While Intel is still robustly in denial over the collapse of its Rambus strategy for notebook PCs, reliable sources have said that mobile RIMMs will not arrive in quantity until the second half of next year. According to a close Intel partner, companies will still manufacture SO-RIMMs for notebook machines, but technical and marketing issues are preventing the ramp from happening until later next year. As already reported here, Intel's notebook strategy is in considerable disarray, with volumes of many of the mobile Coppermine processors not expected to reach the channel until the end of Q1 at the earliest. Although Intel still has many of its core notebook customers, such as Toshiba, Dell, IBM and Compaq on board, the mutterings in recent months have become audible complaints and many are now actively considering switching to AMD Athlon notebook parts, when they become available in Q1 next year. The problems with the Rambus parts for notebooks will mean that, like it or lump it, Intel will have no choice but to support synchronous memory for some considerable time. According to rumours, Intel is expected to announce something of a dent in its profits on Wall Street next Monday, and is so using the occasion to pre-announce faster Coppermine chips before quantities ship. ®