When I read the news, it read to me like Itanium needed some Alpha-like elements to go, and rather than license the technology, the bought the business from DEC (opps, Compaq)... Intel has a long history of getting caught using technology suprisingly like others patented technology, IIRC... Ken (BTW - So what does this mean my 200/166 and two Multias are worth now?! ;^)