Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[HailMary]

Your example is not realistic:

My example was for a "dumb" consumer who wants the best system (there are lots of these). In my example the consumer was able to get the best system and save $200 when the comparison was easy as long as the model numbers lined up.

You could apply a similar example to mid-range systems where a consumer is looking for the best bang for the buck for $1500:

 
 AMD Athlon 64 3200+      Intel P4E 535 (really a 2.8Ghz prescott but not advertised as such) 
 1G DDR400 memory         1G DDR400 memory 
 ATI Radeon 9600          ATI Radeon 9600 
 $1499                    $1499 
 

Which do you think the consumer is going to choose? Without some easy comparison between chips, they won't be able to compare the above and may fall back on brand recognition and price. They might assume the above systems have similar performance because of the price and buy the Intel system. I think you underestimate what "dumb" consumers do when they buy stuff. Fortunately I think dumb consumers are starting to be more diligent or at least know when to ask a friend who knows better, so the true number of dumb consumers is dwindling, and conceding that market may be ok. Over time if AMD is able to really build a premium brand that the average consumer can recognize, then there will not be an issue.