Here's a little teaser....

[dave_graham]

So you lunch with SR AMD people.
You should have all the answers then.
If Anandtech and like sites are not in the loop, why did AMD bother to give them test samples? Especially considering your opinion (that is so easily read between the lines) that their input could only hurt AMD and not influence positively any real server based customers like IBM Dell etc.....? Does AMD have an entire PR department that is so incompetent?
On the other hand IF they did not hand out chips for sites like Anand, they surely knew that those sites would get their hands on them soon and do articles anyways. At least you can admit AMD tried to keep as much control of the situation as possible, that does not look incompetent to me.

well, let's work our way through this, then.

If Anandtech and like sites are not in the loop, why did AMD bother to give them test samples?

ever hear the quote "there's no such thing as bad marketing?" listen, one way or the other, they were going to start having to answer questions that they probably wanted to do on THEIR terms. there's a tipping point. FWIW, AMD basically embargoed the hell out of a LOT of documents that normally we'd have access to ahead of time. Not trying to apologize for them (as i've stated, it's a up in my opinion).

Especially considering your opinion (that is so easily read between the lines) that their input could only hurt AMD and not influence positively any real server based customers like IBM Dell etc.....?

just because you can read between the lines doesn't mean you're right.
I don't believe that AMD is "hurt" by enterprise regarding this early launch. Again, enterprise companies (like EMC, et al) rely on their own test/dev labs and dedicated FAE (field application engineers) that work one on one with them. Anand, et al. work with pro-sumers; folks that could spend the coin but won't really move beyond the (i'm being conservative here so give me some grace) occasional tray of processors. for example, one of my FDS clients is a small storage company that uses Opterons for their SP (storage processors). They've bought approximately 8 processors from me for test dev. in the past 4 months. That's the kind of target that AMD can aim at with these type of sites, not the big guys who are already receiving the direct attention they deserve. AMD doesn't achieve revenue from the enthusiast market at the same level they do at enterprise...then again, you probably read that between my lines as well.

Does AMD have an entire PR department that is so incompetent?

honestly, this launch doesn't actually impress me at all. it could've been MUCH better handled and done. so, for this launch, YES, they were highly incompetent. (honest enough for you?)

On the other hand IF they did not hand out chips for sites like Anand, they surely knew that those sites would get their hands on them soon and do articles anyways.

eventually, sure...but, there's always the carrot of "you obey the NDA, you get parts..." i went through this a long time ago with Damon, et al. Basically, if you have XXX amount of traffic (and a unique perspective), you'd get on the list for parts....I know for a fact that Anand holds his NDA status near and dear (we've chatted about this) and is loath to jeopardize this. So, there's an inevitable trust that has to be developed and maintained. and, for the record, coolater provides little/no threat to the AMD marketing machine.

At least you can admit AMD tried to keep as much control of the situation as possible, that does not look incompetent to me.

strangely enough, this is one of the most interesting launches i've been apart of. little to no access to power datasheets (embargoed even for those with NDAs), little to no whitepaper access, etc. so, control doesn't need to be a bad thing. (as evidence by those wonderful little "leaks" from Intel regarding Harperstown and Penryn on Anandtech... LOL) problem is, control is a two edged sword: you can control all you want but you do begin to develop a constituency that is somewhat suspicious of your motives...and that chances a big letdown on release...sound familiar?

anyhow, I hope my answers are somewhat helpful...a little less stressed right now so, i'm a little more composed.

dave