Called Centrino Pro, the enterprise dual-core processor, chipset and software bundle essentially gives IT managers the same remote functionality as its desktop cousin vPro, which Intel rolled out last September.
Active Management Technology, or AMT, has been around for two years now, but only garnered significant OEM support at around the time vPro was launched. AMT is handy if only for its ability to repair or manage a computer no matter what state it may be in: AMT works if the machine is turned off or if its operating system has crashed.
AMT also enables security updates and patches to be pushed remotely. This is not just about diagnosing and repairing PCs, said Intel PR manager Christine Dotts.
Centrino Pro and the latest version of Centrino Duo, its consumer counterpart that launched alongside it yesterday, also promise better security, manageability and energy efficiency. And Turbo Memory, previously codenamed Robson, makes it debut with the new chips. It includes a nonvolatile flash memory cache that promises to quicken a system’s responsiveness and boost multitasking performance.
The new platforms also support 802.11n WiFi, which is faster and has a greater range than standard 802.11a/b/g.
There also are several new Centrino processors, previously codenamed Santa Rosa, that are built using the same 65-nanometer manufacturing processes as earlier Core 2 Duos. The new 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo T7700 at the top end is faster than its 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo predecessor.
The chief difference between the business and consumer version of the new platforms is AMT. While Centrino Pro has this added management engine, Dotts said it creates no recognizable decrease in performance or power consumption compared to the Duo.
During its most recent developer’s conference, Intel said it would release its next Centrino platform, codenamed Montevina, sometime next year. Dotts said the company was on track to deliver, but declined to provide any additional timing details.
In the meantime, more than 230 notebooks from various vendors worldwide will launch this year with the new silicon. Those machines will range from 17-inch models to notebooks that weigh less than three pounds, according to Santa Clara, California-based Intel.
Hewlett-Packard yesterday said it would launch 13 business and consumer notebooks based on Santa Rosa, including the Compaq 2710 ultraportable machine for business users. Acer, Dell, Gateway, Lenovo, Sony and Toshiba also are designing notebooks for the chips.
Our View
Remote management via AMT will be a boon to IT managers looking to get a grasp on their remote machines.
However, Santa Rosa offers somewhat limited performance gains. Companies seeking dramatically beefier notebooks will likely find what they’re looking for with Montevina, which will boast Intel’s forthcoming Penryn processor. It will be based on 45-nanometer manufacturing technology, which means even higher performance and lower power consumption.
