AMD notebooks face uphill struggle

Sources close to AMD's plans have said that design time and the cost of making notebooks using its upcoming mobile microprocessors mean that many tier one vendors have decided to stick with Intel for the time being.

Designing notebooks with the AMD processor is far harder than making desktops using similar technology, with issues like heat and power complicating the task.

However, the same sources suggest that Compaq, at least, will go for an AMD mobile design, with a product expected to be launched during this quarter.

There is also a problem with suitable casings for the AMD mobile processors, we understand, with only a handful of the major Taiwanese firms currently having suitable chassis for the beasts.

While there are likely to be product announcements, as we reported here last month, the mobile designs will not arrive with the same impact as desktop machines had on Intel this time last year.

Further, Intel is making strenuous efforts to ensure that most of the major notebook firms stay on side, and is offering sweeteners on prices and conditions which will help them see the error of their ways if they go down the AMD route.

However, AMD will probably play the price undercutting card for all it's worth to gradually convince people to go with their solution rather than Intel's. ®

See Also

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Intel's notebook prices, strategies in 2001