CG, allow me to augment your post.
AMD64 is NOT what Andy would call an "inflection point".
An inflection point is defined an event whose seeming inconsequence does not normally portend the vast causal sea change which it implies. To be dealt with, it must be closely examined to contemplate the ramifications.*
Going from 32 to 64 is not that much different, so far, than 16 to 32 or 4 to 8. The consequenses are READILY discernible. NOBODY so far has missed the significance. They fact that Intel thinks it's better in two chips than AMD's one chip is a well calulated business decision. And of course, just in case, I am or Intel is wrong, the backup plan of EM64T is already in place.
The internet in 1995 and Mozaic/Netscape is an example of an inflection point. NOT because it's a neat idea, but because the exponential effect of 5 billion people and databases and facts hooked together is going to blow your socks off if you don't UNDERSTAND the consequences. And I don't just mean giving it Droidian nodding lipservice.
That is what Otellini means when he's taking about the "infrastructure" stuff.
Be there or be square! :))))) Intel may be wrong, but they have been thinking about this for a long time and have made the determination that 3264 ain't no inflection point.
*Copyright L-DUKEY Intergalactic Productions Amalgamated, S.A.. all rights reserved.
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A64 represents some sort of inflection point and that Intel is very likely to be damaged severly in just the next few months to a year."
That's it exactly. The debatable question is how much Intel will be damaged and how effectively they can/will come back.
The current situation is reminiscent of the early days of
Willamette vs Athlon. The main difference is back than
AMD had a big cost advantage because Athlon was a
bulk CMOS chip a little over half the size of Willamette.
Now it once more enjoys a modest performance advan-
tage over Intel on the desktop but with a significant cost
disadvantage. AMD didn't "damage" Intel materially in
2002 and will have a much smaller effect this time.
