Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Transmeta to Release Processor in January?

Posted by Roblimo on from the one-can-only-wonder dept.

Scipius writes "German tech-mag c't reports that Transmeta's new processor will likely be released on the 19th of January 2000. It also reveals the apparent code name: Crusoe." The article's in German, of course. But we'll take a juicy Transmeta rumor - and that's all this is - in any language. Babelfish time!

4 of 152 comments (clear)

  1. If it's hardware . . . by cureless · · Score: 5

    If it's a processor then some software is going to run on it? This could explained, as mentioned in an article above, why they hired Linus.

    Think about it. A *new* architecture, with some really fancy new characteristics but no software? I don't think so. On the other hand, if they involve the opensource community . . . BINGO! a real competitor to Wintel.

    Who else would you choose as youre link to the community but Linus. He's the head of development. He can make sure everything runs on this "Crusoe".
    I'm not directly tied into kernel development, but you sometimes wonder why some patches don't get included . . . :-)

    But in the end, if it's a processor, Linux will run on it. How else can you have a top-secret processor? Who can they really trust as their OS of choice? Windoze? MacOS? BE? . . .
    You never know, kernel 2.4 might as well be ready to run on "Crusoe"

    cl

    --
    Reply . . . let's get it over with
    --

    --
    Reply . . . let's get it over with.
  2. Fabless or not, it's sure to make waves... by Sir_Winston · · Score: 5

    The fact is that if the Transmeta CPU architecture is anything like what's in the Transmeta patents, and if they can at least come up with a few engineering samples, if will mean a radical shift in our ideas about processor design. As it stands, the instruction set is what defines a CPU--CISC, RISC, x86, HP-UX, etc., are all involved in defining the processors which use these instruction sets, but Transmeta changes this. The Transmeta idea as expressed in their patents would create a category above this--no longer is it 'an x86 processor', it's 'a processor running x86 instructions'. This is a radical idea, and a radical paradigm shift--we should all hope it comes to pass. If it's a great and practicable design, it shouldn't be too difficult for Transmeta to partner up with anyone from AMD to Motorola. This sort of radical advancement--again, if it comes to pass--makes me wonder what the heck Intel and all their capital were doing designing the inflexible Itanium, which executes its native (and sure to be poorly supported except for network/server apps for at least a year or two till prices come down remarkably) instructions with Alpha-killing speed but chokes on anything else including the x86 with which they were supposed to be compatible to some reasonable degree. Just 2cents from a guy who plans on supporting anything but the Itanium (mmmm, legacy games under 64-bit AMD....)

    --


    "The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."--Tacitus, *The Annals*
  3. Better translation by Stephen · · Score: 5
    Here's a better translation, albeit only based on a bit of high-school German and a small dictionary. E&OE.
    The rumour on the grapevine is that the secretive processor manufacturer Transmeta will finally reveal the date for the introduction of their long-awaited processor on the first day of Comdex, 15th November (as already announced by Transmeta employee Linus Torvalds). But c't has already heard that the new processor will be launched under the name "Crusoe" on 19th January 2000 (a Wednesday, not a "Friday", by the way). Owing to its very low current consumption, Crusoe will be aimed primarily at the notebook market.
    --
    11.00100100001111110110101010001000100001011010001 1000010001101001100010011
  4. Truly Exciting Rumor Mill by ZahrGnosis · · Score: 4

    This is why Transmeta is absolutely cool. Notwithstanding people that can read German (and I'm sure you're plentiful), we've got a one paragraph article that babelfishes really poorly about some bizarrely unsubstantiated rumors and it's going to be a VERY popular slashdot thread, because, well, because it's Transmeta. (Circular logic... cool).

    As for real content, I'm surprised by even the rumor that the supposed chip would be a notebook chip. Why a notebook? Linus has said recently that Linux is likely to develop towards embedded applications (it really does perform well there). How let down would we be if Transmeta's first chips were low powered, linux-powered embedded app chips? Really think TV/Network Computers or the like...

    Also, if I read the babeled German correctly, they're going to announce the Concept on Jan. 19th. It still could be sometime before we see product (whatever it may be). This should come as no surprise, since TransMeta clearly hasn't employed hundreds of chip-builders lately (someone would have noticed that, I think).

    I'm waiting to be awed by whatever they eventually produce, but for now, it's enough to be in awe of the amazing hype and free-publicity. Amazing, isn't it that doing the exact opposite of Microsoft (by spending NOTHING on advertising) is garnering TransMeta (and thus Linus, and thus Linux) a decent amount of press?

    Keep it up TransMeta!