I'm updating backwards

My first computer was a home-built Pentium Pro that ran at 200 MHz and cost $5,000 with a 1 GB hard drive. My latest one is an HP Athlon 64 X2 5600+ with 500GB hard drive and 3GB ram that I bought on sale with Vista Premium for $450. If & when I replace that, I do not expect to have to pay more than a couple hundred $ tops. In fact: I'm planning to look hard for something that costs only $100.

Sorry AMD -- you have lost touch with reality.

still, doesn't make sense

That is a nice idea in theory, AMD.

The problem is that no one wants to buy ANY of your chips anyway.

Why buy a tri-core (stupidest idea ever) when you can get an Intel dual core chip that uses less power and does more?

On the same token, why buy an AMD quad when, again, you can get an Intel one that works better?

AMD needs a new brain; they've given new meaning to the old phrase 'a day late and a dollar short.'

Er yes but...

I have to frown at AMD... ok I'm frowning... but first a gripe about Intel. We know that Nehlahem and Larrabee chips, in usual intel early-adopter-fleecing strategy, will cost a limb or kidney for the first 12 months and when it actually becomes available to the mainstream AMD should (assuming no further fiascoes) be not far behind. In the mean time Intel's way-early release of stuff they can't actually supply in volume will be trumpted as game over (again) for Intel by clueless fanboys. Nevermind also that AMD is still selling truckloads of parts at the value end of the market - AMD is not haemoraging total market share (that's VIA lol). As for this kind of upselling bollocks, the market AMD has at the momment is the very arse end - the very area that upselling is a poor strategy. (that's speaking from experience). You want to be doing 2-for-1s, rebates, bundles, and doing other things to prop up the consumers enthusiasm when your selling to your average Joe Nocash and Frugal Mcdougal. So I'm not suprised with the flavour of the article: Intel fanboys love to trumpet AMD can't compete, and blogger-hacks love to nod to the fanboys in order to get a article read.
A thought, well of course you can't compete, against a product that can't actually be bought anywhere. Try buying a QX9775 ($1600 USD on newegg)... what's more try finding one at a system builder, that can ship it you in a rig within 2 months...
} rant;