Intel's OLPC moves blighted by the old paranoia

You are always so genuflecting before Itnel, I am surprised that you hit the mark so well. I own an XO--through the give-one-get-one program--and I find it is a genuine tour de force of adherence to customer requirements. It has features that surpass conventional laptops--display, power consumption, no fans, very light weight, dustproof, integral handle, etc. It is not the most powerful laptop, but it is definitely and by far the most appropriate so far for connecting poor children into the modern world. Ask yourself why there is no computer on the market at any price that matches the feature-set of the XO. I see Classmate as just a vehicle for bribe-taking leaders to pretend that they are serving their poor by handing out a few computers for a dog-and-pony show. I think everyone who works for Itnel should be ashamed to be associated with such an evil and destructive organization. And ditto for Microsoft.

It's too bad that Charlie has let his Anti-Intel bias apparent recently, get in the way of analyzing the situation logically. For a more rational analysis, go here:

http://www.overclockers.com/tips01274/

I always look forward to CD's editorials as they typically hit the nail on the head.

Intel has always been used to getting its own way or it throws its toys out of the crib (pram). But what would you expect from a company run by Otellini? Do you kow he bragged about making $$20 some odd million from his Google stock? He could personally fund OLPC but thats not going to happen. That does not include any of his Intel compensation.

The original Intel people were very socially aware but with Robert Noyce passing away, Moore out of the way and most of the old timers pushed to the side, the only concern is for Pauls operating margins.

The current crop of Intel is filled with egotistic "what have you done for me" people who havent done much with that company lately. If they dont get their way they quit and tell the world they are still great, and they have great reasons that you couldnt possibly comprehend.

The only stock that declines faster than Intel has been AMD's.

Intel should contribute in the best manner it can (the old disagree and commit) even if it does not use Intels products.

Its called - take the long view....

Yeah, those kids probably do need food more than a PC, but if you dont integrate them into the global world you will always be just feeding them...

Yes OLPC is a big joke; Well said, millions of third world kids in third world need and want food, education and a shelter. Not a laptop. What are they going to do fill their bellies by watching virtual food on a laptop? Even for middle class families (who doesnt qualify for OLPC typically from third world governments) the biggest bottle neck is not communication & WWW but rather actually going to a school or college. Not withstanding the above facts of food vs OLPC, regarding Intel vs OLPC this article is ridiculus. Intel is in bussiness of making money (Which AMD seems to have forgot-and acting like a academic institution-a bad one why should they support a competitor's (or not) product? And about open source software intel does excellent job supporting where there is a need. Mr.Negreponte should come down from his ego mountain and think before he rants on a powerfull company like Intel. Like AMD learnt it doesnt bode well for his organization to pick fight with somebody you have no hope of winning.

Intel is a corporation and as ANY corporation it has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders and employees. If you ask me, Intel had a damn good reason for quitting the OLPC program. John Negroponte is an egomaniac and a control freak who wanted Intel to basically sign a "no compete" contract. Well, that is suicide for a corporation especially in a market (developing nations) that is largely untapped. Furthermore, Brazil's government seemed impressed enough about the Classmate PC, despite your naysaying.

Charlie, I agree with the basic premise of your argument. For things like AIDS and malaria medication 1st world nations do have a responsibility to sell their medication for as low a price as possible. But for you to extend that mentality to a laptop computer is just plain anti-capitalist and immature. You should realize that Negroponte was, in essence, asking Intel to cede to OLPC a very large market. Intel was right to tell him no. Negroponte tries to use a 1st world guilt trip to get companies to follow along with his "vision" and he probably got some pretty sweet deals out of AMD doing just that. Intel is smarter than that though.
Negroponte should try to see the positive in this. Competing with Intel will, in the long run, make both the OXO and the Classmate PC better.

C'mon.. OLPC is about money as much as Intel's Classmate is.
Even it is pushed by a non-profit organization, the companies and people behind it get paid and are after the money.

Charlie, I am sorry to say you are just a little wet on this one. Are you angry with INTC because other company has the muscle and clout to make this pig fly? 

Hey, if it were such a good opportunity why aren’t other companies jumping in ready and eager to take INTC’s place? Why isn’t your precious AMD/ATI, the platform miracle combination of the 21st century “Dancing” in to cash in on this brilliant idea? I’ll tell you why. In its present form it’s a loser. 

The processor is too slow and power hungry, the storage is too small, and the screen size sucks. Basically, the technology hasn’t quite matured yet and the cost to volume simply isn’t even at the break even point---------yet! 

Why should INTC get involved with OPLC people who quickly found themselves hardware/platform experts dictating hardware policy? After all, if their so good why don’t they simply put together the platform together themselves? 

Therefore, the harsh reality is that INTC could wait a year or two, not take a loss, put together a VIABLE platform, supply the 3rd world what it needs, and make money. But then, they have already done this with the middle and lower classes of the world, haven’t they? I believe your biggest fear is that without INTC backing this thing it with fall flat on its ass. Is this what’s crawling up yours?

Sorry, Charlie, I gave you a free pass during 2007 when you spewed and pimped nothing but nonsense concerning DOG AMD. This is where you and I part ways. You don’t get a free pass on this one. You were wrong then as you are wrong now. The trouble is you’re too arrogant to admit when you are.

SPARKS 

Charlie, I think it is safe to say that the poor, neglected, hungry and sick children of the world could use clean water, adequate food, and a health check more than a castrated laptop. Hell, I don't even want my kids to have a lappy for school since it essentially is a waste of time with internet surfing, games, IM and *gasp* maybe the occasional porn they could come across. Third world kids don't need any of this, heck my world kids don't NEED any of this. And as far as Intel being an EVIL company, well you sir and those commenting have no clue and will rarely hear how much the empoyees and corporate donate each year to charity. All in all a worthless rant if ever I read one...

I can see making a no frills computer for government agencys relief work or for private enterprise in a third world nation, but to say they are useful for the education of elementary school students is just plain wrong. Laptops barely have a use in higher education here in the states. Here are the uses of laptops in education here and I have two boys one 23 and in college to be a doctor and one 13 in middle school. The older boy uses his laptop mostly for term papers, basically his laptop is a glorified word processor he also uses it for some online classes. The younger one uses his exclusively for gaming. But you have to realise we live here in the states with wired internet everywhere and an internet that is in the english lanquage that we understand. None of this exist in third world countrys. The problem I see here is Mr Negroponte who is selling these people who are short on cash something they are not yet ready for. Would it not be better for Mr Negroponte to sell these people school books written in the native language of the countrys inhabitants and for Mr Negroponte to educate teachers here in the states and then send them back to where they can be useful. Lets admit something here, 90% of education here in the states is done with paper books and written assignments done on plain old paper (elementary middle school and high school) What Mr. Negroponte would sggest is an education system more technologically advanced than what is currently used here in the states in a third world country. Does this seem backwards to you? it does to me.

There is nothing whatsoever dear and cher about Intel. Just face it, this cooperation is the worst kind imaginable. If evil exist on this planet, then there are more to be found in the dark corridors of Intel than anywhere else. When I see a Intel sticker on a product I always shop alternatively and I highly recommend that everybody that is not evil does the same. Avoid Intel at all costs!

Just because it's some "charity-but-not-really" product, doesn't mean it should be above having competition. May the best laptop win! Besides, if these companies were so damned benevolent, they'd buy a million units for a few countries to donate anyway. They're not, so don't expect any different.

Ohh, Look Charlie...all of your little anti-corporate lackeys are backing you in your on going 'Intel is evil' campaign. All 5 of them!!

Its OK charlie. We know you have to lash out at someone. Now that your 'inside sources' have been proven to been 'ignorant sources' and your precious virginally pure AMD has been proven to be just another sperm burping gutterslut corporation that will lie its behind off for a few PR points, we know you are crushed and must lash out. We know Negroponte's little tantrums have distracted you from the fact that Intel is contractually obligated on other educational initiatives, and couldnt honor Necropontes delusional demands even if they wanted too. 

You just go ahead and have your tantrum...it will all be OK. As soon as Phenom is released, it will save AMD and make cheap uber laptops available to all the starving children of the world. 

Ooops...Phenom is already out. Oh well, maybe AMDs next product will save the world from Evil Intel ;\

neutrale: I think you read only the stories that reported the Intel slant on the story. Dig up the stories that give Negreponte's account of what happened. I'm not saying that Negreponte's account is necessarily 100% accurate, but it calls into doubt much of what Intel claims. I think Intel's been in the wrong on this from the get-go.

Shame on Intel for wanting to support more than just the OLPC! I mean why would we want competition as clearly the OLPC solution will be the best, cheapest and best supported.

Now back to Earth - OLPC is an idea that lacks any understanding of details and execution. Negroponte has openly stated in interviews that the support will be 'mostly in the field', his idea of training and teaching is to make it simple enough to learn on the fly and apparently thinks the only way he can do this is if he has the only solution...

I find it a bit ironic that a site that hopes AMD pulls through as we need competition to spur innovation and keep prices under control, now apparently has no issue with OLPC attempting to be the sole provider of low cost PC's. I suppose competition in this area will retard innovation and prices.

This is a good idea that will fail due to ego and a lack of attention to detail. I just hope that OLPC sheds enough light on the potential for low cost PC's such that an EFFICIENT private solution (or ideally multiple ones) can step in and get it done right.

"We at OLPC have been disappointed that Intel did not deliver on any of the promises they made when they joined OLPC; while we were hopeful for a positive, collaborative relationship, it never materialized," Negroponte said in a statement distributed by the OLPC on Friday

"Intel continued to disparage the XO laptop in developing nations that had already decided to partner with OLPC (Uruguay and Peru), with countries that were in the midst of choosing a laptop solution (Brazil and Nigeria), and even small and remote places (Mongolia)," Negroponte said.

"As we said in the past, we view the children as a mission; Intel views them as a market."

"The best Intel could offer in regards to an "Intel inside" XO laptop was one that would be more expensive and consume more power--exactly the opposite direction of OLPC's stated mandate and vision," Negroponte said.

OLPC is not giving their computers away, you know. Whoever gets the laptops will have to pay somebody for them. Let them fight it out and let the best product win. Choice is good, right, or is that only in the first world? 

If OPLC is 'an education program, not a laptop program' who cares what laptop they use?

WTF? Like little kids in africa need a laptop? I think they would rather have food and meds. An in the states there parernts will prolly sell the laptop for crack. OLPC is a joke. If AMD spent less time on olpc, maybe it could then focus on making products it will make money on.

I don't understand why people give any credit to this evil company. It's all about profit and manufacturing by the bucket load, anything else is not for Intel and its evil horde of leaders and followers. I always buy alternatively when I see the Intel sticker on a product. Avoid at all costs, almost like the plague.

There are lots and lots of great people within Intel who are totally committed to pushing forward Linux and Open Source Software. For example, in the areas of WLAN and graphics chipsets, Intel is probably better than any supplier in its support for Linix.

However, there are also still lots of 'old-school' Intel employees who are in the pocket of Microsoft. Hopefully they are on the way to retirement so that Intel can grow as a good corporate citizen rather than trying to imitate the anti-competitive behavior of Microsoft.


What are you smoking? Charlie, I generally like what you have to say, but WTF? Intel has contractual obligations to keep shipping the Classmates its selling. And Intel has longly and loudly stated that the future of computing is at the low-end. 
Do you really think it makes any sense whatsoever for a company the size of Intel to pick a program like OLPC (which isn't even using Intel processors right now) and back it to the hilt, and death to all alternatives?

The OLPC organization was not being reasonable, and sadly Intel is parting ways with them. Tell Negroponte to check his ego and focus on getting the equipment to the kids -- the program was supposed to be about filling a need that capitalism wasn't going to fill... but the market IS headed in that direction. Now not only will kids get laptops throughout the world, but there will be competition, choice, and real money behind the initiative.
Isn't the world better off than if Intel let themselves be muscled by misguided shame into backing OLPC exclusively?

Very well put Charlie!

Vey sad to see what I consider to be quite a good company act quite so badly.

I've never seen Intel doing ANYTHING without having the first (and possible the only) reason in mind: money.

So I'm not at all surprised to see this move from their part. I just hope they'll choke on it :).

But Intels work is to make profits for its shareholders - it probably only joined in OLPC as in the hope that it could muddy the waters.
They knew the OLPC couldnt tell them to take a hike and have now left in a huff in the hope that morons in the press would write 'Intel leaves! OLPC doomed' when in reality the OLPC project needs Intel like a permanent dose of norovirus!

I'd say their acting like Tony Soprano. LIKE ALWAYS.

Yep, Charlie, but what can you expect from a company founded by a man whose paranoia is universally known and despised?

I predict that someday in the distant future, Intel and Microsoft will merge and become the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation and completely validate the dislike most people have for them.

Did you read what reasons were behind this announcement? 
I understand the position of Intel, if Negreponte asked them to stop supporting any other competititve products (Classmate, eePC..etc) and focus only on the XO, i would have the same reaction. XO didn't achieve what it was planned for, remember the 100$ gadget is now costing double if not more!
Competition is always good even between Classmate and XO, at the end it's only beneficial to reduce the digital fracture.
Servus!