Centrino, front and center
Wednesday, March 12th, 2003I feel like I’m at a Yes concert. I’m cooling my heels to the sound of The Who’s “Going Mobile” under slowly swirling (but tastefully understated) colored lights here in the front row of Intel’s launch event for Centrino at the Hammerstein Ballroom, formerly the Manhattan Opera House, on 34th Street. Instead of the usual stage setup, Craig Barrett and company will perform in the round from the middle of the floor, playing to an audience of reporters (”press” is the collective noun everyone at these events uses to refer to us), analysts, and VIPs in the Hammerstein’s three tiers of balconies. I was always a front-row headbanger, though, so I’m seated on the main floor, two feet from the circle of loudspeakers facing out from the raised circular stage emblazoned with a giant Centrino logo. I think it’s safe - Craig doesn’t seem like one of those projectile sweat types. There’s a wireless network (384Kbps at the moment), but no power outlets - a problem Centrino is supposed to address. My own story about Centrino - and more importantly, Wi-Fi’s curious effect on people - will be up on Slate later today. (Here it is) (Here’s the other one)
P.S. - It turned out that only the first speaker, Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell, used the center stage. The rest of the show was run from a larger stage at the back of the house, in typical trade show dog-and-pony style.
