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Despite how excellent nVidia may be, ATi has only gotten better and hasn't lost all of its share of the PC, laptop, pro, and Mac markets. They are on schedule to compete product-for-product with nVidia in the desktop, PC, pro, and laptop markets. Their AIW solution is still unparalleled. With the IMAGEON line, they have entered a new segment that nVidia has not. With their latest chipset solutions, they'll offer products for both Intel and AMD; their chipset solutions are also less complex, allowing ATi to sell them at a lower cost and at a higher volume than nVidia's nForce. ATi's drivers are improving with each and every release. ATi has GC, nVidia has X-Box.
How is ATi failing again? >>
ATi by no means is failing. Each of your points above prove that.
However, the most prominant thing that really alludes ATi is their time to market. In the video market, ATi is a good 6 months behind nVidia. In the chipset market ATi is a good 8 months hehind nVidia, and that's if ATi can release their K7 chipset on time in May of this year (which is their plan at least).
A couple more points. nVidia's profitability has been nothing short of amazing. They were the highest performing S&P 500 stock last year, despite THE WORST semiconductor downturn in recent history. ATi didn't enjoy anywear near that much profitability.
nVidia also has the fastest desktop GPU (Ti4600) and Socket A chipset (nForce 415-D, VIA's KT333 too though) compared to the best ATi can offer (and in general of course).
In addition, you've got to admit that nVidia has a lot of industry support. Leadtek, VisionTek, Gainward, MSI, etc. are nVidia's manufacturing partners for their video chipsets, whereas the best ATi has is Gigabyte and Hercules (and a bunch of no-names companies too). This is also true of the motherboard chipset market, where nForce is currently supported by OEMs like Compaq, MicronPC, Fijitsu-Siemens, Falcon Northwest, Atlas Micro, and Alienware (
linkness). ASUS, MSI, and Abit are nVidia's motherboard partners for nForce, whereas FIC (and possibly Gigabyte) are ATi's only real motherboard support for A3 (ATi's K7 chipset).
I must admit that nVidia's price/performance could be better, however nVidia wouldn't be making as much money now would they.
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