About... now, Intel is switching to the i7 processor, codename "Bloomfield". This is going to be the last of the 45nm processors. A quad core, with clock ranges from 2.6 to 3.2 Ghz and various improvements here and there.
Next, at about later half of 2009 with beginning of 2010, comes "Westmere". (32nm). It is going to be a six-core.
After it, within 2010, there is going to be "Sandy Bridge" (32nm). They are looking at 4 to 8 cores, and 4GHz.
After that, around 2011, is going to be the first of the 22nm processors. "Ivy Bridge".
And after Ivy Bridge, around 2012, there is going to be "Haswell", and they are looking at 8 cores by default.
In other words, when we will be watching the London Olympics, 8 cores will be the norm.
An interesting side effect of the whole 45->32->22 thing is that, as I understand it, chips end up consuming less and less energy, and since they do so, they heat less. Which increases the chances of making them acceptable for laptops. In other words, the technological trend is actually assisting in resulting to laptops with desktop pc performance.
P.S. I find it funny how far they have planned it, and speak as if they know already how to do it. I mean, if they know already how to do "Haswell" do that one already dammit!
P.S.2. The singularity is coming !!!111
