Well, it is the first day of the week, and a damn fine week of techno euphoria it promises to be. However, until the merriment starts (check out our features articles over the course of the next three days to know what I am talking about), let's take care of some unfinished business.

I don't get it. You do a column called Second Hand Smoke on a Fourth of July holiday that is obviously tongue in cheek, and.......... Well, the flames came raining down like the meteor shower from hell, but that's not the problem. Judging by the quality of the flames, it is the sad realization that we may have seen the best of the Internet as a liberating experience, a forum for open dialogue, and a place where you can really help to change conventional wisdom.

See? That was tongue in cheek. I am going to signpost every paragraph so that some people, and you know who you are kids, don't get it wrong.

Clarity - Listen Carefully, I Will Only Say This Once

So, let's begin with some humility, or is it hubris, never can tell which word is which.

The above is tongue in cheek.

First, I apologize to anyone who is a buyer of AMD products, happy with their purchase, and rather supportive of AMD. You are not a fanboy just because you own an AMD product and like it. The fact that some of you chose to believe you were the targets of my scorn is an unfortunate by-product of the article. Maybe you are a little too self-conscious about your purchase. You bought the "other guy's" CPU, after all. Maybe you want validation. If you bought the product, and are happy with it, and are not going to spew venom at the guy who doesn't agree with your choice, you are not a fanboy.

Secondly, the article was clearly aimed at forcing the discussion on AMD's ability to capitalize on success when it rears its head. Let me use the eBay analogy, if I may. You use collectors and the little guy to build your business, and dump on them as quickly as possible for the big bucks, and make sure you make the cover of Newsweek. You do this by leaving the little guy behind. You focus on the big money, the dealers, the brand names. You want to be Wal Mart. You're not happy being popular. You'd rather be rich, rich, richer. Now, if AMD was truly an Intel competitor, that's the path it would take. This would not have any impact on the AMD fan or purchaser. It may marginalize the average user more than now. But, what else should AMD do? Stay as they are?