I came across a story of a new graphics chip startup in Europe from some University - of course....  The buzz is about using DSP (digital signal processing) and how amazing this INTEGRATED soultion is going to be... YAWN...

I met a startup in graphics about 7 or 8 years ago at Comdex.  They had a little booth with Microsoft as a Microsoft Partner.  Once I found out that they were a graphics company, I said "Are you NUTS!"  They looked at me puzzled by such a comment.  Than I quiz them on where they came from and guess what?  They came from dead graphics companies.  "So, you think you have something?" I asked (grinning).  Make a long stroy short, I did see them a year or two later at Computex in Taiwan.  They did have a few notebook wins.  Where are they now?  DEAD.  Could have saved US$50 million, which was the last number I have in terms of invested capital.

Here is my take on this new startup.  DSP for graphics is an old thing- dudes!  Have you heard of Chromatic Research, a company the Economist thought would change the world of graphics?  The Economist article noted the number of Phds and Masters level employees in Chromatic.  Ho! Ho! Ho!  They are gone! Acquired by ATI who has nothing to show for. 

And here is the kicker - they are targetting the Integrated chipset market.  Now I know, they are on Prozac.  Hello? any body home? 

It never fails to amaze me how people waste money.  And, you did think they do their homework?  Now, I have some excellent properties in Florida - waterfront too ....