Intel vPro Technology

 

Group 5

 

Shana Hayes, Brad Smith, Lauren Childress, and Katie Overstreet

 

Key Words: Remote Console, PC Platform, Intel Active Management Technology, Intel Virtualization Technology

 

Business PCs are threatened everyday by viruses and spyware.  They also face the danger of losing precious time and money when PCs are being repaired because of those viruses.  That is one of the many reasons why Intel has created its newest business desktop PC platform.  Intel vPro Technology reduces IT maintenance costs, energy consumption, and it offers advanced security features for corporate PCs.  Many business owners, and employees of businesses have anticipated the release of Intel vPro since April of 2006, but the long wait will soon be over.  Intel vPro is finally being released in the United States this week, although it was released in Australia on September 10, 2006.

 

Intel vPro will cut IT maintenance costs down, dramatically.  When Intel vPro was used during its trial run, five hundred companies showed a potential average savings of forty percent.  One of the reasons that contributes to this savings is that incorporated in with the Intel vPro, is the Core 2 Duo Processor, the new Q965 Express Chipset, and the Intel 82566DM Gigabit Network.  It also includes Intel Active Management Technology and Intel Virtualization Technology.  Intel Active Management Technology helps diagnose and repair PCs even when the system is turned off or has already crashed because of a virus.  This is the key to help reducing energy consumption.  Intel Virtualization Technology allows for a separate isolated environment in your PC, called a partition.  This allows IT managers to create a safe environment in your PC that can not be tampered with, and is virtually resistant to any computer hackers.  It is not only resistant to fowl-play, but it also helps reduce any compatibility clashes between software products.

 

Intel vPro helps reduce IT maintenance costs by allowing the maintenance team to update all computers in the network at one central console.  This central console would be located in a datacenter.  Otherwise, IT maintenance would have to go around to each computer to update it.  This is especially helpful with businesses that have hundreds or even thousands of computers that need to be updated.  Smaller businesses can benefit from this advantage of Intel vPro, as well.  The smaller businesses, who can not afford to have an onsite IT staff, can hire maintenance personnel that are involved with another company to receive the same benefits.

 

Intel vPro also will provide the newest in integrated graphics and will interface the features that are in Microsoft’s Windows Vista Operating System.

 

Many software vendors are supporting Intel vPro, including Adobe, Altiris, CA, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and Symantec, just to name a few.  Atos Origin, EDS, and Siemens AG are a few of the companies that have received IT cost reductions from Intel vPro.  They have even published writings that outline the time and cost saving benefits based on the new platform.  Symantec and Altiris are the first companies selected by Intel to create specialized appliances for vPro.  Many PC creators, including Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo Group, have announced that they are launching at least one Intel vPro desktop model for the business market.

 

Intel vPro is focusing on selling to mainstream businesses, that have networking systems, and to IT customers.  Intel vPro Technology will also only be available on PCs.  Notebooks are anticipated to arrive in early 2007 with the new Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Platform.  The notebooks with this technology will be able to transfer information over wireless networks. 

 

It is easy to see that Intel vPro Technology will be extremely useful by reducing IT maintenance costs, energy consumption, and it will have the most advanced security features.  Intel vPro will help businesses across the globe work with each other, and have less stress about viruses, spyware, and identity theft.  These businesses may even be able to reduce the cost of their products for consumers.  If the new Intel vPro Technology reduces costs for businesses, then it may reduce the prices we pay for products the businesses produce.  In the end, Intel vPro Technology is going to benefit everyone around the world. 

 

References

 

Chaudhary, Rajendra.  (2006, September).  Intel Launches vPro Bundles.  Retrieved September 17, 2006, from http://www.cxotoday.com/cxo/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=75741&cat_id=912

 

Corner, Stuart.  (2006 September).  Intel promises to redefine business PCs with vPro.  Retrieved September 17, 2006, from http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/5558/127/

 

Evers, Joris.  (2006 April).  Intel’s vPro to boost security.  Retrieved September 17, 2006, from http://news.com.com/Intels+to+boost+security/2100-7355_3-6064609.html

 

Gedda, Rodney.  (2006 September).  Intel launches vPro to ease desktop usage, security.  Retrieved September 17, 2006, from http://www.itworldcanada.com/Mobile/ViewArticle.aspx?title=&id=idgml-0209245c-89al

 

Intel Unveils Game-Changing Direction For Business PCs.  (2006, April).  Retrieved September 17, 2006, from http://appzone.intel.com/pressroom/PrintPressRelease.asp?file=http://www.intel.com/press

 

Weinberg, Paul.  (2006 September).  Intel vPro manages desktops.  Retrieved September 17, 2006, from http://www.echannelline.com/usa/printer.cfm?item=21151

 

 

 

 

 

Questions about Intel vPro Technology

 

1.  Which of the following is not a benefit of Intel vPro Technology?

A.  Faster internet service                                 B.  Less energy consumption

C.  Better security                                             D.  Reduces maintenance costs

 

2.  When was Intel vPro Technology first introduced to the world?

A.  February 2006                                            B. June 2006

C.  May 2006                                                  D. April 2006

 

3.  What was the average savings due to Intel vPro?

A.  29 percent                                                  B.  60 percent

C.  44 percent                                                  D.  40 percent

 

4.  Which one of the following components was used to help create Intel vPro Technology?

A.  Core 2 Duo Processor                                B.  Q965 Express Chipset

C.  Intel 82566DM Gigabit network                 D.  All of the above

 

5.  What is the isolated environment in a PC, with Intel vPro, that enables IT managers to create a place that can not be tampered with by anyone?

A.  Central console                                           B.  Partition

C.  Module                                                       D.  None of the above

 

6.  What graphics system will Intel vPro interface with?

A.  Altris                                                          B.  Symantec

C.  Microsoft Windows Vista               D.  Siemens AG

 

7.  Which PC creator has agreed to launch at least one Intel vPro desktop model for the business market?

A.  Dell                                                            B.  Hewlett-Packard

C.  All of the above                                          D.  None of the above