So AMD is suing Intel. First, I'd suggest reading through the 48-page complaint filed by AMD. Given that Vinney is in law school, I've seen a few of these things, but this one is surprisingly legible even for us non-legal types :)
I've known about this sort of stuff for quite some time, in fact, I'd say that out of the 48 pages AMD's legal team put together there's a lot missing. AMD told me that they aren't putting all cards on the table, but here are a couple of other things that I've seen personally:
I can't even begin to count the number of times where motherboard manufacturers have told me that they could not:
1) Send an AMD motherboard for review
2) Promote an AMD motherboard
3) Let us take pictures of an AMD motherboard
Out of fear of Intel retaliation. Remember the original Athlon days when no motherboard manufacturer would dare make a board for the K7? All of the frightened manufacturers were afraid of them losing their Intel chipset allocation if they supported the K7.
The same sort of stuff happened during the i820 days. Intel's first RDRAM based chipset was a complete flop, yet they offered no real SDRAM alternative. VIA did however, and Intel punished those manufacturers who didn't promote their i820 platforms or who too eagerly embraced VIA's solutions.
The list goes on and on.
What's my take on it? I'm all for competition based on technology and technological merit. Whenever Intel was faster we'd recommend them, and whenever AMD was faster, we'd do the same for them. Luckily, you all get it: AMD's market share among our readership is around 50% because you all generally purchase based on technology, performance and a lot of you are building your own systems, so these issues don't directly affect you. Obviously the rest of the market doesn't work that way, and I'd be glad to see that change; it benefits the end user and that's all I care about.
Right now AMD builds the best desktop CPUs, Intel offers the best value on dual core desktop CPUs and Intel has the best mobile chips. It would be nice if the entire market purchased based on those purely technological comparisons.
What will come of AMD's lawsuit? AMD told me that they are in this for the long haul and they aren't expecting to even go to trial in the next 18 months. I'm not sure what the end result will be, but I do know that things aren't entirely balanced today; and I am a fan of anything that drives innovation and produces better overall products for the end users.
One thing is for sure: I would hate for just AMD or Intel to exist, we need both and we need balance. If this lawsuit results in more balance and better competition based on technology rather than marketing ability, then more power to AMD.
Your thoughts?
I've known about this sort of stuff for quite some time, in fact, I'd say that out of the 48 pages AMD's legal team put together there's a lot missing. AMD told me that they aren't putting all cards on the table, but here are a couple of other things that I've seen personally:
I can't even begin to count the number of times where motherboard manufacturers have told me that they could not:
1) Send an AMD motherboard for review
2) Promote an AMD motherboard
3) Let us take pictures of an AMD motherboard
Out of fear of Intel retaliation. Remember the original Athlon days when no motherboard manufacturer would dare make a board for the K7? All of the frightened manufacturers were afraid of them losing their Intel chipset allocation if they supported the K7.
The same sort of stuff happened during the i820 days. Intel's first RDRAM based chipset was a complete flop, yet they offered no real SDRAM alternative. VIA did however, and Intel punished those manufacturers who didn't promote their i820 platforms or who too eagerly embraced VIA's solutions.
The list goes on and on.
What's my take on it? I'm all for competition based on technology and technological merit. Whenever Intel was faster we'd recommend them, and whenever AMD was faster, we'd do the same for them. Luckily, you all get it: AMD's market share among our readership is around 50% because you all generally purchase based on technology, performance and a lot of you are building your own systems, so these issues don't directly affect you. Obviously the rest of the market doesn't work that way, and I'd be glad to see that change; it benefits the end user and that's all I care about.
Right now AMD builds the best desktop CPUs, Intel offers the best value on dual core desktop CPUs and Intel has the best mobile chips. It would be nice if the entire market purchased based on those purely technological comparisons.
What will come of AMD's lawsuit? AMD told me that they are in this for the long haul and they aren't expecting to even go to trial in the next 18 months. I'm not sure what the end result will be, but I do know that things aren't entirely balanced today; and I am a fan of anything that drives innovation and produces better overall products for the end users.
One thing is for sure: I would hate for just AMD or Intel to exist, we need both and we need balance. If this lawsuit results in more balance and better competition based on technology rather than marketing ability, then more power to AMD.
Your thoughts?
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Quantum - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
Probably although everyone on slashdot says Anand doesn't know anything about console programing and neither do his sources (triied finding the remining pages, but obviously failed). I don't really agree since Anand has never posted entirely flawed trash and my impression was that there was more than one source for this so they can't all be idiots.Anyway I'd bet Sony too since while it is plausible that Microsoft would ask him to take it down they probably wouldn't have cared so much about his blog entry. That and the shear speed makes me remember the FBI's crack down on teh bittorrent for "Star Wars".
Anonymous - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
So, do you guys want to start taking bets on whether it was Sony or MS that made him take it down? My guess is Sony, since they've spent YEARS hyping up the Cell processor.Alan - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
i was reading the article this morning on the XBOX 360 and PS3 CPUs and now it seems to be gone! por que? just curious, i liked itdaniel - Thursday, June 30, 2005 - link
no unanonymous sources mentioned in the article... anyways anand wrote/uploaded it, so clearly he thought thatw as ok. dun see how the blog entry and the story could have been a mistakeAhkorishaan - Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - link
Anand is protecting his source. Who needs to stay anonymous for several reasons, not the least of which is probably his job.daniel - Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - link
if the stuff was true anand will put it back up. if it was flawed... well... i expect better.Quantum - Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - link
... Oh um hmm WTH okay first the XB360/PS3 article now the blog whats next? I swear its gotta be a combined Sony/Microsoft effort.My plea still stands Email me pages 5 and up for christ sakes I already have 1-4 i need the rest...
Toobad I can't actually read it.. so much for freedom of speech and the press and what not.
viditor - Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - link
itstrue-really - "i was there during some of the events written about in the 48page memo... wish i could say more but there's too much at stake for me personally"Evidently you're not the only one...
http://tinyurl.com/dbpap
"According to AMD spokespersons, in a private conference call numerous CEOs and others who have allegedly been strong-armed by Intel have been encouraging AMD to do this lawsuit just so they can be subpoenaed and "forced" to tell their tales of woe"
daniel - Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - link
err, did i miss something or did the latest xbox 360/ps3 article disapear slightly faster then expected... something, er, wrong? enlighten us, i found teh article funny - i can now laugh at the people who were oging on about how the $300 console was going to won all gaming PCsitstrue-really - Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - link
Otellini is a liar. I'm positive because i've seen this first hand, i was there during some of the events written about in the 48page memo... wish i could say more but there's too much at stake for me personally.