linuxdlsazine’s Top 20 Companies to Watch in 2007
We pick the companies that are defining the future of Information Technology and will have the most impact on the Open Enterprises of 2007. It's the inaugural edition of our 20 Companies to Watch list and we guarantee that every company here will challenge how you think about Linux and Open Source before the year is out.
Thursday, January 18th, 2007
AMD
Trumped by Intel in the multi-core processing arena, AMD had another recent setback when it had to scrap a program designed to bring low-cost computers to the developing world. Then it got hit with patent lawsuits that allege infringement in its “Predictive Snooping” technology, and also had to reduce its staff slightly as a result of its massive acquisition of Canadian graphics chip maker ATI. So, is the company worth watching in the next year to see how many more punches it can take? Not quite. Despite the minor setbacks, the company has also spearheaded some major initiatives that are likely to have reverberations in the year ahead.
A notable example is the recent release of the first dedicated stream processor, designed for high-performance computing applications. The processor makes use of a new thin hardware interface, called CTM, that aims to drive performance gains.
Also, just because the ATI buy means 375 people will have to revamp their resumes, the $5.4 billion acquisition should make for some zesty development in the next few years. ATI’s leadership in graphics and consumer electronics is being ingested by AMD as quickly as they can chew, and the company has already announced integrated platforms for 2007 that will cater to just about everybody, from mobile computing fans, to gamers, to enterprises. On deck for next year, too, is Fusion, a new class of x86 processors that integrates CPUs with GPUs, and allow AMD to promote an open platform.
