Intel packs a computer on a chip: the 386 SL promises to make portables even more portable. (includes related article on flash memory) (product announcement)

Intel Packs a Computer on a Chip

In the last 30 years, computers have shrunk fromthe size of a suburban garage to somewhat smaller than a breadbox. Truly tiny systems are coming soon, thanks to recent advances in miniaturized electronics from chip maker Intel Corp.

How tiny is tiny? How about an entire '386-class computer on a board about the size of your hand? Intel recently announced the 386 SL Microprocessor SuperSet, a two-chip set that replaces most of the 50 or 60 chips normally needed to create a desktop machine, except for memory. Several portable-computer manufacturers plan to put the chip set to work in new notebook or palmtop computers, according …