I recently came across a Yahoo Finance article about Intel’s $1.45 Billion fine in Europe. In it was this:

“The fine against the world’s biggest chip maker represents a huge victory for Intel’s Silicon Valley rival, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., or AMD, the No. 2 supplier of microprocessors to PC makers.”

Let’s contemplate what this “victory” really means.

Intel invests its resources into some of the best and brightest minds in the world. Intel applies itself, and as Capitalism Magazine recognizes “a market for computer chips would not exist at all if Intel did not invent, develop, and constantly innovate the chips that become the brains of computers.” Anyone in the industry can recognize the effect Intel has had on the landscape. To my mind AMD should be thanking Intel for the amazing marketplace, and opportunity, that their pioneering efforts have created.

Instead AMD submits Intel to the looting European Union by suing Intel and lobbying regulators for the past 5 years. The result: the EU is stealing $1.45 billion from Intel. Money that Intel won by selling it’s innovations to consumers who freely paid for them.

Why is all this happening? Neelie Kroes, the EU Competition Commissioner, said “Intel did not compete fairly, frustrating innovation and reducing consumer welfare in the process.” These “unfair” tactics include offering rebates to big customers, a common practice of any business wishing to entice more. The EU requests of Intel were so vague that they left Intel “mystified” about what it should change.

But the real kicker in all of this is what AMD has done to itself and to all who value freedom. Instead of fighting the looters alongside Intel, as it should have done, it feed them to lions. AMD has helped to usher in a dystopian Atlas Shrugged style world in which the best and brightest among us must work for free so the looting masses can feast on their efforts.

I wonder, what will Dirk Meyer, AMD’s Chief Executive who said this decision was “an important step toward establishing a truly competitive market,” be saying when the looters come after him?

• Yahoo Finance: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Record-euro106-billion-EU-apf-15225753.html
• Capitalism Magazine: http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=5564

Having recently purchased an Amazon Kindle 2 I am in the market for a jacket. I have spent alot of time researching and reviewing various options and want to share my experience and knowledge so you can make a better buying decision. Today I am concentrating on the M-edge GO! Jacket for the Kindle 2.

Summary of product

The M-edge GO! Jacket has a genuine leather exterior with a grey microfiber interior. It is one of the most minimalistic jackets for the Kindle 2 — when closed it’s only 0.66 inches thick. It securely latches onto the Kindle and has a very soft interior to protect the screen from scratches.

It has no extraneous features (distractions) such as pockets or straps. This is great for the Kindle user looking for a simple & elegant protective cover. The front and back are made of high-quality, durable materials. The covers are very stiff, offering great protection for the Kindle 2 screen. The microfiber interior is incredibly soft so there are no worries about it scratching the Kindle.

Perhaps the best feature of this jacket is the way it attaches to the Kindle. It is the first third-party jacket I have seen that utilizes the Kindle’s built-in hinge mechanism (see pictures below.) This makes for a very strong and secure attachment. Furthermore, because of the outer-edge straps, it is more secure than Amazon’s official cover because your Kindle will not loosely flap around.

Details

The M-edge GO! Jacket is made of padded 100% genuine leather on the outside with a very soft  microfiber ultrasuede interior. It’s dimensions when closed are 8.25in. x 5.25in. x 0.66in. And it only weighs 7.2 oz so you will not notice much added weight.

Likes

• Access to all ports while closed
• Very low profile
• Quality materials and durable, trustworthy construction
• Great protection for the Kindle screen

Dislikes

• Initially I wished for a strap to keep it closed (I am a fan of the Moleskine). However, after using it for a few weeks I love it as is (so this isn’t really a dislike after all.)

Opinion

This is one of the most minimalistic jackets for the Kindle 2. It has a subtle style and durable construction you can trust in. It protects the Kindle well and is easy to hold while reading. I highly recommend the M-edge GO! Jacket for the Kindle 2.