Marcia Savage, in Computer Reseller News, writes . . .

Marking another milestone in development of its first 64-bit chip, Intel Corp. last month began shipping prototype systems based on the processor to OEMs and operating system vendors. The chip, formerly code-named Merced and now called Itanium, is the first processor in Intel's 64-bit architecture (IA-64) for high-end servers and workstations. Itanium is scheduled for production in mid-2000, with initial systems available at about the same time.

Intel produced the first silicon samples of Itanium about six months ago. “Getting Itanium-based prototype systems up and running and out to customers in less than six months after the initial silicon was significant,” said Ron Curry, director of marketing in Intel's microprocessor products group.

“We'll be delivering literally thousands of these [prototype systems] in the first half of 2000,” Curry said in an interview last month. “This is something that's never been done before, to deliver this many prototypes this far in advance of production to help with software optimization and development.”

Curry also commented on the Trillian group, which is busy getting Linux running on Itanium. “This quarter, Intel will release the Trillian group from non-disclosure agreements,” Curry said. The Trillian group is a team of OEMs and Linux distributors working on a version of Linux for IA-64. “The source code will be released so a broad base of Linux developers can work with it,” he said.

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