Intel's Professional Business Platform is based on the company's new 945G Express chipset and an optional network card, the PRO/1000 PM, along with the recently introduced 64-bit Pentium 4 600 processor. The Intel Professional Business Platform for office PCs combines the company's security, management and collaboration technologies. It includes features branded as "Active Management Technology" (AMT). AMT, similar to IPMI "out-of-band" technologies implemented on servers, supports remote management of the PC, allowing IT managers to perform such tasks as monitoring and running diagnostics, installing patches and rebooting machines remotely.

The platform for home PCs focuses on enhancing computer-centric entertainment. Based on the dual-core Pentium D processor and a new 945P Express chipset, it supports surround-sound audio, high-definition video and enhanced graphics capabilities. A new graphics board, the Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950, adds support for wide screen displays including high-definition TV formats such as native 1080i. The Intel GMA 950 provides support for an optional Media Expansion Card, a TV tuner card for the PC that includes picture-in-picture and personal video recorder features.

The integration of Intel's new hardware and Microsoft's Longhorn operating system was a theme sounded by Intel, HP, and Lenovo in their announcements.

"Microsoft and Intel are working closely together to deliver a totally new experience for mainstream business computing," said Will Poole, senior vice president, Windows, Microsoft Corporation, in a statement. "Windows XP with the Intel Professional Business Platform ensures optimal performance and productivity for today's business environments, and we will continue to work together to advance security, reliability and collaboration capabilities in Windows moving forward."

Systems Vendors Turn Technology Into Products

Lenovo and HP announce PCs that incorporate the Professional Business platform features.

HP introduced entry-level workstation and high-performance desktop PC designs built on single-core Pentium 4 and dual-core Pentium D processors

• TheHP xw4300 Workstation, with prices starting at $849, is aimed at the computer-aided design, video editing and the digital content creation market. Models are available based on Intel's single- and dual-core Pentium processors and the 945G Express chipset. The design supports up to 8 gigabytes of memory and up to 667-megahertz memory bandwidth, and an integrated Serial ATA controller with RAID 0/1/5/10 capability. It will be offered with either 32-bit or 64-bit Microsoft Windows Professional.

• The HP Compaq dc7600 Business Desktop PC series stresses performance and security. It is based on the previously announced 955X Express chipset that supports Intel's Pentium Extreme Edition 840 processor, which provides dual-core processing and supports Hyper-Threading technology. The dc7600 adds security features and built-in manageability the company says is intended to meet the security and performance requirements for Microsoft's forthcoming Longhorn operating system.

  It will ship with an embedded security chip built to the Trusted Computing Group's new Trusted Platform Module 1.2 specification and also offer optional HP ProtectTools Embedded Security solution software. Models in the dc7600 series are available with the choice of Intel Celeron D or Pentium 4 processors, including the new dual-core Intel Pentium D processors. The machines are available now starting at an estimated U.S. street price of $564.

Lenovo announced two desktop models, the ThinkCentre A52 and M52, that will offer dual-core processing and 64-bit computing and integrate the 945G chipset and GMA 950 video card in a smaller form factor that previous ThinkCentre models. The two new models come equipped with Lenovo's ThinkVantage management features intended to make the PCs easier to deploy, connect, protect and support, and the Embedded Security Subsystem, a hardware-based technology that encrypts vital security information. Designed to meet the Trusted Computing Group's Trusted Platform Module 1.2 standard, says the company, the systems also meet security recommendations expected in Microsoft's "Longhorn" operating system. Lenovo also announced that it would release models of ThinkCentre desktops that will incorporate Intel's Active Management Technology in the second half of this year.

Dell introduced the Dimension 9100, a desktop computer aimed at the home and small business media center market. The 9100 is based on Intel's Pentium 4 600 line or the new Pentium D processors, and the 945P Express chipset and loaded with Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. The front panel provides access to USB 2.0 ports, an optional IEEE 1394 port and an optional 9-in-1 media card reader for transferring digital photos, music and video from devices such as digital cameras, camcorders or handhelds.

The Intel processors introduced as part of the announcement include the company's mainstream dual-core processor, the Intel Pentium D processor, and a new processor in the Intel Pentium 4 Processor 600 (64-bit) line. The company announced quantity pricing for the processors: The Intel Pentium D processors 840, 830 and 820 are priced at $530, $316 and $241, respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities. The Intel Pentium 4 Processor supporting HT Technology 670 is priced at $851 in 1,000-unit quantities.