Errr...it <i>did</i> hit the market. Intel kept it a bit quiet, but it was released, and the production units are actually in use.
Trouble is, not many people seem to want an Itanium. Intel was only able to scrape up maybe half-a-dozen real live Itanium users at their last PR shindig.
As for running like a DOG...for 32-bit x86 code on the Itanium, you might as well run a software emulator. 32-bit code benchmarked about like a P-100 on the Itanium; a software emulator would probably run it faster than the Itanium's built-in emulation. I'd post a link to the relevant review if I could remember it...
I'd personally like to see some benchmarks of the thing next to an Alpha or an UltraSPARC III, as this seems to be the playing field the Itanium is targeted for. I prefer not to pass judgment on the chip until then.
Kelledin
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