ESNA spoke with ReSolve, part of Arrow's newly launched reverse logistics group, which also includes Intechra, an IT asset disposition services company and Converge, an independent distributor, to discuss the importance of a reverse supply chain logistics program. 
The aftermath of Japan's earthquake last month has left the electronics supply chain struggling with production stoppages and shipment delays of electronic components and raw materials supply.
Because the DRAM market is highly volatile the current buyer's market could quickly swing into a seller's market during the second half of 2011. Buyers will need to keep an eye on several key issues.
Notebook PCs gobble up integrated graphics MPUs
El Segundo, Calif. — Four out of five notebook PCs shipped worldwide in 2014 will use graphics-enabled microprocessors, up from about one out of three in 2010, driven by demand for smaller and more innovative products, reports market research firm iSuppli Corp.
The report, “Advanced PC Technology Penetrating Desktops, Notebooks,” reveals that 82.9 percent of notebook PCs will use these integrated microprocessors in 2014, up from 39 percent in 2010.
“The booming popularity of products like ultra-portable notebooks and Apple Inc.’s iPad has put the spotlight on products with small and innovative form factors,” said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst, compute platforms, for iSuppli, in a statement. “To develop such products, PC makers are adopting highly integrated semiconductor solutions that use less power and generate less heat, thus allowing smaller form factors. By integrating functions that normally would be implemented in a separate graphics chip, graphics-enabled microprocessors play a key role in aiding this effort.”
The use of graphics-enabled microprocessors is being led by ultra-portable notebook PCs, with projected 90 percent penetration in 2014, which benefit from the use of highly integrated semiconductor solutions, said iSuppli. Ultra-portable PCs represent the fastest-growing segment of the notebook market, with global shipments doubling from 2010 to 2014.
iSuppli’s teardown analysis of the iPad shows that it broke new ground in terms of electronic design, with its focus on the human machine interface (HMI) elements, primarily for the touch screen. An important element of the HMI was the use of the highly integrated A4 microprocessor, which enabled the design of a system with minimal space and cost dedicated to core electronics, said iSuppli.
iSuppli said Intel Corp. has cornered the market for graphics-enabled microprocessors, with its Core i Series products featuring the companies HD on-chip graphics. The market researcher expects Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) to launch graphics-enabled microprocessors in the fourth quarter of 2010 and 2011 time frame.
Rising sales of these microprocessors is expected to have a negative impact on sales of standalone graphics chips, with the worldwide market for discrete graphics devices for PCs declining to shipments of 62 million in 2014, down from 73 million in 2009.
Delphi Automotive intros an aluminum cable as an alternative to more expensive copper cabling in automotive applications.