Intel launches vPro brand for business computing

Intel has gone public with its latest platform, the vPro, which the company says is optimized to provide features such as security, performance and remote access functions for businesses. Like Viiv, vPro includes processor technologies, a software platform and more than a little bit of hype. In the case of vPro, the chip is the "next-generation dual-core processor," the software is Windows Vista and the hype -- well, you get the idea. More specifically, vPro is designed around Intel's Conroe desktop processor, along with a networking chipset and extensive features for remote management of PCs along with built-in virtualization technology to allow IT managers to create secure partitions on networked PCs (and, yes, it'll work with XP, though it's got features designed to "simplify" Vista upgrades). Intel expects to begin shipping at least some demo vPro systems this quarter, and factory workers are presumably already applying vPro stickers to cases, just so you can scrape them off when they arrive in your office.

[Josh Warner @ Apr 24th 2006 2:55PM]

Intel - STOP ALREADY!

With VIIV falling flat in the consumer oriented space where salesmen can go around saying "Well, Joe Sucker, this computer has VIIV and that one doesn't. Just look at the sticker!" I cannot believe that Intel really thinks businesses will fall for this type of crap.

Centrino worked - because it actually was a product, with measurable benefits. VIIV shows what happens when this is not the case. vPro looks to be swirling around in the same toilet as VIIV.

There is no way businesses will pick up on this. The "Vista ready" tech they are advertising is already certified - by MS themselves (Designed for WinXP, Vista Ready sticker will be popping up soon) which leaves absolutely NO reason whatsoever for businesses to buy this.

Oh, and I'll bet it will cost an extra $200 over the same configuration without the sticker.

No thanks.

[Jacob @ Apr 24th 2006 3:03PM]

Well, the Centrino "complete chipset solution" was a hit for mobile computing, so it's completely understandable that Intel would try to bring that success over to other areas. (Desktops, Media Centres...)

Success is far from guaranteed, of course.

[Soft @ Apr 24th 2006 3:20PM]

vPro is going to be a hit

[Mohammad @ Apr 24th 2006 3:22PM]

Josh, have you heard of virtualization technology? This isn't exactly the same as Viiv where certain features are required and no new technology. Virtualization allows you to run multiple OSes at the same time without using an emulator. Also there seem to be some other features that make IT's life a lot easier and a lot of these features will actually be used in large corporations. This isn't just a marketing ploy, it's actually some new technology and they beat AMD to it so I wouldn't be so quick to knock it.

[Josh Warner @ Apr 24th 2006 4:12PM]

The way I understand things, Intel's virtualization tech isn't confined to this vPro "platform," but was a standard feature on the enterprise-level chips. I think it's already out.

I agree that virtualization is an innovation from Intel, but it is not vPro only which leads back to my original conclusion - that there is nothing in vPro that isn't already available separately. And likely cheaper.

Intel is just trying to make free money (markups) and at the same time sell more of their stuff (bundling). Neither is illegal - but I think business customers are more tech savvy than consumers, and won't be swayed by the hype machine nearly as easily (and even consumers are showing the aren't easily swayed with VIIV).

Correct me if I'm wrong on the virtualization tech, guys.

[georges @ Apr 24th 2006 4:48PM]

Regardless of whether there is actual new technology under the umbrella of this brandname or not, I think we can all agree that Viiv and VPro are TERRIBLE brand names.

Viiv is not easy to pronounce and weird. There shouldn't be a learning curve for the pronunciation of your brand name.

VPro? Sounds like PPro. They used that for the Pentium Pro... surely they could think up something better.

Centrino is a great name: distinctive, easy to say, memorable. VPro is cheesy and buzzwordy. They might as well have called it iPro06XP.

[Mohammad @ Apr 24th 2006 5:25PM]

The idea behind these platforms is that all this technology is available elsewhere but when the right technology is bundled together it makes for a complete package.

It seems as though everyone agrees that Centrino is a great platform. What is at the heart of a Centrino notebook? An Intel Pentium M processor. You can get notebooks with just that processor (non-centrino branded) and you can also get notebooks with built in Wi-Fi, etc. But when all the features are bundled together the device works better and seemlessly overall. I think that's what Intel is trying to achieve. They are trying to set a standard and make things easier for consumers. They are saying that that a certain set of components bundled together are neccessary for home entertainment, for business use and for easy mobility. These different uses are addressed by each platform. This makes it especially easy for consumers without much knowledge to go into a store and buy a product that will do what they need to the full extent. If you go into your average electronic store most of the kids working in them are not as well trained on products as they need to be. I think this platformization can possibly help.

Also, I think as the platforms mature this will become more clear.

[Liam Billington @ Apr 24th 2006 6:08PM]

Does it mean 'Very professional'?

Why not just...

Pentium M: Mobile processors
Pentium D: Desktop processors

Pentium D is supposed to be Pentium Different according to Intel. The names seem to become more absurd in the marketing department.

The Pentium M is centrino and what people like is the Pentium M. Most Turion machines use broadcomm chipsets as they are better. Most servers I have used go for broadcomm over Intel.

The Xeon seems to be the same as a P4 but rebadged whith a different boot up screen. Perhaps this will change with Conroe, Merom and Woodcrest. Oh wait they are going to be based on a Pentium M architecture.

AMD is the winner as manufacturers go and support their processor more... look at NVidia.

[Jim @ Apr 24th 2006 6:30PM]

What use is virtualization technology for the average corporate user? None! The power users, developers and admins of the world will like it, but the vast majority of the average user community will see no benefit. Nice marketing driven hype from Intel, yet again. If you can see through this like I know you can, please do what I do: buy AMD.

[TZK @ Apr 24th 2006 7:10PM]

intel is queer.

[Josh @ Apr 24th 2006 7:54PM]

"What use is virtualization technology for the average corporate user? None! The power users, developers and admins of the world will like it, but the vast majority of the average user community will see no benefit."

Guess who chooses the PCs for the average corporate user? Admins, perhaps?

The average corporate user community will see increased stability, decreased virus threats, and faster recovery.

Did any of you even look at the data on Intel's web site about this? http://intel.com/vpro/manageability.htm

Nonvolatile memory
A protected, persistent hardware-based space to protect critical data from intruders, viruses, and worms. It also stores hardware and software assets to ensure accurate inventories at any time.

Hardware-based communication channel
Communicate "under the OS" to power up, reboot, and control a PC regardless of OS health.

Isolation hardware
Automatically disconnects when an inbound or outbound threat is recognized for instant quarantine.

These kinds of things matter when you are managing hundreds or thousands of computers.

[Ayrkain @ Apr 24th 2006 9:29PM]

Take the diagrams at the bottom and where it says, "IT Management Console" replace it with "15 year old with an exploit"...

Well, you get the picture.

[Joe @ Apr 24th 2006 9:46PM]

i don't like the name - reminds me of the Pentium Pro, and that thing stunk.

[eric @ Apr 25th 2006 1:49AM]

#3 Vpro is going to be a hit

*i mean it sarcastically*

[takeme2 @ Apr 25th 2006 3:37AM]

vPro sounds like a bad rip-off of Wipro.

[Revels @ Apr 25th 2006 5:29AM]

So, the next generation of Mac OS X will have technologies found in Boot Camp, and VPro allows on-chip virtualization, and Apple are best buddies with Intel now... *strokes chin*

[somebody @ Apr 25th 2006 2:03PM]

#11, those features are pretty worthless to most companies. I could see labs using this on a smaller scale, but most corporate users get laptops now. The target market is pretty small in the subset of business desktop purchasers. I would bet the lion's share of business desktop purchases are made by small-to-medium businesses, whose "admins" wouldn't have the faintest clue how to enable isolation hardware on a network threat...

At least they would have a non-volatile memory to store their porn from any corporate network watchdogs.


The name is actually good -- you would be amazed at all of the people who say they need Windows XP Pro since they are running a small-to-medium business, even though they don't know what a domain is in terms of networking. The word Pro just sounds like something a business user should be using to them.

[ch424 @ Apr 25th 2006 3:07PM]

Josh is the only person who seems to have completely grasped the point of vPro. If Dell and HP go along with it, it'll be a bigger hit than Centrino in the large bussiness sector.

ch424

[fw454 @ Sep 10th 2006 1:57PM]

With all of the new remote management features (i.e. desktop lockdown featureset) it looks like these will be the first of a new generation of multi-core superfast dumb terminals. Gee, now all we have to do is re-invent the mainframe!