Connected Concept E-Home Previews the Future of PC Computing

Innovative Concept PCs Demonstrate the Extending Reach of the PC and Internet into the Home

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Aug. 31, 1999 - A new era for the consumer PC is taking shape at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) today. The new concept PCs displayed in a 900 square foot "Connected Concept e-Home" seemed less futuristic as over 2,500 attendees viewed the power of the PC and the Internet coming to every room of the house.

"Part of realizing the Intel vision of 'All homes are e-Homes' is showing the industry in a compelling fashion that it's possible, it's real and it's a huge opportunity to think outside of the 'big, boring, beige box,'" said Pat Gelsinger, vice president and general manager of Intel's Desktop Products Group. "Those firms that get on this train early are going to be at the forefront of a huge industry shift in how PCs get designed."

As part of its Ease of Use initiative, Intel is joining forces with a number of innovative product design firms, OEMs, IHVs and ISVs to transform the PC into easier-to-use, innovative form factors designed for simplicity with the person and environment in mind. Concept PCs delivering smaller, affordable, stylish and all-in-one-units are indicative of industry efforts to introduce PC products reflecting consumer demand for style and simplicity that integrate easily and seamlessly into the consumer's living environments.

About Connected Concept E-Home
In a series of rooms representing a typical home, Intel has displayed the vision of home computing with small and stylish PCs reflecting the person and environment. Designed for broadband connection and high performance, the PCs are networked to each other and the Internet for increased information and entertainment capabilities.

In the hub of the home located in the den, two concept PCs - Entrata and Polaris - from design firms Fiori Design Group and Stratos Product Development, provide access to multiple types of broadband pipes coming into the home (DSL, DTV, digital satellite). Moving to the living room, a PC from SozoDesign, LLC is stored in an Ottoman; access to the Internet and a piece of furniture all in one. Joint efforts from Palo Alto Products and Delta Products Group bring a PCTV to the living room with TV, Internet, computer applications and movies all coming from one system.

Targeted at the younger PC user, the Magic Bean is the cutest of the offerings from Yeong Yang Technology with built-in DVD, hard drive, mini speakers, keyboard and headset. The Vesta by Anderson Design illustrates new kitchen computing capabilities with touch screen and voice activation and, of course, the teen room touts the ultimate entertainment PC - Attivo - using the Pentium® III processor with AGP and S3 software for superb 3-D technology and multi-player gaming. Chenbro Group's Diva is also in the kid's room offering one of the smallest form factors in the home.

Reinforcing Mattel Inc.'s effort to make computers and technology friendly and affordable for families, David Haddad, president of Mattel Media states, "Children today are embracing technology at a much younger age, and we believe that it is extremely important to make computers accessible and affordable to the mass marketplace." Mattel has joined forces with PC manufacturer Patriot Computers to create customized BARBIE® and HOT WHEELS® PCs, the first PCs designed just for kids featuring the Intel® Celeron® processor.

Gelsinger adds, "PCs and the Internet open up a whole new world of fun and excitement to children. Intel is committed to providing technology building blocks to enable innovative PC concepts designed for simplicity."

Ease of Use Initiative Spurs New Technologies
Intel's Ease of Use effort encompasses several technologies to advance the PC towards simplicity and new form factors. Paving the way to make PC concepts a reality is the Universal Serial Bus (USB), a true plug and play technology making it easier to add such peripherals as printers, scanners, and cameras by eliminating the need to open up the computer. InstantlyAvailable allows the PC to be left on at all times without guilt by allowing it to power down into a deep sleep state when the system is not in use. Legacy reduction, improved motherboard designs such as Intel's FlexATX, and Hardware Design guidelines all accelerate the achievement of innovative PC form factors.

Industry OEM forerunners acting as concept-to-reality testaments such as AST Computer, Fujitsu, Sotec, Daewoo, Sony, and Toshiba are displaying ease of use concept PCs at IDF located in a glass showcase adjacent to the Connected Concept e-Home. For further information on the Ease of Use initiative and attributes, a URL is provided on Intel's Web site at http://developer.intel.com/technology/easeofuse/blocks.htm.

Industry Initiatives
The Easy PC initiative, a joint Intel/Microsoft effort to accelerate delivery of easier to use consumer desktop PCs was first announced at WinHEC, spring of 1999. Focusing on making the PC easier to setup, operate, expand and maintain, Intel and Microsoft will work with the industry to ensure new technology is added to the PC platform in unison with a phased obsolescence program to remove older legacy technology. Details found on Intel's URL at http://developer.intel.com/technology/easeofuse. Style, simplicity and new form factors have expanded the reach of the PC in the home creating increased need for networking and connectivity. E-home has evolved as a term to describe a shared vision between the telecommunications, PC, consumer electronics, software, entertainment and Internet industries. The e-Home refers not to a technology, but the impact technology can have when integrated with the person and lifestyle in mind.

About IDF
The Intel Developer Forum is a three-day intensive semiannual forum providing hardware OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and IHVs (independent hardware vendors) in-depth information on Intel technologies and initiatives. More information on the Intel Developer Forum can be found at http://developer.intel.com/idf. Updated information between Intel Developer Forums is available by subscribing to the Intel Developer Update Magazine at www.intel.com/update/.

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