Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) seems to be reaping the benefits of massive layoffs from last year as well as a surge in new products that are outpacing longtime thorn-in-the-side competitor Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD). AMD's woes have been huge of late, although the release of a new quad-core microprocessor may be able to help it get back on track. Unlike in the past, however, Intel is now in reactive mode, not the proactive one.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini said this week that the world's largest chipmaker may speed up work on ever-faster computer chips just as the demand for PCs continues to rise around the world. Intel is positioned nicely to take advantage of expected double-digit growth in PCs, as emerging markets continue buying up hordes of personal computers and saturated markets -- like the U.S. -- fuel growth by replacing desktop PCs with laptop systems at a blistering pace.

Intel's recent focus on developing new chips to outpace products by its scrappy and smaller competitor is winning it more customer sales and loyalty after years of being perceived as beaten when it came to cost and performance of processors used in laptop computers through to corporate server systems. Whatever Otellini has done in the last year is paying off and Intel has roared back this year after having the lowest chip market share in 11 years last year. AMD is going to have a very tough time this go-round with the resurgent Intel, that's for sure. It was probably a good move, then, for AMD to gobble up graphics powerhouse ATI when it did -- as the company will need that business now more than ever.