AMD brings back PR-rating format

[CMonster]

I think anything "PR" is a bad idea. The competition need only expose this fact and the general public will assume that a product is being misrepresented.

Bad idea AMD!

[RobRich]

CMonster is dead on with his analysis. Also, do not forget that Intel will likely directly attack this initiative by claiming AMD lacks the technology needed to compete in "today's high-MHz markets".

The PR rating idea will likely lead to increased sales within the "consumer uneducated" retail markets, but this is clearly a bad move for AMD in terms of sales to more knowledgable computer users. I'm also viewing this as another setback for AMD within the high-profit professional workstation/server marketplace.

This strategy didn't work for Cyrix and AMD in the past, why should it work now?

Robert Richmond

[Keermalec]

I don't get AMD. All they need to do is market their 1.4 GHz processor with the title "Fastest PC Processor in the World" (let anyone try to prove the opposite). A bit like Nvidia who always added "The World's First GPU" with their GeForce 256.

Creating a product identity is a very serious matter and I think AMD is not giving it enough attention. They should have a team of marketting/design professionals dedicated only to promoting their product. Remember Betacam got ousted by VHS even though it was the superior product, through lack of marketting strategy...

[jokostel]

AMD is putting a gun in their own mouth.... this is the stupidest thing i have heard yet.
I hope they fire their so called "marketters" cause if that goes thru they will be dead in the water.

Jokostel

[alphageek]

If anything using PR's would scare people away from AMD. Consumers would be confused by a 1600 PR/1400 MHz computer. That's too much info for some one they have alreay consider uninformed. Then the power users, remembering the "great" Cyrix CPU from the past won't look at a PR Athlon the same way.

It makes no sence.

[RobRich]

Best read on this topic so far:

http://www.overclockers.com/tips617/

Interesting to say the least....

[saint999]

AMD is doing studest thing ever, i hate the PR thing. i was planning to get Palomino 1.5mhz, if it change to something
model 2000+ ?
i would rather to get P4 2ghz.
AMD is trying cheat the consumers????

[otheos]

The PR rating idea will likely lead to increased sales within the "consumer uneducated" retail markets, but this is clearly a bad move for AMD in terms of sales to more knowledgable computer users. I'm also viewing this as another setback for AMD within the high-profit professional workstation/server marketplace.

All that matters to the educated is the performance not the name. I am sure people who apreciate either the FPU, or the value for money already, will stick to it as long as it lasts.

As long as the majority of the market is dictated by the "uneducated consumer" marketing will make it's best to sell.

Now, PR rating, while bridging the Mhz gap with the true performance, actually demotes the image of the product and especially so to the eye of the uneducated. The consumer will leave the shop with a AMD PR1800 system rather than a P4 1800, knowing not that he got a better deal at the same performance (or even better) but that he got the cheaper alternative. While AMD only cares to sell, I believe this is the reason that in the long term both AMD and Cyrix remained the underdogs and only made intel the "traditional solution" that even a reversal of the roles in terms of products (FPU wise) keeps them strong.

AMD should differentiate the market, and get consumers cut from intel once and for all, not just "this time around". The PR rating may or may not increase their sales to the "uneducated", most probably wont hurt sales to the "educated" (see research/ high end workstations), but definitely will NOT establish AMD in the market. And that's what they need. Sales will come after that.

[camaro]

AMD has left themselves kinda volunarable with this. Intel can come back and say"well our 1.8 is actually a 1.8 AMD's is actually a 1.6" Most uneducated people usually listen to what the guys in the computer store tell them is better. It all depends on who is selling it.

[TechDude]

One thing that AMD really needs is more advertisment. I mean, if it wernt for the internet, would you know who AMD was? Nope, i never heard of AMD untill a friend told me about them. What about Intel? Hell yes.. if it wernt for a friend then i would prolly still be thinking that Intel was the only company who makes cpus.

[vintron]

it's very true ...... AMD really needs to make and do more TV and radio ads.

Tech people know about AMD .... but that's wnot enough..... we cannot force our customers to take AMD just becasue we think it's good.

Most of the general public are pretty much in the dark when it comes to tech knowledge. They belive what they are told and shown through tv and radio.

AMD NEEDS TO MAKE TV AND RADIO ADS ASAP!!!!

[TechDude]

Hey.. if AMD does use this PR rating thing, then does that mean that if i were to buy a Athlon or whatever their next-gen cpu is called, that it would not say its Mhz speed anywhere?

I hope not.. cuz it would suck so much that i have to rely on tech sites or benchmarks in order to fin out that Model 2400 is really a 1.6Ghz cpu.

[ibmman85]

Bringing back the whole PR thing isnt the best thing. It might have been for cyrix, because they knew theyre processors were slow as snails and had to have someway of confusing the consumer into buying them. Intel shouldnt be the benchmark anymore, and although they made the first cpu, and have the first major consumer 2ghz cpu, AMD's 1.4ghz athlon is probably still perfect competition for that 2ghz model. Doesnt amd know they have a much better product? They should probably do what apple did and make commercials that involve frying pentium 4s in various ways, say a blowtorch; or maybe dropping one off a building or something and then show a picture of the athlon and have "The World's Fastest" zoom on the screen. Just some ideas for you if any AMD exec happens to read this.

[ibmman85]

another thought- PR and P4 sound relatively similar if you're tired or listening to someone talk fast- it would be awful if someone knowledgeble told their non-techie friend to get an AMD PR system and instead they went out and bought a P4 system. people might start thinking that AMD is a division, brand name, or trademark of Intel just because they thought That PR was the same thing as P4. I know on radio or tv theyre more likely to say 'pentium 4' instead of p4 but in the sunday paper ads and on the description of a comp in a store will probably say 'P4' so there would be some possible confusion there.......

[JCB]

Anyone who's ever downloaded Sisoft Sandra knows what they're PR rating is. Unfortunately most of the public doesn't have a clue.

AMD should advertise both ratings.