The difference between Intel and AMD in this situation is that Intel has enough other products out in enough quantity (and have enough cash in reserve) that this is just a small bump in the road. When AMD has a months-long delay on a new chip the effect is so serious precisely because they depend on new revenue from new chip lines so heavily.

Hopefully the ATI purchase, which gives them revenue from graphics processors and a better chipset division will someday allow AMD some leeway in this area. Perhaps the NexGen products could be promoted more heavily on the low end, too, for more revenue from established lines.

Whether you favor one company over the other, no matter which, it'd be nice for competition if one didn't appear to be dangling just above bankruptcy every time a launch is delayed.