Despite speculation that it would rush release the chip, Intel has now said that the 1GHz Willamette desktop processor will not be available until the second half of next year. In a conference call last week, CEO Craig Barrett, previewed Willamette and took the wraps off its system-on-a-chip component, Timna (CI No 3,722) – also due in the second half of next year. Barrett also moved to quash fears about problems with Intel’s fourth quarter. The company said that it would not be seriously hit either by Y2K or by the Taiwanese earthquake. Intel is now using the codenames Lion and Big Sur for the two and four-processor Merced system boards it has under development.
