Motorola Joins Portable Computer CPU Fray

Sony and Apple are the obvious customers

Not to be outdone by archrival Intel and its 386SL microprocessor for portable PCs, Motorola has jumped feet-first into the portable computer fray by introducing a microprocessor aimed squarely at the mobile market. Dubbed the 68330, the CPU exhibits features similar to the 386SL but weighs in at a much lower price — $17 in quantity for the Motorola chip versus $160 in quantity for the Intel device.

Intelligent Power Management

Like the 386SL, the 68330 provides intelligent, programmable power management. For instance, at maximum clock speed, the 68330 runs at 16 MHz. However, during periods of non-use, the 68330 can be programmed to cut back to 8 or 10 MHz (or even lower), thereby conserving power. As soon as the user begins input, the clock rate reverts to a full 16 MHz.

32-bit CPU with 16-bit Bus

The 68330 is a genuine 32-bit processor with a 16-bit bus. Interestingly, the unit was built with future expansion and integration in mind. For instance, we’ve learned that Motorola has seriously been working with neural net technology for a couple of years. Conceivably a future version of the 68330 might incorporate neural net or DSP circuitry for applications like handwriting or voice recognition.

Palm-Size Commodities

A Motorola spokesman told us that the company envisions the 68330 (and future versions of it) to be used in a totally different type of mobile computer than we currently see. Instead of a DOS-type laptop with a keyboard and mouse, Motorola will be promoting the development of low-price, palm-size commodity computers sold through mass-merchandisers. Such computers, for example, might be either pen-based or voice-based as digital “dictaphones” with voice recognition that enables you to dictate, then import the text directly into a word processor. Certainly, at $17 per unit, the 68330 is a good candidate for a commodity machine.

Apple and Sony Are Likely OEMs

Although the Motorola spokesman we talked to acknowledged that OEM customers for the 68330 have been signed up, he declined to identify those companies. We can guess, however, that both Apple Computer and Sony might be customers. Apple, of course, has built its entire Macintosh line around the Motorola 680×0 family; the company has also made public that it is developing pen-based systems. Likewise, Sony’s Palmtop pen-based computer (available only in Japan for the time being) is built around the 68000 CPU.