H-P L2000 Special Edition Notebook PC
will let PC users LiveStrong. See the
high-resolution image for a better
idea of what the notebook will
look like. [ Photo: Business Wire ].

Advanced Micro Devices and Hewlett-Packard today announced a joint initiative to support the Lance Amrstrong Foundation through a series of special LiveStrong Notebook PCs.

The H-P Special Edition L2000 Notebook PC will include the LiveStrong message and a reproduction of Lance Armstrong's autograph. They will be powered by an AMD Turion 64 mobile processor. A $50 donation to the LAF will be made for each one of these notebook PCs sold. Sales are expected to begin on-line in June, with in-store sales beginning in July. Each notebook purchaser will receive a LiveStrong Yellow Wristband and yellow stereo earbuds. Sources within AMD say that the notebooks are expected to be priced between $999 and $1,399, depending on configuration.

AMD is backing this effort by making a two-year commitment to help generate a minimum of $4 million for the LAF from this initiative.

"In my battle with cancer, I learned that knowledge is power and attitude is everything," said Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor, champion cyclist and founder of the LAF. "Empowerment plays an important role in dealing with a cancer diagnosis, and technology provides a way for patients and their loved ones to take control by arming themselves with information."

I've seen a couple of articles about this announcement already suggesting that this is some sort of Lance Armstrong brand extension. I don't think so. This is really about AMD and H-P supporting the LiveStrong program in a major way. These notebooks are hitting the stores in time for the Tour de France, and I can't think of a better way for a LiveStrong supporter to demonstrate his or her commitment than to use one. This would mean more than putting a "Join Lance!" sticker from the Lance Armstrong Foundation on the notebook case, as I've done in the past.