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August 9, 2007

intel_macs

Idiocy inside: Intel to rebrand processor line. Again.

Posted Aug. 9, ’07, 8:19 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Hardware » Intel Macs

Idiocy InsideHey, Intel: Remember last year when I told you that you shouldn’t be allowed to name things? Yeah. Still true.

I applaud the fact that you’re finally coming to grips with how convoluted and complex your taxonomy is, especially to the average user. Hey, it’s why Apple doesn’t put stickers on its machines. But I think we can file your latest attempt at rebranding firmly under “People unclear on a concept.”

For processors, the Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Solo will be combined under the name Core 2, while Pentium Dual-Core and Pentium D processors will combine under the Pentium brand. Also, Itanium 2 processors will change to just Itanium, noted the sources.

Core 2 Extreme, Celeron and Xeon processor names will remain unchanged.

Oh, yes, by all means: keep Extreme. That’s just crucial information, not worthless marketing garbage like, say, how many cores are in the damn chip.

Also, if you could explain why Viiv and vPro chips become “Intel Core 2 Duo Processor with Viiv/vPro Technology” when Core 2 Duos themselves are being called Core 2? Look, let’s just go back to giving them all incomprehensible numbers, ‘kay?

[via Ars Technica]


4 Comments

Fletcher said:

The "2" in "Core 2" is the most ridiculous naming convention I have seen in a long time. It's a sequel ... to a chip! Why not "Son of Core" or "Bride of Core"?

Consumers are really not confused to go into the Apple store and see the new iMacs. They understand that a product changes as the years go by, but the name stays the same.

August 9, 2007 8:39 AM
Nick said:

Thanks for pointing it out.

It really feels like yet another industry running out of steam and desperately trying to cash in on the marketing hype. In fact, it's so ridiculous, I haven't bothered to keep up with it in a year.

I wish they would focus more on development instead of marketing.

August 9, 2007 9:08 AM
Tristan Yates said:

That's too bad... I was holding out for the Core 3 Trio.

August 9, 2007 5:10 PM
Gatesbasher Author Profile Page said:

Unfortunately, Intel will never go back to number designations, since they sued AMD for calling their reverse-engineered 80386 the "AMD386," and discovered you can't copyright a parts number.

So--they named their next chip the "Pentium" with a Greek root and Latin suffix, so they couldn't decide whether the next one should be the "Hexium" or the "Sexium." (Or maybe the "Hexon" or the "Sexon?")

Now they're so confused they can't stick with a name for more than 10 minutes. Soon they'll forget their own names, have to be institutionalized, and we can all switch to AMD anyway.

August 14, 2007 3:13 PM

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