Intel Aims To Retake Momentum At Conference; Preface To A Key Time; Chipmaker will give its developers info on new chips due out in midyear.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: JAMES DETAR

The Major League Baseball season is still weeks away, but Intel is already looking for a home run to boost its average against archrival Advanced Micro Devices and reclaim momentum.

On Friday, Intel lowered its sales outlook for the current quarter, citing weak demand and the loss of some market share. (See related story above.)

Its problems started earlier. In the last year-plus, Intel has lagged AMD in some advances. It hopes to change the momentum starting Tuesday, when it kicks off its spring Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco.

It's a big annual event for Intel, which is why AMD wants to steal some of its thunder with product unveilings …