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AMD Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Intel
The Wall Street Journal ^ | June 28, 2005

Posted on 06/28/2005 12:07:01 AM PDT by HAL9000

AMD FILED AN ANTITRUST SUIT against Intel, accusing its rival of using illegal inducements and coercion to dissuade firms from buying AMD's computer chips. 3:00 a.m.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: amd; antitrust; intel
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To: ordinaryguy
OpenStep, the predecessor to OS X, ran on both 'black' (Motorola) and 'white' (Intel) hardware. The OS is designed to work with big or little endian machines. It really isn't an issue, as the software written for it is endian-neutral. The OS will figure out what needs to happen with the data, and translate it, transparently, if necessary.

Cocoa will sort out a lot of that stuff, but archived C-language structures like (int) still need some special handling.

This would have been the least of Apple's consideration in such a major decision as switching processors.

It's actually one of the top issues for Apple. Maintaining data compatibility in this migration will be a daunting issue for many developers, and a lot of working code is going to be broken. The other big issue is porting AltiVec code to Intel's SSE units.

21 posted on 06/28/2005 2:03:22 AM PDT by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: Revel

they apparently have a script that is not DOM and W3C compliant and only works on internet explorer...

lazy web page developers?


22 posted on 06/28/2005 2:07:51 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (I remember when conservative meant, CUTTING the government's POWER and SIZE down.)
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To: miliantnutcase
I work in 3d animation and I only care about floating point, memory bandwidth etc.

Well, my credentials in 3D graphics programming are very good. I did the first port of a certain well-known photorealistic 3D rendering engine to Mac, and I did the first port of the PHP scripting language to Mac hardware, so I'm speaking from experience about these issues. Long story short: little-endian format sucks.

23 posted on 06/28/2005 2:13:40 AM PDT by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000

Having developed high performance, low level assembly code for everything from artillary control systems to IUS (Inertial Upper Stage) systems for NASA, I think I can state definitively with regard to the "big-endian/little-endian" debate that nobody really gives much of a crap as long as it works! :)


24 posted on 06/28/2005 2:25:24 AM PDT by The Duke
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To: HAL9000

I wish I were a programmer so I could feel your pain. You guys are nuts...in a good way :D
naww you guys do amazing things such limitations. I just think once people start attacking a silicon wafer it turns into the same as religion and politics...


25 posted on 06/28/2005 2:28:20 AM PDT by miliantnutcase
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To: miliantnutcase
I just think once people start attacking a silicon wafer it turns into the same as religion and politics...

If we want that analogy, little-endian could be compared to Arabic language - the text goes in one direction - but the numbers go in the opposite direction.

Big-endian is more like English - the text and numbers are all written in the same direction.

26 posted on 06/28/2005 2:43:17 AM PDT by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000
Technical merits seldom win in today's cuthroat mercantile environment.

Those that can't, sue.


BUMP

27 posted on 06/28/2005 2:49:16 AM PDT by tm22721
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To: miliantnutcase

I have a nice, blue mouse pad.


28 posted on 06/28/2005 5:39:14 AM PDT by HRJames (Philippine Branch of FR)
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To: HAL9000

This could be interesting. The case against Intel, at least on the surface, appears to be stronger than the one against MSFT. Regular meat and potatoes antitrust. No esoteric deiscussions of lines of software code, what is and what is not part of the Operating System as opposed to a bundled add-on, etc. Not that the merits of a case have any bearing on final rulings, by either judges or juries....

Also, AMD's new chips are pretty awesome. I got my first non-Intel chip back in December (and Athlon 64) and just built a new A64 system for work. They are certainly top performers, great values (esp. in the mid-range of the market), and run cooler than Intel chips (and heat is becoming a big limiting factor in computer technology). Intel still has the edge it seems when it comes to video encoding and some other FPU intensive functions. I think there's certainly a place in the market for both, and AMD recently has given Intel a wake up call, which could be good for everyone. AMD has clearly made the transition from Intel knock-off to innovator.

The problem is, to get an AMD CPU, particularly on the desktop side, you need to either do what I did and build one yourself, or buy from a smaller boutique vendor (typically one that specializes in high end gaming rigs) or a local computer shop. In the business environment, support could be an issue in such cases, which is holding down adoption of AMD's in the business environment. IBM is using Opteron's in some of their servers, and AMD is starting to make some headway in both server and desktop boxes (thanks to their superior 64 bit architecture).

DISCLAIMER: I am not a computer professional, I just play one at my company. The observations made are purely from the end-user / hobbyist perspective.


29 posted on 06/28/2005 6:34:45 AM PDT by Hurricane Andrew (History teaches that wars begin when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.)
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To: HAL9000
Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine

Why? It isn't the Mac just going to be another Intel Box running a version of BSD UNIX?

Why is Jobs going to the INTEL Chips? Is it because they offer better performance than the IBM Chips,or if Jobs going to INTEL chips to get worse performance at a better price.

If Endian was as a big factor in performance would Jobs switch to Intel Chips? Perhaps the reason may be that Apple is going to lesser performing chips to be able to compete on price.

Apple Computer -Less quality - LessPower = Smaller Price;

Intel obviously wants to not be so dependent on Microsoft. I would look for Microsoft, Dell, Gateway, and the other PC Players to tell Intel that if Apple gets the chips the same time they do, they will hedge their business by working closely with AMD.

Gates, if Intel gives Apple equal access might very well optimize windows to run on AMD chips and make Intel wait until the AMD chips are out sotheir designs will to be able to run MS operating systems as fast as AMD based PCs.

I think INTEL is getting into a bunch of crap they don't understand. I would not be surprised to find that MS is behind the AMD suit against INTEL. You can bet MS people will be witnesses.

INTEL bought off the Clintons to escape the last time and the Justice Department went after Gates because he did not pony up. This time GATES put lots of MS and Gates money in the game.

Look for Intel and Apple to come out on the short end of ENDIAN wars.

Did you ever notice that JOBS looks a lot like General Custer?" Better keep your Hero away from Little Big Horn. aka Bill Gates


30 posted on 06/28/2005 6:53:24 AM PDT by Common Tator
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To: Common Tator
"I would look for Microsoft, Dell, Gateway, and the other PC Players to tell Intel that if Apple gets the chips the same time they do, they will hedge their business by working closely with AMD."

We don't know yet whether Intel will be selling Apple the same type of x86 commodity chips that the clone PC manufacurers will use. Apple owns some processor design IP that could be licensed to Intel - for custom x86 chips to be sold to Apple only.

"I think INTEL is getting into a bunch of crap they don't understand. I would not be surprised to find that MS is behind the AMD suit against INTEL. You can bet MS people will be witnesses."

AMD's strategy of obtaining subpoenas for the private executive emails of Gateway, Dell, HP, etc., and forcing their execs to testify is risky too. Embarrassing your prospective customers is bad for business.

"Did you ever notice that JOBS looks a lot like General Custer? Better keep your Hero away from Little Big Horn. aka Bill Gates"

I don't see any resemblance between Jobs and Custer - they look nothing alike. But Bill Gates is often compared to Napoleon, in both of their empire-building tactics and their shrimpish physiques.

31 posted on 06/28/2005 10:47:57 AM PDT by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000
I don't see any resemblance between Jobs and Custer -

When Custer went to war against Sitting Bull, Custer thought the Sioux were just few little Little Indians ripe for defeat.

When Jobs went to war those many years ago against Bill Gates he thought the pc was just a bunch of "Little Endians" ripe for defeat.

Jobs sat on his Sitting bull when he had 85 percent of the market with the Apple II. By the time he figured out what in the Lisa to do, his Big Endian had shrunk to 5 percent of the market and his Big Mac never had a chance.. The fact that most computer users thought it came with fries did not help.

INTEL has just two viable options although it does not understand what they are. One is kiss Bill Gates butt and two is to do what it can to hinder Apple. The third option is to become a distant number 2 player in the CPU market.

Bill Gates will buy the Democrats and Republicans before he buys AMD.

The question is, How in the Hillary could he do that?

32 posted on 06/28/2005 11:39:53 AM PDT by Common Tator
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To: HAL9000
I always figured Michael Dell and the other computer makers were very happy that Intel made them go exclusive in order to get the best price.

Yes Dell will really be ticked. If AMD wins then Intel will stand convicted to harming Dell et all by forcing them to buy ony Intel.. How many billions will Dell be rewarded in damages?

How many billions will AMD be rewarded.

I can just hear Michael Dell when he gets the huge court ordered damage check from Intel, "How dare those SOB's at AMD get me a huge damage awards. On top of that they got me court ordered low prices and the freedom to buy from the cheapest seller this week."

If AMD wins the companies that took the INTEL exclusive deal will get damages, and those that paid way to much will get damages.

Nothing could tick a computer maker off more than getting huge rebate and damage checks from a supplier. Imagine how mad they would be at the company that picked up the tab to get them the money. Are damages taxable?????

33 posted on 06/28/2005 11:51:16 AM PDT by Common Tator
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To: cabojoe; All
...AMD64 and Opterons the choice of performance enthusiasts worldwide...

I just bought an eMachine with an AMD 64 processor...problem is, the OS doesn't use it.

Any FReeper experiences with Windows XP Professional x64 Edition?

I can download the beta, but don't feel too comfy installing it just yet.

34 posted on 06/28/2005 11:59:35 AM PDT by Recovering Hermit
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To: Common Tator
If AMD wins the companies that took the INTEL exclusive deal will get damages, and those that paid way to much will get damages.

AMD is the only plaintiff in the case, so there is no legal basis for Dell, et al, to be awarded damages if AMD wins. There is nothing in AMD's "Prayer for Relief" that asks for damages to be paid to the clone manufacturers.

It's more likely that the court would order Intel's co-marketing agreements with Dell to be terminated, which would cost Dell a lot of money (a.k.a. kickbacks) they have been receiving from Intel. But it might result in lower prices for x86 chips that would benefit the whole industry.

35 posted on 06/28/2005 12:10:59 PM PDT by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000
It's too bad that AMD didn't design a better architecture than Intel. They both use the same stupid, brain-damaged little-endian storage format.

That soon will be powering Apple computers. Will that stop your bashing of all things PC? Of course not.

36 posted on 06/28/2005 3:30:16 PM PDT by Golden Eagle
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To: Golden Eagle
That soon will be powering Apple computers. Will that stop your bashing of all things PC? Of course not.

Correct. I will continue bashing all processors that use only little-endian mode.

I fired off an email to the CEO of AMD at 3 AM this morning about it, just as the embargo was lifted. It should be at the top of his pile. If AMD had added big-endian to the instruction set, Apple would have gone with them instead of Intel.

37 posted on 06/28/2005 6:14:31 PM PDT by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000
Correct. I will continue bashing all processors that use only little-endian mode.

Thanks. It will be interesting to see you start criticizing Apple instead. What other choices do you know have for your computing needs, if this issue is so critical to you?

38 posted on 06/28/2005 6:25:26 PM PDT by Golden Eagle
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To: Robert_Paulson2

"they apparently have a script that is not DOM and W3C compliant and only works on internet explorer... "


There loss. I was not about to use IE on a page with some script I don't trust that acts strangely. I really don't think that any news site should need to use a java script.


39 posted on 06/28/2005 6:34:45 PM PDT by Revel
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To: miliantnutcase

You're going to love the prototype I'm building in my spare time. See you at E3 in a couple of years...


40 posted on 06/28/2005 7:47:41 PM PDT by Lexinom
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