Comments for: Dell launches AMD-based Dimension desktop PCs

This is clearly a huge win for AMD. I think it is worth noting that AMD has done something truly remarkable over the past 6 years -- they have stared down a near-monopolist that had all of the advantages that a monpolist has (mindshare, marketshare, huge resources, etc etc), they have been ruthlessly efficient in capitalizing on the many mistakes of that monpolist by actually giving people what they want. AMD had to make few mistakes, while Intel had the luxury to make many, and still AMD has survived and even prospered. It's pretty cool.

Yet, at the same time, there are some ironic twists here. Dell is no longer the market-share expanding dynamo that it once was, and AMD no longer has the technological advantage it once had. So, whereas this would have been a tremendous coup and endorsement of AMD's K8 back in 2003, not to mention a case of Dell actually paying attention to technology and customers, it is instead a belated, clumsy attempt by Dell to correct years of mistakes, at a time when it is almost too late, both for Dell and AMD.

Put another way, this seems to almost be an award for AMD's past success more than an indicator of its future successes. When it comes to endorsements, Dell is no longer worth much (not sure that it ever was). I actually think Apple picking Intel over AMD says a lot more about the future, because Apple came into the x86 market with no prior biases and just picked the company that they thought had the best roadmap. Also, Apple actually provides some value-added technology-wise, whereas Dell is just a website with a phonebank of PC technical support people, so I tend to give apple a bit more credit.

anyway... that's my $.02

#2. Posted at 03:56 PM on Sep 12th 2006

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Perezoso

I'm waiting for a Dell/AMD notebook. Yes, I'm a cheap bastard.

#1. Posted at 03:45 PM on Sep 12th 2006

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Damage

Digg it:

http://digg.com/hardware/Dell_officially_launches_first_AMD_based_s...