can use all functions of the host PC.

    Here's Microsoft's version:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Embedded/ce.NET/e valuation/news/fromms/mira.asp

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  6. Nothing really new by dorfsmay · · Score: 5, Informative

    Common, the association between Transmeta and M$ isn't that new. Who was one of the major investor in Transmeta ??

    M$ co-founder Paul Allen.

  7. Nope, AMD and Intel are still in it... by Dielectric · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Intel has the new XScale, and AMD has their Alchemy processors (MIPS32) for the Mira displays. AMD demoed the Mira running with the Au1500 recently, and ran better/faster than the PXA stuff from Intel. I saw it, it was reasonably cool.

    The sad thing is, they're just re-inventing X-terminals. Mira is just a dumb display, the magic still happens on some big, beefy iron in the background. Everything old becomes new.

  8. Revenue not the whole picture. by mgrant · · Score: 5, Informative

    The net revenue for Transmeta in 2002 was $14.1 Million (1.5 Q1, 6.4 Q2, 6.3 Q3).

    Unfortunately, revenue only tells part of the story. Transmeta's net loss for the fiscal year ended 12/31/2002 was $110 million (source http://biz.yahoo.com/p/t/tmta.html)

    I think Transmeta's a great company... just want to make sure we paint the complete picture here: they lost about $100 million last year, and their stock is worth a little $1.00.