Definition

Wintel

Wintel is a computer trade industry term for personal computers based on the Intel microprocessor and one of the Windows operating system from Microsoft. The term "PC" has often been used for this purpose. That is, the IBM "PC" (with the Intel chip and Windows operating system) became the prevalent personal computer in the business world and has usually been distinguished from personal computers from Apple (with a Motorola microchip and a proprietary operating system) and sometimes from UNIX workstations.

In most trade publication articles, Wintel implies a Pentium-level microprocessor and the Windows 95 or NT operating systems.

Related glossary terms: computer, StarOffice, windows, icons, mouse, and pull-down menus (WIMP), Terminal Server product or Microsoft Windows Terminal Server (WTS), favicon (favorite icon), Windows Product Activation (WPA), Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Winsock, TweakUI, DirectX

This was last updated in April 2005

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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