Intel Corp. decides it's time to leave the numbers game; chip maker drops '86' concept in naming microprocessor, settles instead on Pentium

Article Abstract:

Intel Corp chose the name Pentium for its newest microprocessor, due to be shipped in the spring of 1993, because names are protectable trademarks, as opposed to numbers, which Intel had been using to name its previous chips. Intel's previous chips are named with numbers ending in 86, such as 80386 and 80486, but the company's bids to win trademark rights for the numbers have been unsuccessful. Intel claims that when other companies clone its chips, they use the Intel product names for free, since they may legally use the 86 numbers without Intel's permission. Intel hired a specialty firm and instituted employee-suggestion and international write-in campaigns to choose the name. Once it chose Pentium, the company had focus groups to determine consumers' reactions to the name, searched internationally to see if any other product had the name and hired linguists to determine if the name were inappropriate in other languages.

Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Computer industry, Microprocessor, CPUs (Central processing units), Intel Corp., INTC, Microprocessors, Marketing, Intellectual property, Product development, Trademark, Intel Pentium (Microprocessor)

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LSI Logic chips to clone MIPS workstations

Article Abstract:

LSI Logic Corp introduces its new Mipset chip set designed for workstation 'clones' based on MIPS Computer System Inc's architecture. This chip set is LSI's entry into the growing low-end reduced-instruction-set-computer (RISC) market. The five chip Mipset contains the number of circuits that usually fill 40 chips in MIPS workstations. This advance signals the possibility of low cost UNIX workstations, leading to greater popularity. MIPS should gain from the less expensive process in its drive to become the standard for UNIX workstations. Brother Industries Ltd intends to use the Mipset to make a laptop workstation and other companies are interested in using it in both computers and laser printers. LSI is shipping samples as of Jul 1990, and mass production should be in place by the end of the year. The 16mip Mipset costs $704 and the 20mip version is priced at $1,097.

Semiconductor chips, Integrated circuits, Product information, Product introduction, LSI Logic Corp., LSI, MIPS Computer Systems Inc., MIPS, product announcement, Chip Set, LSI Logic MipSET (Integrated circuit)

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Tandy decides that it won't join battle over chips

Article Abstract:

Tandy Corp will not join US Memories Inc, the group that seeks to compete with Japanese DRAM manufacturers. US Memories is looking for major investors to support its attempt to break into the $10 billion DRAM market, without much success. In Sep 1989, Apple also turned down the offer to invest $5 million to $50 million in the group. US Memories was formed by seven electronics companies: Advanced Micro Devices Inc; DEC; HP; Intel Corp; IBM; LSI Logic Corp; and National Semiconductor Corp. The seven have been unable to add to their number, although Sun Microsystems Inc, AT and T and Compaq Computer Corp are still undecided about membership.

Contracts, RadioShack Corp., TAN, Consortia, DRAM (Dynamic random access memory), DRAM, Competition, s, Consortium

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