Intel Dropping "Pentium" Name?

The Register has dissected (and translated) information from a post on the Japanese website PC Watch that seems to indicate that Intel might be dropping the name "Pentium" from its future products. Although it seems crazy to throw away one of the most recognized brand names on the face of the earth, Intel might be making a wise decision if they want to lose some of the negative stigma (power consumption, excessive heat, etc.) they've experienced in the press the last year or two.

The new architecture, with is focus on performance per Watt, rather than raw horsepower, warrants new, distinct branding, and 'Intel Core' is it, the report suggests. Merom and Conroe are both likely to be made available in single-core variants, so their debut also provides a good launch point for Intel's upcoming Solo and Duo branding scheme.
Tags:  Intel, ping, ium, Pentium, pen, Pi, PIN, AM