What does Centrino have to do with Wireless?

[razorweb]

<a href="http://intel.com/products/mobiletechnology/wireless.htm?iid=ipp_mobiletech+intro_wireless">
</A>http://intel.com/products/mobiletechnology/wireless.htm?iid=ipp_mobiletech+intro_wireless

Intel in TV ads and documentation seems to be saying that Centrino means wireless. Is this just an advertising gimmick like back in the day when they said pentium = getting to the internet faster? What does Centrino have to do with wireless? Nothing, apparently. If's motherboards that either have a mini-pci slot or not that can integrate wireless inside the laptop. and even if you have a pcmcia card, you get no benefit for having Centrino in your laptop in terms of additional wireless capability. So whats the deal?

 

[AtomicDude512]

Centrino is part of Intel's wireless package. It consists of: Centrino CPU and a wireless chipset (customizable) as far as I know.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Articles on AT, Tom's etc will explain in detail, but "Centrino" is a package of Pentium-M chip and intel-made wifi, a laptop without the package is just Pentium-M not Centrino.

 

[Snoop]

Articles on AT, Tom's etc will explain in detail, but "Centrino" is a package of Pentium-M chip and intel-made wifi, a laptop without the package is just Pentium-M not Centrino.

Sounds to me like an anti-competative marketing gimmick. Along the lines of the many Microsofts ploys. Intel = monopoly

 

[Confused]

Centrino = Pentium-M + Intel chipset + Intel Wireless networking chip

Take away any one of these, and it is not Centrino.


Confused

 

[SexyK]

Originally posted by: Snoop

Articles on AT, Tom's etc will explain in detail, but "Centrino" is a package of Pentium-M chip and intel-made wifi, a laptop without the package is just Pentium-M not Centrino.

Sounds to me like an anti-competative marketing gimmick. Along the lines of the many Microsofts ploys. Intel = monopoly

What? They never said that you can't use different chipsets or wireless cards with the Pentium-M, they just said you can't call it a Centrino system without includiong those components. The arguement against MS is that IE is built into the OS and can't be separated out. I don't think these cases are similar at all, looks like more blind critisism of Intel... guess you can't be succesful anymore without having someone hate you

. Damn them for trying to standardize enhanced capabilities into all machines, that's pretty evil of them.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: Snoop

Articles on AT, Tom's etc will explain in detail, but "Centrino" is a package of Pentium-M chip and intel-made wifi, a laptop without the package is just Pentium-M not Centrino.

Sounds to me like an anti-competative marketing gimmick. Along the lines of the many Microsofts ploys. Intel = monopoly

How so?

Are they preventing system builders from using the Pentium-M if they don't use the Intel chipset? No
Are they preventing system builders from using wi-fi chipsets if they don't use the Pentium-M? No

Please explain your reasoning.

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: SexyK

Originally posted by: Snoop

Articles on AT, Tom's etc will explain in detail, but "Centrino" is a package of Pentium-M chip and intel-made wifi, a laptop without the package is just Pentium-M not Centrino.

Sounds to me like an anti-competative marketing gimmick. Along the lines of the many Microsofts ploys. Intel = monopoly

What? They never said that you can't use different chipsets or wireless cards with the Pentium-M, they just said you can't call it a Centrino system without includiong those components. The arguement against MS is that IE is built into the OS and can't be separated out. I don't think these cases are similar at all, looks like more blind critisism of Intel... guess you can't be succesful anymore without having someone hate you

. Damn them for trying to standardize enhanced capabilities into all machines, that's pretty evil of them.

not exactly. it's without question an attempt to stifle competition. think about it... huge amounts of money will be expended marketing "centrino", while little or none will be spent marketing the individual energy saving processor. Soooo... while it doesn't directly equate to ms's explorer fiasco, it is a questionable attempt to make mfgs purchase the whole 9 yards where they might otherwise purchase more competitive wireless solutions. It's all about leverage...

 

[afzan]

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

not exactly. it's without question an attempt to stifle competition. think about it... huge amounts of money will be expended marketing "centrino", while little or none will be spent marketing the individual energy saving processor. Soooo... while it doesn't directly equate to ms's explorer fiasco, it is a questionable attempt to make mfgs purchase the whole 9 yards where they might otherwise purchase more competitive wireless solutions. It's all about leverage...

I don't think there is anything wrong with that..
Centrino can be considered an Intel Product.. Just because it consists of other Intel Products which are available seperately, does not mean that Intel is being anti-competitive when they choose to market the Centrino product instead of their Pentium M product...

 

[Snoop]

Originally posted by: SexyK

Originally posted by: Snoop

Articles on AT, Tom's etc will explain in detail, but "Centrino" is a package of Pentium-M chip and intel-made wifi, a laptop without the package is just Pentium-M not Centrino.

Sounds to me like an anti-competative marketing gimmick. Along the lines of the many Microsofts ploys. Intel = monopoly

What? They never said that you can't use different chipsets or wireless cards with the Pentium-M, they just said you can't call it a Centrino system without includiong those components. The arguement against MS is that IE is built into the OS and can't be separated out. I don't think these cases are similar at all, looks like more blind critisism of Intel... guess you can't be succesful anymore without having someone hate you

. Damn them for trying to standardize enhanced capabilities into all machines, that's pretty evil of them.

Yes, companies can still use other chipsets and wireless devices, but by not utilizing the 'Centrino' components, which will undoubtedly be marketed heavily, the average consumers will perceive non-centrino laptops as lower quality and thus will not pay a premium price. The end result is that smaller chipset, wireless, etc manufacturers, with less marketing power, will be shut out of the market as laptop makers scramble to benefit from Intel's potent marketing. If you cannot understand what this means than please brush up on your economics.

Damn them for trying to standardize enhanced capabilities into all machines, that's pretty evil of them.

No, standardizing enhanced capabilities is not evil at all, what is evil that the ?standard? components happen to only be made by the company which is setting the standard.

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: afzan

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

not exactly. it's without question an attempt to stifle competition. think about it... huge amounts of money will be expended marketing "centrino", while little or none will be spent marketing the individual energy saving processor. Soooo... while it doesn't directly equate to ms's explorer fiasco, it is a questionable attempt to make mfgs purchase the whole 9 yards where they might otherwise purchase more competitive wireless solutions. It's all about leverage...

I don't think there is anything wrong with that..
Centrino can be considered an Intel Product.. Just because it consists of other Intel Products which are available seperately, does not mean that Intel is being anti-competitive when they choose to market the Centrino product instead of their Pentium M product...

Actually it does. Basically, the method they're employing leverages the fact that their processor IS competitive to surpass the fact that their wireless solution really isn't. It's artifically shielding their wireless product from competition. By bundling the products together, they force MFGs to accept non competitive products. Also, you have to factor in the actual retail distributors. In order to properlly maximize shelf realestate, they will tend to embrace the highly marketed non-competitive solution. In a nutshell, that's what's wrong with it.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

Originally posted by: afzan

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

not exactly. it's without question an attempt to stifle competition. think about it... huge amounts of money will be expended marketing "centrino", while little or none will be spent marketing the individual energy saving processor. Soooo... while it doesn't directly equate to ms's explorer fiasco, it is a questionable attempt to make mfgs purchase the whole 9 yards where they might otherwise purchase more competitive wireless solutions. It's all about leverage...

I don't think there is anything wrong with that..
Centrino can be considered an Intel Product.. Just because it consists of other Intel Products which are available seperately, does not mean that Intel is being anti-competitive when they choose to market the Centrino product instead of their Pentium M product...

Actually it does. Basically, the method they're employing leverages the fact that their processor IS competitive to surpass the fact that their wireless solution really isn't. It's artifically shielding their wireless product from competition. By bundling the products together, they force MFGs to accept non competitive products. Also, you have to factor in the actual retail distributors. In order to properlly maximize shelf realestate, they will tend to embrace the highly marketed non-competitive solution. In a nutshell, that's what's wrong with it.

Why isn't their wireless solution competitive? I agree that it is far from being good news for other WiFi manufacturers, but Intel's Wifi solution isn't, as far as I know, inferior to other WiFi chips. Also, you should realize that Intel has plans of integrating the WiFi chip into their chipset, once that happens the point becomes moot as the chipset includes a slew of other features that are unrelated to the wireless chip.

Like I said, the Centrino is far from being good news for 3rd party WiFi suppliers, but I don't think Intel is engaging into anti-competitive behaviour as much as they are just promoting their products.

 

[pm]

Actually it does. Basically, the method they're employing leverages the fact that their processor IS competitive to surpass the fact that their wireless solution really isn't. It's artifically shielding their wireless product from competition. By bundling the products together, they force MFGs to accept non competitive products. Also, you have to factor in the actual retail distributors. In order to properlly maximize shelf realestate, they will tend to embrace the highly marketed non-competitive solution. In a nutshell, that's what's wrong with it.

I would argue that the very things that make Centrino exciting - lower power/longer battery life, small form factor, and seamless wireless support - could be lost if just any 3rd party wireless adapter was bundled. Intel has optimized their wireless solution as a compact, low-power solution and worked to make sure that support within the OS is seamless.

 

[imgod2u]

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

Originally posted by: SexyK

Originally posted by: Snoop

Articles on AT, Tom's etc will explain in detail, but "Centrino" is a package of Pentium-M chip and intel-made wifi, a laptop without the package is just Pentium-M not Centrino.

Sounds to me like an anti-competative marketing gimmick. Along the lines of the many Microsofts ploys. Intel = monopoly

What? They never said that you can't use different chipsets or wireless cards with the Pentium-M, they just said you can't call it a Centrino system without includiong those components. The arguement against MS is that IE is built into the OS and can't be separated out. I don't think these cases are similar at all, looks like more blind critisism of Intel... guess you can't be succesful anymore without having someone hate you

. Damn them for trying to standardize enhanced capabilities into all machines, that's pretty evil of them.

not exactly. it's without question an attempt to stifle competition. think about it... huge amounts of money will be expended marketing "centrino", while little or none will be spent marketing the individual energy saving processor. Soooo... while it doesn't directly equate to ms's explorer fiasco, it is a questionable attempt to make mfgs purchase the whole 9 yards where they might otherwise purchase more competitive wireless solutions. It's all about leverage...

How is it anti-competitive to not want your marketing dollars help the competition? They spent the money on marketing, it's only reasonable that they want to reap the maximum benefits of it.

Also, there's a certain benefit to using Intel's WiFi solution. The card and chipset is designed to work together. When components aren't in use (such as the WiFi chip), that part is shut off. Laptop owners will know that if you have a PC Card WiFi solution, you need to remember to shut it off or you'll waste power.
Not sure exactly how much help this part is, but it is seemless integration.

 

[isaacmacdonald]

When the solution is integrated, great, but as far as I've seen, there's no competitive advantage to using intel's wireless solution. Hedging a product against competition is anti-competitive by definiton. I doubt this could result in signifigant legal action, but regardless of your feelings for wifi, intel, or competitors, this particular stance IS ANTI-COMPETITIVE.

 

[Snoop]

Like I said, the Centrino is far from being good news for 3rd party WiFi suppliers, but I don't think Intel is engaging into anti-competitive behaviour as much as they are just promoting their products.

First, chipsets and Wifi cards are a commodity, and basically indentical to one another (relatively speaking). Thus decisions on purchasing them is much like purchasing different brands of widgets, and customers make a decision based on price (assuming average consumers do not prefer Intel chipsets/ wifi cards, which i believe many would think is an acceptable assertation). Now, if one company by virtue of market power, right, or privilege, is able to devalue its competators widgets by excluding them from a 'standard' such that the perception of average customers changes and the standardized widgets become more valuable than the 'non standardized' widgets, this is a monopolistic, anti competative, whatever you want to call it, practice. Other smaller companies have no-way to compete.

edit: As PM stated, it is possible that the intel centrino solution is not a commodity as it improves upon the performance -in some way which has yet to be defined- but even if true, this still is anti-competative as other mfg are being shut out of the market.

 

[pm]

When the solution is integrated, great, but as far as I've seen, there's no competitive advantage to using intel's wireless solution.

One obvious competitive advantage of using the Centrino solution is time to market. But I see the point of your question. Still, one could turn this question back on itself. I personally haven't seen any apples-to-apples comparisons of a Centrino notebook, and one with the Pentium M processor and the chipset and a 3rd party wireless solution. On what basis do you think that there is no competitive advantage? In other words, have you seen any data that shows that you could create as small a form-factor solution with as good battery life without using Intel's solution? Or is it just your assumption that this would be the case? And if so, why?

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Confused
Centrino = Pentium-M + Intel chipset + Intel Wireless networking chip

Take away any one of these, and it is not Centrino.


Confused

Not quite.

Centrino = Pentium-M + Intel 855 chipset + Texas Instruments MAC chip + Philips Semiconductor radio chip

Check out Under the hood: Intel's Centrino
Ironically the Centrino Wi-Fi doesn't use Intel-made parts, since Intel wasn't able to develop its own wireless LAN chips in time for the launch, according to analysts. Texas Instruments makes the MAC chip and Philips Semiconductor provides the radio chip.

Almost funny, all this rabble rabble.

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: pm

When the solution is integrated, great, but as far as I've seen, there's no competitive advantage to using intel's wireless solution.

One obvious competitive advantage of using the Centrino solution is time to market. But I see the point of your question. Still, one could turn this question back on itself. I personally haven't seen any apples-to-apples comparisons of a Centrino notebook, and one with the Pentium M processor and the chipset and a 3rd party wireless solution. On what basis do you think that there is no competitive advantage? In other words, have you seen any data that shows that you could create as small a form-factor solution with as good battery life without using Intel's solution? Or is it just your assumption that this would be the case? And if so, why?

I haven't personally tested any of the centrino products, but all the stuff I've read here and at THG seem to indicate that the wireless aspect isn't anything new, and doesn't offer anything more than any other 3rd party might. Whether or not you see comparisons is of marginal importance. The point is that the strategy pretty much guarantees intels wireless technology will go into any of their new laptops in any market where marketing plays an important role.

As far as the time to market advantage, it's tenuous, and I would hesitate to assume that selling the products as a package would decrease the time to market over and above the individual products.

This kind of thing should be important to the consumer because while the new intel mobile processor represents a fundamental improvement in the field, their marketing strategy will probably slow down innovation in wireless technology, a field that is just now blossoming and should be ripe for plenty of innovation and increases in efficiency.

anywho... just my $.02