MS is trying to kill AMD?

Posted Apr 23, 2004 3:04 UTC (Fri) by havoc (guest, #2261) [Link]

Oh, heavens no! NOT MS trying to kill AMD. NOT Intel trying to kill AMD.

AMD trying to kill AMD, by making poor choices.

A lot of people throw out the VHS vs. BetaMax analogy about "better technology losing out to inferior technology." In fact, I had that analogy tossed at me today _by an AMD employee!_ BetaMax didn't fail because the market chose VHS. BetaMax failed because Sony made fatal licensing choices and priced themselves out of the market.

AMD has hung their entire fortune on Windows64. "Oh, I'm sorry, Windows64 won't be available until Intel, using the license we forced you to _GIVE_ to Intel, has their AMD^H^H^H x86_64 chips ready for the market. We'll just keep delaying the shipment until they're good to go."

Not to diminish the millions that AMD pumped into SuSE to finance SuSE's 64-bit effort, but AMD has hung their future on Windows64. Had they fully embraced Linux two years ago (rather than treating it like a stray dog, feeding it relative scraps), AMD/Linux would be crushing its way through server rooms rather than just pushing it's way in.

This full-frontal embrace may yet save AMD's bacon, but for the little guy to lean on Microsoft for support is seldom a wise choice.

As an aside, MS would never let AMD fail -- they'd buy them out, first.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=13077
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=13066
(yes, I realize that the INQ is a rumor site, but it's no less valid speculation.)

havoc
http://www.galacticslacker.com/