Linux Magazine’s 20 Companies to Watch in 2007

IT types, start your computing engines. In November, Intel kicked off the multi-core PC era with the introduction of two quad-core processor families, boasting that the products deliver increased speed and responsiveness for servers, workstations, digital media creation, high-end gaming, and just about any hardware that feels the need for speed.

The announcement wasn’t exactly a surprise. Intel first began crowing about the transition to multi-core nearly four years ago, but has only recently made its plans into reality. In 2005, it began by trotting out the industry’s initial dual-core processor, and then more recently, refreshed its entire product line by debuting over 30 desktop and server processors based on the Intel Core micro-architecture.

Just in time for the holiday buying spree, Dell, IBM, and HP have all noted that they’ll begin rolling out products jiffy quick that use Intel’s new chips, and there’s high expectation that the processors will land in many more products in the months to come. Pundits have predicted that the new Xeon 5300 and Core 2 Extreme QX6700 should make an immediate impact on both high-end workstations and specialty PCs like gamer machines.

Also notable in 2006 was Intel’s partnership with Red Hat to create a global training and support program that helps customers speed up and optimize their Linux deployments. The Red Hat and Intel Solution Acceleration Program could make an impact in the coming year for enterprises looking to take advantage of the new Intel platforms that will be hitting the market in the year ahead.