JC, Re: "AMD's big loss quarter was simultaneous with the time period in which AMD lost the "performance crown"."
It was due to much more than simply losing the performance crown. Even with benchmarks showing them as having the faster processor, AMD was unable to get design wins for their newest products, they were having a tough time with OEM relations, such as Gateway and IBM, they had their goals so set on gaining market share that they dropped ASPs down to the point where they are losing money on most of the processors they sold, and they were continuing their poor marketing effort by not showing the benefits of their product line to the rest of the consumer world. And still, how many tier 1 or 2 OEMs are supporting the Athlon MP? How are their relations with other OEMs that have pledged exclusive relations with Intel? How is their marketing doing, now that the first wave of Athlon XP QuantiSpeed press has finished? ASPs are up, but will it last? They are already falling, and some news sites predict a large price drop along with Intel's price drop on Monday.
AMD's problems stem from much more than just performance. Of course, many so-called investors on this thread believe that performance is the direct route to a higher stock price, and any fraction of a percent in AMD's favor is going to magically give them some return. It should be obvious after three quarters this year that AMD's K7 party is over, and through their huge successes, they've failed to improve the company enough to win the next generation of products.
wanna_bmw |
