AMD and Intel Notebooks Head to Head

An anonymous reader writes "The two chip giants go head-to-head in this review of notebook computers which features 10 different models." From the article: "To be blunt, sourcing high-performance AMD-based notebooks for this test was less difficult than extracting teeth from a fully grown chicken -- but only just. After much chasing, only two vendors submitted an AMD-powered product -- MSI and Asus. Interestingly, both vendors had their Intel-powered notebooks at the Lab with no chasing needed. We should point out that the rarity of AMD product is not the fault of AMD, rather vendors, in Australia at least, do not seem to stock adequate quantities of high-performance AMD-equipped notebooks. Acer, for example, has a humdinger of a notebook the Acer Ferrari 3400 that is equipped with a mobile Athlon 64 but the company was unable to ship a single unit to the lab during the entire month of May."

Comments

Of course they couldn't

[fr0dicus]

The waiting list for a Ferrari is months or years!

Printer-friendly version

[sczimme]

Fewer ads 'n' whatnot: Clicky.

One possible explenation

[Anonymous Coward]

It could be that the demand for high performance AMD notebooks is high. Compared to the amount of notebooks produced maybe, but still. THey are being shipped to customers rather than to test labs. :)

More cannon fodder

[Iriel]

Gee, after reading enough articles like this, I'm starting to think AMD should start checking /. for arguments in their Intel-monopoly lawsuit ;)

Well...

[DanielNS84]

I suppose they were too good to just grab one from a retail place and see what us commoners would get ;) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82 E16834115194

I'd prefer an Intel laptop

[Arthur B.]

Because the machine code is more optimized if I use my Intel compiler.

Re:One possible explanation

[panurge]

Indeed it could be. It may be too that the vendors are careful not to promote them too hard because (a) Intel may get nasty and (b) they would eat into the mainstream product lines.

When I got my AMD64 notebook, eighteen months ago (yes, early adopter, I know) I was told it would be unreliable, run too hot, etc. etc. It has so far survived eighteen months of commuting and abuse, especially the abuse of using it as a test vehicle for a complete web server and development platform. It's still on the first HDD ("Won't last eight months...") And so far the only thing to go wrong is a little rubber foot came off (replaced with superglue.) Even though my other notebook is a P-M Thinkpad, I would recommend the AMD64 to anyone who actually needs performance.

Pricing

[zaguar]

If you take anything out of this, Yanks, look at the pricings. In Australia, a developed, industrialized nation we have 150%-200% markups vs U.S. prices on almost all computing items.

If you want to see more for yourself - look at:

http://www.newegg.com/

vs

http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/

Re:Pricing

[ballstothat]

What about currency conversion?

Australian dollars currently trade at $1.30AU for every $1US.

XFX Geforce 7800 at Newegg is:

$574 dollars
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82 E16814150100

XFX Geforce 7800 at AusPCMarket is:

$924 dollars
Link: http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.ph p?input%5Bproduct_code%5D=VI-11PVT70F-256&input%5B category_id%5D=1339

$574 x 1.3 = $746.20

There is a markup, of about 20 percent. Not 150-200% as you have stated, however.

Better pricing

[Anonymous Coward]

No. We have nuclear weapons. The Australians have koala bears. End of story.