AMD Live!

AMD Live! is AMD's branding for computers designed for digital entertainment. It is the equivalent of Intel's Viiv.
Intel® Viiv™ technology - "Intel's new platform designed for the enjoyment of digital entertainment—Intel® Viiv™ technology—delivers the multitasking power of a dual-core processor and enables sleek new designs that fit your lifestyle." -
http://www.intel.com/products/viiv/index.htm
An AMD Live! PC has to meet several hardware and software requirements, including a dual-core AMD processor, such as a Turion 64 X2 for laptop/notebook PCs and an Athlon 64 X2 4200+ for desktop PCs. AMD Live! computers should come with Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium, or Windows Vista Ultimate, which all run the Media Center. A suite of software should also be included that can, for instance, allow the user to share files online. This software pack can be downloaded from http://www.amdlive.com/gb-en/free_downloads.aspx.
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Unfortunately, the situation with regard to the complexities involved in choosing or even identifying the kind of processor required in a laptop or desktop PC intended for use for specific purposes is set to get even more confusing. Now that invisible features are being added to processors instead of raw clock speed, both Intel, and, to a lesser extent at present, AMD, think that it is a good idea to include an encoded description of what those features are in the model names of their processors. Unfortunately, AMD seems intent on following Intel's lead in creating the same kind of confusion about its processors.
This is what Tom's Hardware Guide had to say on this subject on a page that no longer exists:
"It is hard to decide whether it was a bunch of marketing people that didn't think through how to categorize future processors properly, or if Intel actually intended the nomenclature to go bananas. Either way, it is clear that with processor numbering schemes becoming increasingly complex, nobody but the most deeply involved enthusiasts, tech journalists and the technical elite of the industry will be able to keep track of processor models, their features and performance capabilities."
In any case, before you purchase a desktop or laptop/notebook computer, it is advisable to find out what the make and model of the processor used in the machine is, and then conduct a Google search for its manufacturer's site and others that provide information on it.
It's possible to install a motherboard that can run two separate processors (multiple processors) in a personal computer, but most current computers use a motherboard that can run only one processor - or a dual-core processor.
The operating system has to be designed to run multiple processors. Linux, Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional Edition (32- or 64-bit versions), Windows XP SP2 Home Edition, and Windows Server 2003 can do so, but the two versions of Windows XP Home Edition prior to SP2 (the original XP Home and XP Home SP1) and Windows 95/98/Me cannot. Windows 95/98/Me can't run multiple processors or multiple-core processors. The software being used also has to be programmed to use multiple processors, otherwise it will just use one of the processors.
This MS Knowledge Base article: Computers that are running Windows XP Service Pack 2 and that are equipped with multiple processors that support processor power management features may experience decreased performance applies to Windows XP Service Pack 2 when used with Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition.