During Intel Developer Forum (IDF), held in San Francisco the week of 25 September, the new operating system (OS) for Windows Vista was rarely mentioned. IDF is a technical, hardware-specific event and Intel did not want Windows Vista to overshadow it. Intel was sure to mention that its new products would run with Windows Vista, but there was little discussion about the first new client Windows OS in the past five years and how it could boost PC sales or provide better/different end-user experience combined with new Intel processors and chipsets. This is contrary to Intel's aggressive messaging about six months ago, as the company tried to ensure that the industry knows that some of Intel's chipsets support full "Aero-glass" experience in Windows Vista.

Gartner believes that, for the next six months, Intel will focus on improving its profitability and recovering market share from AMD. This is why Intel kept its story focused on PC technology, its latest Core 2 Duo processor and quad-core processors, which will be introduced toward the end of this year. Also, Intel wants to avoid stalling Christmas PC sales — Windows Vista will miss Christmas.

Processor vendors and hardware OEMs are now left with the difficult task of creating exciting consumer offerings and convincing consumers to spend their money on PC hardware this Christmas instead of on other consumer electronic products or waiting for new PCs with Vista to arrive in early 2007.