>putting amd/via combination in pc's when the intel
>machines they have work fine seems like fixing something
>thats not broken.
<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=faq¬found=1&code=1" target="_new">My app runs about 43% faster</A>, clock for clock, on an Athlon. Dell likely won't get my business with a PIII. One of the offices I work out of is Die-Hard for Dell. That might be changing since I showed them those benchmarks. Of course, our machines are more workstation, then a typical desktop.
That said, I just talked to a Dell rep a few minutes ago. He said that about 80% of their business is corporate desktops where performance isn't really an issue. Offering AMD isn't likely to help them their.
Offering Duron's could be a good move in the value market, where the profit margins are thinner and the performance difference wrt the Celeron is greater.
Athlons will only help in the tech-savvy, performance oriented market. And, as you said, they aren't likely to be buying a Dell regardless.
That could change if the 760MP proves rock-solid. They'll start bleeding sales in the higher margin SMP workstation & server market.
And finally, I found the Dell rep that I talked to amazingly condescending, considering how little he actually knew
My $0.02
<i>Cognite Tute</i>
(Think for Yourself)