Wow, is that really F1 2011 running on an Ultrabook? No. But Intel would like you to play along please.

Let me start this piece by saying that I like Intel. That’s it, I just thought it was important to make that clear before you read on.

CES, the Goliath of consumer electronics shows (clearly) is in full swing and is the place to be for any technology company wanting to flaunt its wares for the upcoming year. Every (ok not every (Apple)) major industry player attends CES vying for the “wow” crown. Today, intel achieved that goal when Mooley Eden took stage to introduce the company’s latest Sandy Bridge processor for Ultrabooks.

Unless you’re a member of the US Congress or the type of person who has held on to their typewriter in the hope that the ever increasing trend of faux retro nostalgia will once again make it not only popular but somehow functional, you know what an Ultrabook is. No [sigh], just think MacBook Air and then realise that the rest of the world’s technology companies have only just realised that it’s form factor is not only über cool but extremely practical.

Now, Ultrabooks (let’s just call them all, including the Air, that) are not only slim, but are becoming very powerful thanks in no small part to Intel and today Intel lifted its skirt to reveal its new line of silly quick (technical term, look it up) processors. Except, maybe Intel isn’t as confident that their product makes the “silly quick” grade as what appeared under said skirt was more support pant than suspender belt.

To demo the graphical capabilities of the chip Intel played a casual session of F1 2011. “Play” being the operative word. Electronics shows are known for being comedic hotspots and true to form Eden had the crowd going for a moment, pretending to play with one hand and then no hands before cranking up the hysteromiter by revealing that it was actually somebody backstage playing the demo. Oh you little tease, you! Except that it wasn’t (somebody backstage).

Right before the demo you can see in the video below that someone, maybe Eden, hits the “play” button in VLC and off trots a video supposed to fool everybody into thinking the game is actually being played live on Intel’s new chip. If you hadn’t figured it out yet, it wasn’t, it was a video, meant to fool your tiny ignorant brain into thinking Intel’s new chip is a deity.

A couple of things:

1. If you’re going to try and fool an audience, don’t chose an auditorium full of industry leading tech journalists; and
2. If your tech isn’t ready, don’t show it. It’s worse to pretend to show it than to not show it at all. In all likelihood your deceit will be uncovered (see point 1.)

So, in summary, Intel are silly, tech journalists are not and nobody (apart from Intel) knows whether the new Sand Bridge processors can actually capably run F1 2011. And if Intel tell you they can, you have just cause for not believing them. So Intel, it’s your serve, again. Do we really need to explain this to you?