PC players are starting to turn optimistic about a return of Wintel as Intel and Microsoft have each hosted global developer conferences to promote the upcoming Ivy Bridge processors and Windows 8 operating system, according to sources from PC players.

The sources pointed out that Intel's Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, US and Microsoft's BUILD conference in Anaheim, US are both showing indications that the two firms are changing their business direction from providing more technologies to consumers to reducing unnecessary components to boost efficiency.

Intel is now pushing Ultrabooks with reduced chassis and component sizes, while removing some unnecessary components to realize the product's ultra-thinness. Meanwhile, Microsoft is now pushing its upcoming Windows 8 to have an easier booting process, allowing faster boot times, the sources noted.

Commenting about Wintel, vice chairman of Quanta Computer, CC Leung, pointed out that Ultrabooks will have a good chance to succeed, since each product will eventually head to the development process of becoming thinner and lighter.

Compal Electronics president Ray Chen is also optimistic about Wintel's changes, but is conservative about Intel's plans of having 40% of consumer notebooks being Ultrabooks since without subsidies from Intel, end-prices of Ultrabook will have high difficulty to drop below US$1,000.

Source:digitimes