"Clover Trail wasn't ever designed to compete head-on with Apple, but was focused more on a new and growing enterprise tablet market," he added. "With Intel's Clover Trail, enterprise IT would need to be crazy to start deploying iPads."

While it's important for Intel to branch out of the PC market, Moorhead noted that it's too early to declare the demise of laptops and desktops.

"It is vital for Intel to successfully branch out and be successful long term in tablets and phones," he said. "Let's not forget, though, that Intel controls a PC market that isn't going to evaporate overnight, and they power the that drives all those mobile devices. Growth is currently being impacted by people buying a phone or tablet instead of a new PC, but until those devices can replace the PC, people still need them."

Sharon Gaudin covers the Internet and Web 2.0, emerging technologies, and desktop and laptop chips for Computerworld. Follow Sharon on Twitter at , on or subscribe to . Her email address is .

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