Goodbye Intel’s Centrino, Hello Core i3, i5, i7

Robert | Jun 18, 2009 | Comments

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In a post yesterday, Bill Calder of Intel has explained Intel’s choice to (eventually) drop the Centrino branding and explain their motivations to adopt a Core family in which it is easier for the customer to understand the difference between each processor’s capabilities.

Centrino is not done yet, but it will be phased out and eventually eliminated as Core branding takes its place. Intel is simply modifying the Core chips’ brandings to reflect different levels of power and make it easier to understand the level of hardware under consideration, as explained by Calder:

It is important to note that these are not brands but modifiers to the Intel Core brand that signal different features and benefits. For example, upcoming processors such as Lynnfield (desktop) will carry the Intel Core brand, but will be available as either Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 depending upon the feature set and capability. Clarksfield (mobile) will have the Intel Core i7 name.

According to Deborah Conrad, also of Intel, “in the back half of this year you’ll begin to see Core i5 and more Core i7s coming to market. Then by the first part of next year you’ll begin to see Core i3, and i5, i7.”

However, this does not mean the end of all branding other than the Core chips series for Intel, as Calder introduces plans to retain the Celeron line (a cheaper line of Intel PCs) along with their new Atom series for netbooks:

We will still have Celeron for entry-level computing at affordable price points, Pentium for basic computing, and of course the IntelÂ® Atom™ processor for all these new devices ranging from netbooks to smartphones. For PC purchasing, think in terms of good-better-best with Celeron being good, Pentium better, and the Intel Core family representing the best we have to offer.

This simply means that Intel is attempting to simplify its mystifying lines (Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad) of Core derivatives, consolidating them under a single Core line, all while making it easier for the average consumer to select a PC that fits their needs and their budget.

Calder then ends with a final note:

This will be an evolutionary process taking place over time, and we acknowledge that multiple brands will be in the market next year including older ones, as we make the transition. But overall this is a good thing, designed to make it easier and more rational over the long run.

What do you think? Do you think that this will also help to boost sales in a stagnant computer industry as both Microsoft and Intel focus on making their products easier for the average user to understand?

No matter what happens, it will be interesting to see how such actions by major industries affect the future of Windows.

More information can be found here (along with Deborah Conrad’s video).

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