The twin axes of Wintel are to speak today at a workstation conference in California. According to various and sundry US wires, Craig Barrett, CEO of Intel, is expected to give an update on the Merced IA-64 platform. He may attempt to scotch rumours we have reported that Intel is having difficulties with Merced. Or he may clarify a position that has grown muddier as 1999 becomes world-wearier. Gates will beat his chest about NT being the perfect OS for workstations. Fact is, there are some Intel technology workstation announcements due soon enough, as we reported earlier this year, along with a spate of new code names. New high end Intel systems coming your way spells out a whole set of new codenames. Wintel will talk at 8.15 in the morning, Pacific time. When Barrett was in London not long back, he said that his Internet Pad allowed him to look at all the news stories about Intel round the world before he got out of bed to eat his Cheerios. So if you're reading this one, Craig, clarify those muddy waters... Watch out for it. ®