Powering Together with AMD & Microsoft
I wasted most of today powering up at the Renaissance Harbourside hotel in downtown Vancouver with AMD and Microsoft. The invite told me that I’ll be able to experience software and hardware solutions from AMD’s latest quad core processors and chipsets to Microsoft’s Windows Vista, Home Server and OneCare. And they’ll throw in a free lunch as well. I just can’t seem to say no to food.
The all day event is like a combination trade show and information session. Representatives from both AMD and Microsoft were there to teach why their products are the best and why you should be using and selling them. The event was designed for system builders and has a heavy OEM and resellers bent to it. While they talked about the technology behind their products, a lot of time was also spent on maximizing revenue from your customers by up-selling them to technology they may not need.
It’s The World’s First But It’s Not The Fastest
AMD bills their new Phenom processor as the world’s first true quad core CPU. Their reasoning behind this was Intel’s quad core CPU isn’t really quad core, it’s just two dual core stuck together. You can spin it however you want but it doesn’t change the fact that AMD’s quad core is slower than Intel’s quad core (or dual dual-core as AMD calls it).
The Mini Trade Show
While the main sponsors of the event were AMD and Microsoft, a bunch of smaller companies were there to show off their stuff in the demo room. I got a chance to catch up with friends from ECS, Kingston Technology, Sapphire and Seagate. I’m sure I’ll see them all again at the 2008 CES in Las Vegas.
Admiring The View
The Renaissance Harbourside hotel offers a really nice view of Vancouver’s Coal Harbour. The Harbour is a very busy seaway. There are sea planes and giant cruise ships going in and out of the harbour all the time.
The Coolest Lanyard In The World
This has to be the coolest name tag holder in the world. It’s a lanyard with an integrated 1GB USB flash drive with Ready Boost. A free lanyard went to the first 200 attendees but, being the evil one, I managed to snare two. If you want a chance to win the extra one, just reply to this post. I’ll draw the winner this Friday. Good luck.
- Posted in Technology
- 204 comments what's your take?
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My favorite part of the post… “a lot of time was also spent on maximizing revenue from your customers by up-selling them to technology they may not need.”
Here, buy this processor that you won’t have any use for!
Oh, and sign me up for the lanyard!
Reply to this commentI’m down with the lanyards. I didn’t think they could make them any more cooler, and then they go ahead and add flash memory. My entire belief system is just shattered.
Reply to this commentThose MSFT lanyards should have Bluetooth!
Reply to this commentI’m not evil, but I would like that extra lanyard you scarfed up. Count me in!
Reply to this commentAlan
me too…
Reply to this commentI don’t mind one, count me in!
Reply to this commentI be IN.
I have never won anything on this damn Blog JOHn!
Reply to this commentChow, I’ve sent you so MANY links your way up to this point. For almost a whole year I’ve linked back constantly just that you might drop some crumbs my way.
Show me favor this time.
Reply to this commenti did, but it was soem dumb book? you want it?
Reply to this commentI want one
can anyone explain why it’s called a Lanyard? AMD playing ketchup for a while yet. 
Reply to this commentIt was originally supposed to have been of a yard in length and worn around the shoulder to hold anything, mostly a bossun’s whistle. Quite why the first part is called lan I do not know. May be those days they did have local area networks too!
Reply to this commentYeah so many upsells like that, especially in the IT world!
Chow man, please consider me a starter for the Lanyard comp. I have been wanting to tinker with ReadyBoost for a while, and the lanyard / USB stick is just a big bonus!
Thanks,
Reply to this commentAdam
John makes a good point about AMD’s “true quad-core” claim. Who the heck cares? If Intel’s Core 2 quad processors are more powerful, those are the ones I’m going to go with.
Reply to this commentI had an old AMD (not a dual core) which really worked great for me, until, one day it burned
i’d have to say intel processor is way much better and faster than AMD (any type of processor I have tried).
And as for the lanyard I want that COOL thing
it just rocks (we can make exchange, will give you 2 usb flash drives for that cool one) 
Reply to this commentSAME!!! da bomb fashizzle
Reply to this commentIt’s post like these that desperately remind me that my own build is horribly outdated. I may have to spend November’s earnings on a Christmas gift for myself.
Reply to this commentMe too. i still have P4 3.2
Reply to this commentThat’s old:!:
AMD ROck…
Reply to this commentMy laptop using AMD…
I’m going to have a new PC with AMD end of this week…Hopefully it is good enough for my evil
blogging activities
Reply to this commentI like AMD. My old desktop is still running very good!
Reply to this commentMy computer uses AMD. It is powerful. Some said that AMD is better than I****. But AMD needs more marketing campaign…
Reply to this commentHow’s your AMD performing using the Vista? I may increase my RAM up to 2GB to make it good and fast
Reply to this commentSign me up for the lanyard! Free swag is always nice.
Reply to this commentAs for AMD, I have been thinking about it. I know it doesn’t beat Intel on performance but price/performance it just edges out the Intel. It looks like AMD will be playing that game for some time until it can regain the upper hand in performace.
eh, thats wack. I would be happy about it for a day then throw it on my pile of other useless crap i own.
Reply to this commentI’m sorry but the lanyard thing is a riot. Now kids will not be able to get locked out of their house or away from their information. Do you know what they need for parents? A lanyard that keeps the kids out of the house.
Reply to this commentOh I’d love that lanyard!
That’s pretty sweeeeeeeet.
I love Intel’s Quad core. I have not been a fan of AMD since the whole dual core thing came out.
Good times.
Reply to this commentI must win.
Reply to this commentI never do, so I think my chances this time is quite low again.
Reply to this commentOOOOHHH!! ME ME ME! I want that usb flash drive
-Mike
Reply to this commentThat lanyard would be perfect for my commute as I can put my bus and train passes in it…and then storage to boot? Count me in!
Reply to this commentwow you go to so many cool places. Then again you do run a tech site so it would be odd for you not to. Were the usb’s the only free stuff worth mentioning or did I miss something?
Reply to this commentI gotta win the flash drive! I just gotta!
Reply to this commentIt’s really stupid of AMD to claim that quad core thing when it is slower than dual core… I loved that company and lost a lot of money in the stock because they just suck now
Reply to this commentI’ve got to say that the conference room was quite small judging from the photo John took. About how many people were there John?
Reply to this commentI say no more than 200 people.
Reply to this commentGive it to me!!! I want that lanyard! Pretty please
Reply to this commentHook me up John!
Reply to this commentMan…IMHO it is all on development issue and by the way you said before “a lot of time was also spent on maximizing revenue from your customers by up-selling them to technology they may not need”
Reply to this commentSo you got see…may be speed is not always the issue for customer…you still have to consider about energy consumption, durability, resistance and everything else right?
Be honest. Let us just take out own little computers, be them PCs or laptops or whatever. How many features do we really need and or use? Same thing with say cell phones. Apart from the phone, and the sms services, how many features do we really need and or use regularly. If there are suckers willing to buy, sellers will sell what is really not needed.
Reply to this commentThat is one cool lanyard.
Reply to this commentOh Yes!! It looks great!
Reply to this commentahahha… i don’t mind having that lanyard… count me in for the draw.
Reply to this commentI totally want one of those!
Reply to this commentI just want the lanyard
Reply to this commentLooks like a pretty sweet lanyard to me. Ill take it
Reply to this commentWell, I’m glad I stayed home and caught up on my “Heroes” watching. I’m thinking that they diverted money away from this show to send me to Lake Tahoe for the real launch of the platform and pay for my flight, limo and…steaks…mmm…steaks.
Phenom on its own is lame, but the platform has some promise.
Reply to this commentIn for the lanyard!
Reply to this commentHey John!
What is “2008 CES in Las Vegas”?!? Is it a computer gig or something else?? (i’m trying to find out if it will fit my IM Seminar blog or not).
I just upgraded my tower and I have 1/2 a terrabyte of hard drive. The duo processor is a serious step up from my circa 2000 (vintage) machine I’ve been struggling with until this week!!
It’s smokin’!
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
p.s. put me down for the lanyard - just ’cause it’s cool.
Reply to this commentCES = Consumer Electronics Show. Biggest electronics trade show in the world and the 2nd biggest trade show in the world. http://www.cesweb.org
Reply to this commentCool lanyard! Nice concept
Reply to this commentNice Lanyard
Reply to this commentMight as well try again, right? Count me in!
Reply to this commentHi John
I ve joined your email newsletter.I would like to know more about Quad core.I am a fan of dual core since it came into market.its pretty fast.I found articles in many sites about quad core but in a conference like this they might reveal more.
And..that lanyard is really cool.You r lucky that you own one.
Thank you.
Reply to this commentGive me the extra
Reply to this commentMe me, pick me sir!
Reply to this commentNot a huge fan of AMD since Intel came out with the Duo. AMD was on the right track, but some of their latest chips just haven’t been all that great.
Reply to this commentYou definitely are lucky to go to these type of events!
Reply to this commentJust wondering…did you ever goto a Star Trek convention?
Reply to this commentI’m not messing with you…I used to be a Trekkie myself
USB for me!
Reply to this commentI think I am due for a win.. next time invite me. I would n;t mind takign a day off work and spending it “learning”
Reply to this commentGive me the usb lanyard please :).
Reply to this commentSweet lanyard!
Reply to this commentNothing like a high-pressure upsell, how do those people sleep?
Hey, no food pics?! It must have been really good or really bad…
Reply to this commentI thought the exact same thing
Reply to this commentIt was really bad.
Reply to this commentHi John. Please add me to your lanyard draw.
Reply to this commentThanks.
i just want that lanyard
Reply to this commentThat lanyard looks pretty nice, and my school makes us wear them unfortunately.
Reply to this commentHey, I’m deprived. I never had a lanyard… I always that a lanyard was at the bottom of garden…
Reply to this commentThat lanyard’s sweet. I still think Intel > AMD.
Reply to this commentGood Lanyard!
Reply to this commentCool lanyard indeed!
Reply to this commentCount me in
Reply to this commentCount me in for the lanyard, too. I would really need a lanyard to hold some of my badges, and I really need a new USB Flash, so, this might be the perfect opportunity.
Vancouver is great, I know.
Reply to this commentThe lifestyle of the Rich and the Famous eh John?
Reply to this commentLove the name tag holder, too cool
Reply to this commentIntel quad core or AMD quad core??? I like the true multi-core (yet to come)!!!
Reply to this commentPlease refer to this wikipedia and if you can, edit to perfect this explanation :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-core_%28computing%29
Some people will still buy the AMD one just for bragging rights, the people with more sense will go for the intel.
Count me in for that lanyard!
Reply to this commentI almost never reply when I don’t have anything to add, but I really want that lanyard! Gawd! I feel like such a nerd!
Reply to this commenti could use a lanyard =P
Reply to this commentI think its about time I won something from you John. Muahaha. it is the cools lanyard in the world.
Reply to this commentI think microsoft should start selling those lanyards instead of try selling Windows Vista
Reply to this commentHeh, these do look cool..
Reply to this commentYou know why I replied to this post
Reply to this commentI want it………………..
Reply to this commentYou are great, but I want that lanyard.
Reply to this commentMS seems to be wanting to run with the hares and hunt with the hounds. What difference does it make whether it is two twin cores or four put together? The proof of the pudding is in eating it as John did at the show! If the Intel core is faster, what chance does AMD quad core have?
Reply to this commentAMD seems to be trying too hard without much luck against Intel.. Count me in for the prize draw!
Reply to this commentI NEED ONE!!! for school
Reply to this commentLet me try my chance!
Reply to this commentMan, in my university back in 2003, I was the first in my class to have a thumbdrive. 64 MB of LG pendrive. 64 MB in those days are more expensive than 2 GB today. Count Me In!
Reply to this commentThat lanyard is awesome, John. It’s enough to make any geek go weak at the knees.
Sign me up! 
Reply to this commentI could use the usb landyard for sure. I wish trade shows like this came to small cities/regions.
Reply to this commentbeen needing to get me a usb drive for a while now
Reply to this commentAhh AMD is always my fav processor. I have been using it for more than 10 years now..
given the fact that you get more power while paying less
Reply to this commentI wonder, since Intel bundle two dual core as a QuadCore processor, AMD could outsmart them by bundling two QuadCore and and pass it off as an EightCore processor. There you go, AMD has the world’s first EightCore processor for comps.
Reply to this commentThe only USB memory I have is an old 256Mb one.
Reply to this commentSure could use a gig one attached to a lanyard!
How are you going to choose who gets the lanyard?
Reply to this commentDoes crying help?
Those lanyards look pretty sweet to me.
Reply to this commentThat is one of the few coolest prize i have seen so far, that would be great if i happen to win one.
Reply to this commentSign me up for the lanyard… Within hours I will be walking around with a bare neck strap as the drive will surely walk away on its own…
Reply to this commentThat lanyard looks sweet. A very clever idea.
As for scoring one, count me in
Reply to this commentNeat prize, count me in!
Reply to this commentCool lanyard! Great idea
Reply to this commentCount me in too, that looks pretty cool. Yeah, what’s up with there being no lunch pics?
Reply to this commentMe wants!
Reply to this commentCount me in! That would be a cool prize.
Reply to this commentI wan’t it too.
Reply to this commentMaybe i’am lucky.