Wintel

Refers to the combination of the Windows operating system running on Intel microprocessors. The term is often used sarcastically to indicate the close alliance between Intel and Microsoft. Because Windows 3.x and Windows 95 run only on x86 microprocessor architectures, Intel and Microsoft support each other in ways that many feel is unhealthy for the computer industry as a whole. However, it should be pointed out that Windows NT runs on several non-x86 microprocessors, and there are other operating systems, such as Linux, that run on Intel microprocessors.