Agreed. It's a shame, really, but the vast majority of computers will be bought either by asking a purpleshirt or comparing numbers and price online. Or in the case of corporations, by setting out an on-budget deal with your supplier for whatever they have available that's fairly on-spec.Joining in the debate about products.
Most people I've seen don't have a clue what's inside, they just call it a samsung, dell, alienware, acer, apple/mac.
They don't care about what's inside most of the time as long as it has big numbers for little price usually.
PC customisation is a niche market. I tell people about intel/AMD and they look at me blankly.
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AMD Bulldozer Finally!
- Thread starter AceTK
- Start date
Is it really a shame?
Most people need a computer to do simple tasks and the horsepower that they have is more than sufficient.
I think the problem is that people in these forums apply THEIR needs to everyone and mock those that don't think like they do.
I once saw someone call his sister an idiot because she wanted an apple macbook because of the style. Maybe style is the most important thing to her? If it surfs the web and lets her write emails (which is all she wanted to do), what is wrong with choosing on style?
There is a huge market out there and some of you are right, the typical buyer goes on specs (i.e. bigger numbers), price and OEM name.
The only time the intel/amd would ever come into play was if you had 2 completely identical systems with exactly the same specs at the exact same price point. And that rarely happens.
And I will venture out with the theory that if 99% of the buying public can meet their current needs with the technology that was available a year or two ago, then processor brand/capability is less of a driving factor.
I am typing this on a dual core AMD notebook with a 1.5GHz processor. And that notebook is identical to my work notebook (same model). I can do 100% of my work at home on that processor, and at work I have rarely ever wanted more speed. Even with huge spreadsheets, databases and presentations, all running at the same time, I have never been short on processing power.
I am the rest of the world. And we are going to buy the best thing at the time that we hit the store. We will overbuy processor tecchnology, but that is OK, it's not a bad thing.
Most people need a computer to do simple tasks and the horsepower that they have is more than sufficient.
I think the problem is that people in these forums apply THEIR needs to everyone and mock those that don't think like they do.
I once saw someone call his sister an idiot because she wanted an apple macbook because of the style. Maybe style is the most important thing to her? If it surfs the web and lets her write emails (which is all she wanted to do), what is wrong with choosing on style?
There is a huge market out there and some of you are right, the typical buyer goes on specs (i.e. bigger numbers), price and OEM name.
The only time the intel/amd would ever come into play was if you had 2 completely identical systems with exactly the same specs at the exact same price point. And that rarely happens.
And I will venture out with the theory that if 99% of the buying public can meet their current needs with the technology that was available a year or two ago, then processor brand/capability is less of a driving factor.
I am typing this on a dual core AMD notebook with a 1.5GHz processor. And that notebook is identical to my work notebook (same model). I can do 100% of my work at home on that processor, and at work I have rarely ever wanted more speed. Even with huge spreadsheets, databases and presentations, all running at the same time, I have never been short on processing power.
I am the rest of the world. And we are going to buy the best thing at the time that we hit the store. We will overbuy processor tecchnology, but that is OK, it's not a bad thing.
Well, I only say "it's a shame" from the point of view that a lot of people could probably get a faster system for the same amount of money had they been better informed. As you say though, the majority won't care and won't need that extra bit. What matters will be that they got a nice system without the hassle of spending years and years on learning the ins and outs of computer hardware - unlike us. 
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Joining in the debate about products.
Most people I've seen don't have a clue what's inside, they just call it a samsung, dell, alienware, acer, apple/mac.
They don't care about what's inside most of the time as long as it has big numbers for little price usually.
PC customisation is a niche market. I tell people about intel/AMD and they look at me blankly.
Exactly.
People come to me all the time with printouts/ news & magazine cutout of PCs & laptops that they are thinking of buying & the only thing they think out about is the size of screen,hardrive space & price.
I usually have to point out things like the amount of ram & single/dual core & quad core CPUs & the gfx card because they did not look at those aspects at all & have not got a clue about the brands of CPU & gfx.
I ask them what they are going to use it for then i will make a suggestion.
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Indeed is a big problem with some enthusiasts that think their reality of technology is the same for everyone else.
Caporegime
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This is why Llano looks really interesting IMHO. I have known so many people who cannot run a game on their cheaper laptop or pre-built desktop since the IGP is simply not very good. So many enthusiasts are harping on about the CPU even though it looks perfectly decent for most uses.
Happens to often.
Indeed. I think that, in particular, laptops should see a huge boost in their ability to handle more demanding applications (read: games) when solutions such as Fusion become more prevalent on the market.
Ok just to clarify i wasn't saying my experience was completely how it is nor were i representing my friend as being everyone but he was representative of what i encounter on a regular basis. In the last two years i have helped spec over 90 systems for people and the number of those who didn't start off with an intel bias were in single figures.
Intel marketing campaign has been very successful in getting intel inside into the minds of people and all i am saying is i would like something similar from amd to get their brand out there and into people's minds. Selling an intel system to a tech unaware person is a lot easier then having to explain the pro's to them of amd for thier specific need and budget.
I will admit i tend to recommend amd where budgets are tighter they have teneded to be better for the bang for buck person and in a lot of cases people simply don't need the power of the intel offerings. All i want to see is a level playing field between both companys so they are judged on merits of their products not the adverts.
Intel marketing campaign has been very successful in getting intel inside into the minds of people and all i am saying is i would like something similar from amd to get their brand out there and into people's minds. Selling an intel system to a tech unaware person is a lot easier then having to explain the pro's to them of amd for thier specific need and budget.
I will admit i tend to recommend amd where budgets are tighter they have teneded to be better for the bang for buck person and in a lot of cases people simply don't need the power of the intel offerings. All i want to see is a level playing field between both companys so they are judged on merits of their products not the adverts.
Joining in the debate about products.
Most people I've seen don't have a clue what's inside, they just call it a samsung, dell, alienware, acer, apple/mac.
They don't care about what's inside most of the time as long as it has big numbers for little price usually.
PC customisation is a niche market. I tell people about intel/AMD and they look at me blankly.
This 100%. Most people wouldn't buy a PC labelled Intel over AMD, as they won't even know who Intel & AMD are. The bulk of people will buy a £299.99 PC when they have £300 to spend, or a £399.99 PC when they have £400 etc.
If left to their own devices, they will choose a brand they are familiar with, assuming there is that choice, or the one with the largest numbers advertised failing a brand choice. If they are cornered by a salesman, they will often buy whatever is recommended to them.
Well, I only say "it's a shame" from the point of view that a lot of people could probably get a faster system for the same amount of money had they been better informed. As you say though, the majority won't care and won't need that extra bit. What matters will be that they got a nice system without the hassle of spending years and years on learning the ins and outs of computer hardware - unlike us.
The real question is do they need it.
I am sure for what I paid for my infiniti I could have bought a faster car than what I have, but the speed limit on MOPAC (what I drive to work) is the same for all cars. Other than when I get back from driving in Germany I tend to drive close to the limit, maybe a few miles over. Having a ferrari wouldn't change the speed limit.
You keep assuming that most people need more performance. In reality they probably spend 80-90% of their time on a computer reading a screen, typing or scrolling up and down a web page.
A faster processor won't help them type faster. Which is why the vast majority of the customers don't (and shouldn't really) care about processors. But more RAM has a bigger impact and HD size has a bigger impact.
I am still running a 2.9GHz quad in my main desktop at home. It is rarely taxed beyond 10%. I'll build a bulldozer for better power efficiency, not more speed.
Hence the "the majority won't care and won't need that extra bit" part in my previous post.
I know the people on this forum are a very small minority, not trying to deny that at all. Thinking the way enthusiasts do though, I just feel the need to kind of spec the majority a better system for their money, if you understand what I mean. The point clearly remains though, they'll likely never need the difference that a system I'd spec them would offer.
Soldato
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Yeah I remember buying our very first Time PC 11 years ago. At that time it was the rage of the day. We spent £1100 + £400 insurance
on it. At that time the only thing which appealed to us was the 550 MHz Pentium 3 processor LMAO.However it was riddled with problems from the beginning
. We were so noob at that time
that we couldn't even work out what the graphics card was or how many cores Pentium 3 CPU was or even what size was the ram.It seemed where ever we went we only saw Time PCs and later on Tiny. There was no mention of AMD or Intel.
Looking back I can't believe we were duped into buying such a piece of ****
Having said that, my wife shocked me yesterday by humming the short Intel tune thing and recognising what it was. Bear in mind she knows nothing about, and has no interest in, computers (save how to surf the net), it showed that Intel at least are able to get some parts of the non-computer geek world to identify them. I could not say the same about AMD. Is that a problem? I don't know.
I know which I'd rather you did.As soon as I have a billion dollar ad budget I will spend it all on getting a jingle that your wife will hum.
And then we will be even.
Or, I could drop the billion on product development. It's your call
As soon as I have a billion dollar ad budget I will spend it all on getting a jingle that your wife will hum.
And then we will be even.
Or, I could drop the billion on product development. It's your call
How about 990 million on development and 10 mill on a jingle and adervitseing.
I think 10 mill would still buy you a kick ass jingle and a lot of add space to go with it
ROFL - This thread has had it all! - From performance, marketing and through to jingles
Problem I and probably every other person here on this forum has, is when we are turned to for help. A colleague at work said to me once, "I wish I knew a geek like you, to help me out"! - I couldn't stop laughing.
Reason I like to recommend the better product is not only for what price is suitable for them now, but what will last say about a couple of years (and be easier to support hence why I always recommend DELL lol). WE as techies can advise that (be that newbies, amateur or pro's) which is why 99% of people will turn to us first - and if we just say - Company A is the best - that's what the average person will follow. Comes back to us 'geeks' at the end of the day lol
Problem I and probably every other person here on this forum has, is when we are turned to for help. A colleague at work said to me once, "I wish I knew a geek like you, to help me out"! - I couldn't stop laughing.
Reason I like to recommend the better product is not only for what price is suitable for them now, but what will last say about a couple of years (and be easier to support hence why I always recommend DELL lol). WE as techies can advise that (be that newbies, amateur or pro's) which is why 99% of people will turn to us first - and if we just say - Company A is the best - that's what the average person will follow. Comes back to us 'geeks' at the end of the day lol
i COMPLETELY agree, most people are so proud of their large screened laptop with a big hard drive and then i actually look at the specs, the video card, cpu and ram are all very low-quality and spec for the price they paid!