"How many hardware, software, firmware components are there that go inside or are attached to a PC that have to interface with the main processor? I don't know and you don't either. It is undoubtedly a large number."
First I was going to say "Hello Mary, long time no see!"
Then, for the sake of maintaining "constructive
confrontation" Intel-style, I say: you better speak
for yourself, not for others.
One reason why you "don't know" is that you did not
define what "go[es] inside or are attached to a PC".
You seem to be of opinion that a PC maker should always
check for "compatibility" with some weird java-scripts
out of some Finnish or Polish web site. If you include
"software components" in your wide definition, then you are
in deep trouble: as one of my former bosses used to
lecture, the number of software permutations exceeds
the number of protons in our Universe.
"Just because someone claims he built something to stardard, spec, whatever, does not mean he successfully did so"
Yes, that's why no-one in industry trusts claims, even
from "brand" names. What you do you "work" with a vendor,
you establish a thorough set of verifiable parameters
and validation procedures, to the best level within your
time and headcount constraints, and force your vendor to
continuously maintain evidences of compliance. Otherwise
they will hear my "good-bye".
"That is why you test. Everything should be tested, at least once <GGGGG>. "
That's funny. A retired investor is teaching a senior
validation professional on how an what to test.
The whole "200" number was used to impress readers about
complexity of PC validation, with hint
that AMD-based systems are much more expensive to
validate. By noting the large number of components
to validate, you actually refuted this claim, since
the processor is only one of these 200 (or whatever)
system components. In any case, the cost of validation is
amortized within the system vendor, it is built into the
PC price. And the cost of "deployment, development,
and imaging", as per Gartner BS, has nothing to do with
it, and is not much different from Intel systems.
- Ali |
