Perhaps out a little longer than the average lifespan that CIOs keep computers in service, but this may only be five years away (then again, I know companies that keep computers longer than they should). From the article, "The Industry-Specific PC" at Nova,

If you haven't followed the news, Intel is creating five divisions, four of which will focus on particular computing markets. These are the Mobility Group, the Digital Enterprise Group, the Digital Home Croup, and the Digital Health Croup. The fifth group, Channel Products Group is an emerging-markets division that will focus on targeting technology to local markets worldwide.

The article goes on to write:

For example, at the Sonoma introduction, Intel executives demonstrated how a medical-imaging application accessing a remote server runs faster on the new mobile platform, with its optimized graphics and communications components. As have the application vendors who create vertical solutions geared toward best practices, it appears Intel is taking the first step in creating unique components optimized for the home, mobile, enterprise, and healthcare markets.

Interesting concept that makes sense at the OEM level. Unless the vertical applications are so demanding on hardware resources, I would think that when it hits the end user and corporate markets that the suppliers will have to focus on keeping people's lives simple.

Steve Shu