Microsoft delays Itanium-Xeon Windows software layer

A PLAN TO allow Intel Itanium based systems to work better on running 32-bit software has been delayed until the second half of next year, according to reports.

The IA-32 execution layer was supposed to be released for Windows Server 2003 SP1 this year, but now won't be available until the second half of next year, a report on news.com says, citing a Microsoft representative.

The software, IA32-EL, is supposed to speed up the execution of applications on Xeon/Pentium 4 systems. Although the Itanium can do this already, it does so in a manner which could probably best be described as sluggish.

The execution layer, announced earlier this year, was seen by many as a partial answer by Intel to AMD's 64-bit processors, which will run 32-bit code natively, without emulation and without such a software layer.

But while Microsoft has pushed back its plans to introduce the layer, Linux firms look like they're pushing full steam ahead on the technology.

Perhaps Intel should have written the software layer itself. It's got highly competent programmers and could easily make a better operating system than its Volish friend. µ

See Also
Itanic doesn't emulate 32-bit: it's hardware
Intel claims .net framework will give Itanium a boost