With Alienware buy, Dell will sell AMD-based
computers
March 22, 2006 2:42 PM PST
It finally happened, just not the way many
thought.
With the acquisition of Alienware, Dell will sell computers with
chips from Advanced Micro Devices. The deal closes in about 30 to
45 days.
Alienware will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary, and Alienware
CEO Nelson Gonzalez said that the deal will not affect its
relationship with AMD. Granted, circumstances can change, but
that's the plan now.
The number of AMD PCs Alienware offers rises and falls, but AMD
chips are typically always part of the company's active line of
computers. Right now, Alienware sells AMD-based desktops,
workstations, media centers and a notebook.
The subsidiary nature of Alienware's status means that consumers
won't see AMD chips in computers that are primarily branded under
the Dell name (instead of being Alienware machines) as a result of
this deal. But still, since Dell owns Alienware, they are
technically Dell computers.
That leaves Apple as the only major computer maker selling
Intel-based, but not AMD-based, computers.
Dell has resisted selling AMD-based computers for years for a
number of reasons. The popularity of AMD's Opteron chip for
servers, however, has prompted some to speculate that Dell may
adopt Opteron.
Dell rarely makes acquisitions. The Alienware buy is only the third
or fourth in the company's history.
(source: News.com)
