KEY TAKEAWAYS
INTEL’S MGM45WU
MOTHERBOARD,
BASED ON RICH CREEK 2,
IS INTENDED FOR
BUSINESS USERS.
processor, memory, a hard drive,
some variation of the optical
drive, an OS [operating system],
and wind up with a product with a
very generic look and feel.”
THE NEW INTEL MOBILE BOARD
MGM45WU (FOR BUSINESS
USERS) AND MGM45RM (FOR
CONSUMERS) represent an effort
to create a standardized mobile
motherboard form factor that can
be applied to motherboard and
notebook chassis.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
TO COMPETE
The new Intel boards comprise one element
that can help take these notebooks beyond
“generic.” The ability to incorporate one of Intel’s
designed and supported motherboards, widely
perceived to be the highest quality available in
the market, to a notebook creates opportunities
for custom system builders to better compete
with the Dells and HPs of the world, according to
Maser, who adds: “Without [the new Intel moth-erboards] coming into play, channel players like
me and other system builders would be in a difficult position.”
Intel’s move is indeed good news for system
builders and integrators that want to compete in
the notebook arena, says David Forster, director
of channel relations and RC2 project leader for
Antec Inc., a Fremont, Calif.-based provider of
computer components whose markets include
system builders, VARs, and integrators.
This group “is a very large part of the computing business, especially in North America and Europe, and they’ve been kind of left out in the cold
until now, sort of playing on the periphery,” says
Forster. “Now they are going to be able to compete for that [notebook] business in a real sense.”
The new
motherboard gives
notebook system builders
more flexibility, be it to design
their own chassis or add and delete features, Maser notes. “If the customer wants a
notebook with features such as a fingerprint
reader or a webcam, they get them. Or if they
don’t want a particular feature, they don’t have
to pay for something they don’t want.”
Meanwhile, Equus Computer Systems Inc., a
Minneapolis-based builder of custom desktops,
notebooks, servers, and workstations, has
launched an open notebook product line called
Nobilis MAX. These mobile systems are built on
Intel’s Montevina mobile architecture and RC2
platform, according to Joe Toste, the company’s
vice president of sales and marketing. “The introduction of these Rich Creek 2-based mobile
systems is the culmination of the Intel common
building block strategy,” he says.
Building upon RC2 specifications, a new mobile product line from Antec includes two laptop
chassis, AC adapters, and battery packs; components such as integral webcams and Bluetooth
modules; and what Forster calls a “true” laptop
docking station.
Maser notes that use of the new Intel motherboards should make servicing notebooks a faster
and easier process than it is when no-name
boards are used. “No longer do resellers need to
send units back to the manufacturer,” says
Maser. “Instead, they can do the service work
themselves. And what that means is the end
user—the business owner—isn’t going to be
down and out [without a notebook] for a prolonged period of time, but can get back up and
running as soon as possible.”
THE MOBILE BOARD EFFORT
COMES ON THE HEELS of two
previous Intel initiatives in this area:
“common building blocks,” which
focused on working with original
design manufacturers in standardizing specs for some components,
and the subsequent Verified By
Intel program, which further
expanded standards.
THE NEW MOTHERBOARDS
SHOULD ENABLE CUSTOM
SYSTEM BUILDERS AND
INTEGRATORS to better compete
with players such as Dell and HP
in the growing notebook market.
NOTEBOOKS INCORPORATING
THE NEW BOARDS can be serviced
by resellers, resulting in less downtime for end users.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION
NEW PRODUCTS
Using the Intel motherboard, Seneca Data began manufacturing its
new Nexlink Carbon
notebook line in September. The motherboard has opened the
door to “multiple levels
STEVE MASER
of customization,” says
Maser. “We are now able to build our notebook
line just like we do our desktops and servers—
100 percent to customer specifications.”
Antec Inc.:
www.antec.com
Equus Computer Systems Inc.:
www.equuscs.com
Intel: News fact sheet.
www.ChannelProSMB/dec/ intelnews.html
Seneca Data:
www.senecadata.com
MARTIN SINDERMAN isan Atlanta-based
freelance writer.
