Intel notebook shortage hits white box sellers

A SHORTAGE of chipsets for Intel notebooks has started affecting resellers of generic units, it has emerged.

At a conference call last week, Intel said it had some shortages on the chipset front and the supply situation appears to be patchy.

One reseller told the INQ: "We've seen problems getting "white box" Intel laptops through the Asus programme. We've whined to our Intel rep and to the distributor, but we get no answers that help".

He said that he suspected megafirm Dell had no problems getting components.

"Intel readily admits that us peons out in the market represent 50-60% of its market, yet it treats us with disregard and Dell gets all the parts it wants".

He said his firm used to be a 90% Intel reseller, but "it started screwing up and we went 70% AMD until three years ago when Intel smartened up and started listening to 'us'. It looks like it needs us to remind it who butters its bread again. It's a shame, it has good product but just doesn't seem able to get out of its own way". µ