Intel ponies up $1 billion for Itanium

USA Today, of all places, has this story on the trials and tribulations of Intel's 64-bit strategy. First, Intel took a big hit at IDF when AMD stole its thunder by showing off Hammer at a hotel a couple of blocks from the forum. About the most excitign piece of news at the conference for some journalists. Then, there's the possibility that Itanium's two biggest partners, Compaq and HP, are going to merge and reduce Intel's market by 50%. And finally, how about this damning analyst quote in the article, ''Intel and H-P are holding a party, and nobody's coming,'' says analyst Peter Kastner of the Aberdeen Group. More