Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[Golfbum]

I understand pretty well what IBM plays here: Let Intel pay for NOT offering Opterons in the segments where the money is by delivering Xeons for fractions of listprices; enabling IBM to attack the DELL-territory.

You have an implicit assumption about Intel pricing that is incorrect. Intel has very flat pricing across customers, subject mostly to volume, due to Intel's market position and the Robinson-Pattman act.

Pretty much everyone with the same volume gets the same price. The concept of "special Dell" or "special IBM" pricing just doesn't exist. Special prices are possible to address new markets such as some identifiable market segment not being served but such deals would be offered to any OEM capable of addressing that market and would be subject to marketing and volume conditions being met.

Google "Robinson-Pattman" for more info.

IANAL...

gb