It's worth keeping these points in mind because, it will have an impact on what AMD does in the workstation and server market, and how it goes about building support among OEMs.

I remember that around that time you had a similar demarcation between Dell and Compaq on the NT workstation side. Dell was doing well with some of the DCC and CAD/CAE applications, and Compaq did exceedingly well in financial markets. There was a need for specialization among hardware vendors because, the applications were being ported to NT from UNIX were all highly specialized, and required a lot of support. Microsoft had gone as far as acquiring Softimage, the leading light of DCC on the SGI platform, to prove by sheer force of will that NT was a competitive, sexy workstation platform. Microsoft and Softimage - it was a very weird fit.

To this day, the majority of PC workstation systems are branded systems going through the Dells, Compaqs, and IBMs of this world. Of course, it has also been a one horse CPU race with Intel dominating the marketing. Nowhere in this historical perspective could I find an easy fit for you, dear readers, the kind of guys and gals who like to do things for themselves.

Yet, we know that it is no more difficult to build a PC workstation than it is to put together any PC. The applications define the market, and perhaps they do too good a job of drawing lines around their markets. I guess if you are going to buy a $7,500 DCC application you might want to feel like your computer is up to the task with a shiny brand and an expensive case.

As a result, AMD's entry into the dualie market, their first tentative step, could help redefine the workstation market, or it could leave AMD with egg on its face. A lot will depend on the cloistered world of the brand name OEMs. Things move slower in the workstation world. Application cycles are longer than in the traditional PC market. You don't get companies upgrading on short burst, and typically, the three year rule applies. I read some articles at the tail end of last year highlighting the fact that AMD was going to be pushing back the launch of the 760MP, but there's no rush.

Maybe they want to be in servers, but the 760MP isn't going to set that world on fire. And as for the workstation market, what's the rush? Dualie demand? I think, yes. Anyhow, on to the 760MP.