14 DAY TRIAL // Like so many other IT players, Intel is hoping Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system will act as the push it needs to get x86-based tablets recognized.
Intel has been trying to get Atom-based tablets selling well since 2010, but has yet to find a combination of chips and operating systems that works for it.
Even the Medfield Atom processor didn't get it the recognition it wanted. Then again, by the time it was ready, Chipzilla already expected as much.
Unfortunately, the big year won't be 2012 either, and this is something that Intel itself has admitted to be expecting.
Rather than this year, x86 tablets and phones will take off in 2013, after Windows 8 and Clover Trail have had a chance to get used to each other.
"As Intel based tablets are shipping both on Windows 8 and Android, we expect to be able to participate in that fast growing market, but I do not think those numbers are going to be material this year. I think that just because of the start on, the timing of the start is going to be a slower ramp," said Paul Otellini, chief executive officer of Intel.
So far, we know that 20 Windows 8 tablets will use Clover Trail CPUs. Add to that Google Android design wins, for both slates and phones, and there is an impressive lineup waiting to take the world by storm.
We'll have to wait and see how sales turn out before we know for sure though. The number of design wins doesn't necessarily mean consumers will react that well to them, especially when Windows 8 works just fine on ARM chips as well.
"It is not predicated on doing more sales in either tablets or in smartphones, but don’t take from that, those aren’t important segments. We think we are on a path to have a lot of products in the market, we are winning design wins, which really is the momentum that builds into 2013," said Stacy Smith, chief financial officer of Intel, during the company's quarterly conference call with financial analysts.