Interview with Dirk Meyer of AMD

[thilanliyan]

http://www.itp.net/578576-exclusive-dirk-meyer-president-and-ceo-of-amd

TO A MOD: Would you be able to move this thread to the CPU forum?



Moved to CPU forum at OP's request.

Video Mod BFG10K.

 

[Borealis7]

whats up with you and AMD stories today?
who's paying you to spread AMD news and how do i get on that payroll?

 

[jvroig]

From the article, when he was asked about AMD being in the list of "Worst Run Companies of 2009":

Absolutely yes. Somebody called me up with that comment - part of running a business is deciding what you are going to do, and more importantly what you are not going to do. As we stand back and look at the technology that we have, we can create products around those technologies that target a lot of markets - PCs, smartphones, consumer electronics, embedded and so on - but the reality is, that like any company, our resources have a limit, and the immediate opportunity, in front of us is clearly in the PC market, which is still a gigantic market, the total available market for the components of the type we can make is in excess of $35 billion. We have today only a small fraction of that, and meanwhile we have a customer base that wants two strategic suppliers, and we are under represented in the market. We are under represented in notebooks, we are under represented in emerging markets, we are under represented in some aspects of the commercial market, so I think we have got a huge opportunity to grow in the PC business, and that is what we aim to do for the time being.

He didn't seem defensive, and I like his answer a lot. To me, he came across as level-headed and has a good grasp of what needs to be done. Hope he's able to turn AMD around so that next year they might make the "Best Run Companies of 2010" list.

 

[nemesismk2]

There is a payroll for spreading AMD News, how did I miss that? Sign me up please

 

[Idontcare]

whats up with you and AMD stories today?
who's paying you to spread AMD news and how do i get on that payroll?

Knock it off.

If you are going to do the character-assassination thing at least be a little more intelligent and pick somebody who isn't already recognized as being about as unbiased as can be.

 

[Idontcare]

Intel named the netbook segment it and staked claim to it with their Atom processors - do you have any plans for an Atom killer?

No, Atom seems to be a brand that Intel are attaching to processors that are going to go into in a lot of spaces, netbooks, phones, embedded. Right now we are focused on more of the classic PC client device, screen sizes of 9, 10 inches and above. In those really small mini-notebook categories, we will have purpose built solutions available, and we will be sampling customers in the first half of next year.

Is that Bobcat or is that Llano?

 

[jvroig]

Is that Bobcat or is that Llano?

Neither? For the ultrathin and netbook segments, they're supposed to be offering the "Nile" platform with the "Geneva" CPU, low power Athlon II derivative.

EDIT: I looked. Llano will come to the mobile segment in 2011, courtesy of the Sabine platform, but that's still not for the ultrathin/netbooks segment.

 

[MrK6]

Great interview, just really good questions and really good answers. Who/what nominated AMD for worst run company of 2009? If anything, I think especially in the last few months, they've made some great decisions and strategy adjustments. Either case, glad they recognize they need to step up their game and get more products out there and sold. They really need to work on advertising and brand recognition, not just improving their products.

 

[Voo]

Great interview, he was not as self defensive as you'd expect. I think the part quoted by jvroig is rather impressive - a lot of people would've avoided answering this question or at least didn't agree..

 

[thilanliyan]

whats up with you and AMD stories today?
who's paying you to spread AMD news and how do i get on that payroll?

Hehe I wish I was on AMDs payroll!! I'd like free video cards too!! If I find articles that I find interesting or will generate debate I post them up. I should have put this up in the CPU forum though.