Why chip speed is old news
If you think clock speed is the most important measure of a processor, IBM's Bernie Meyerson wants you to reconsider.
Meyerson, who heads research and development efforts for Big Blue's semiconductor group, says processor chip speed is old news. Instead, he's focusing IBM's work on other areas, such as on-the-fly reconfiguration that will let chips automatically adapt to different jobs. He's also proposing a new, more open way for IBM to interact with its customers.
The open approach will involve IBM disclosing more technical information than before about its chips, and it will also mean that the company will rely more heavily on the hardware and software development skills of third parties. But if the approach is successful, it will enable IBM to create a much bigger ecosystem around its Power processors. It also may boost prospects for the company's chip operations. CNET News.com recently spoke with Meyerson.
