Ivy Bridge Delayed

Intel's next upcoming processor, code named Ivy Bridge, was not exactly a well guarded secret.  Last year when the current generation of chips was released, the so called Sandy Bridge parts, they also announced that Ivy bridge would be out around a year later.  As I had no pressing processor needs, I decided to sit tight and wait for the Ivy, that promised higher performance with less energy, and better graphics.

The part was expected for 4/8/12, but that is on hold.  Apparently, through a variety of factors, the Ivy Bridge chips won't be out till late summer is the current thinking, if not early Fall.  What is frustrating is that the reason for the delay is not that the chip is not ready to go, or cannot be made in quantity.  Rather, it is that the manufacturers don't want to be stuck with the current chips.  Sales have been weak, and with nobody buying the supply chain is backed up.  On top of that, Windows 8 looms on the horizon and is expected to debut officially in the Fall, which should spur sales.  Finally, add in that AMD has not released a new part in a while, taking pressure off of Intel to bring new parts to market.

Well, I still think that patience will be rewarded, and would wait for the Ivy Bridge parts to be available.  There is still a small chance that this is just rumor, and the situation is not as dire as they are making it.  At any rate, I would love to see the Sandy Bridge parts pile up at this point if they are manipulating the market to avoid this.

PC Perspective

-Jonas

Kodak Exits Stage Left

Kodak has announced that they will be getting out of the camera business. This once American icon, recently filed for bankruptcy, and is giving up on one of their core businesses. I can't say I am disappointed.

Kodak never really made a successful transition from film to digital. Their competitor in the film market, Fuji I thought did this much better. Before we lament them, let us look at this objectively.

It has been eons since Kodak made any camera that anyone wanted. They have been 2nd to 3rd tier products, you know, the stuff that was sold in a blister pack at the pharmacy that I think of more as an impulse buy than a serious purchase. Where was their flagship DSLR? Where was any camera that had anything innovative?

Just like when HP left the camera market, nobody really missed them, Kodak will be the same. I see them ending up like Polaroid. Another American icon, that had their name left, and little else, that can slap it on random products, all made overseas. Too bad Kodak ended up this way, but over the last decade, this kind of was inevitable.

Jonas