Intel rings 27 July for 'Conroe' chips

Intel is expected to launch its dual-core Core 2 Duo processors - aimed at desktop machines - on the 27th of this month. The new range of Pentium-replacements is slated to be unveiled at a company event. Based on Intel's Core Microarchitecture, the 'Conroe' chips are earmarked to replace the company's existing Pentium D family and take on AMD's Athlon 64 X2 chips in the affections of gamers and high-end PC users. ...more

UPDATED: Steve Jobs has cancer tumour removed

Steve Jobs underwent successful surgery this weekend to have a cancerous tumour in his pancreas removed. In a company-wide email, the Apple CEO wrote, 'This weekend I underwent a successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from my pancreas. I had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumour, which represents about one per cent of the total cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year, and can be cured by surgical removal if diagnosed in time (mine was). ...more

And also today (25-Apr-2001), for the record...

Here, in brief, are some of the day's other stories. Harder times for Compaq Compaq has seen its first quarter profits drop from $296m a year ago to $78m, with total revenue falling three per cent. In the wake of the news, the PC builder has announced a further 2,000 job cuts, reducing its workforce by 10 per cent over the year. ...more

Major investor reveals why it wants its $20mn SCO investment back

BayStar has revealed why it asked SCO to redeem its $20mn investment in the Unix company. Although a letter to SCO a week ago alleged the company had breached terms under which the investment was made, a BayStar spokesperson told Cnet that the company wanted to turf out senior management and cull its Unix product line. The spokesperson said that BayStar wants SCO to concentrate solely on the litigation it is pursuing over its claimed Unix intellectual property against the likes of IBM, Novell and Linux-using companies and that it does so in a business-like manner. ...more

AMD's 64-bit servers get a boost from Microsoft

AMD and HP are to supply x86-based Opteron servers to Microsoft Technology Centers (MTC) across the world. An MTC allows customers and developers to test their applications in a Microsoft environment. The partnership with AMD will enable MTC customers to migrate, test and validate their 64-bit applications with the additional advantage that existing 32-bit apps will run on the standard PC platform as well. ...more