Thursday, February 14th 2008
AMD Having Problems with its Puma Platform - Analyst Report
After experiencing some technical problems with its next-generation Phenom processors, AMD could now be facing some issues with its new Puma line of devices for notebook PCs, according to an analyst. Last year, AMD announced its Griffin CPU, the first processor it has designed from the ground up for notebooks. AMD is pairing its new CPU with the Puma platform that aims to take on Intel's Centrino chips in high-end notebooks. The Puma platform is slated to ship in the second quarter and AMD insists the product is on track. But one analyst has a slightly different viewpoint. "Our channel checks suggest AMD's Puma platform for notebooks may have a technical glitch. We have not been able to confirm this with AMD and if a problem exists, AMD could have a fix in the works that saves the launch," said analyst Doug Freedman of American Technology Research Inc., in a new report. On the other hand, AMD denied that there are any issues with Puma. "AMD is not aware of any technical glitches with its next-generation notebook platform, codenamed 'Puma.' Per our commitment at the AMD Financial Analyst Day in December 2007, the 'Puma' platform remains on track for Q2 2008," the spokeswoman said.
Source:
EETimes
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An update: Yesterday, as you will may recall, American Technology Research analyst Doug Freedman issued a report asserting that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) was having technical glitches with its Puma notebook platform. AMD immediately denied Freedman’s assertion, saying there are not any technical issues with Puma, and that it is on track for delivery in Q2.
This morning, Freedman wrote a follow-up piece which noted that AMD, in fact, “is not having technical issues with Puma.” But he says that his “thesis of cautious OEM behavior with respect to AMD’s road-map appears well founded.”
Freedman asserts that the laptop makers have contingency plans in place “in case they run into issues releasing new Puma-based products.” He says a successful Puma launch could create “a double-ordering scenario” as a result, and that demand could fall short of order rates. He is sticking with the estimate cuts he made yesterday, which he says are “still in line” with his expectations for “a slower Puma launch.”
He adds that “negative Puma data points are possible and are a near-term risk to the stock,” but nonetheless maintains his Buy rating and $10 price target.
AMD today is down a penny at $6.69.
blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2008/02/14/update-amtech-concedes-amd-not-seeing-puma-issues-but-contends-laptop-makers-remain-cautious/?mod=yahoobarrons