Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of x86 computer chips, has left the board of directors of One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) non-profit organization after its founder Nicholas Negroponte demanded Intel to stop supporting other platforms that enable people in developing countries to use personal computers.
Intel joined OLPC board back in July and even worked with OLPC on development of Intel-based laptop for countries which inhabitants cannot afford conventional personal computers. However, Intel also continued to push its Classmate PC platform to the markets targeted by OLPC and also supplied Asustek Computer low-end microprocessors for its Eee PCs.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Nicholas Negroponte had asked Intel to stop promoting the Classmate PC and support Asus Eee PC, leaving the road for OLPC’s XO clear. Intel reportedly disagreed and decided to cancel its relationship with the non-profit organization.
OLPC did not comment on the news-story.
If the story is correct and OLPC demands its suppliers to become very loyal to OLPC’s project and not to support any competing initiatives, it may be a negative news for both Advanced Micro Devices, which processor is currently used inside OLPC’s first XO laptop, as well as OLPC itself. While AMD currently has no platform for low-end PCs and it also discontinued its PIC (personal Internet communicator) project, going forward it will have to introduce something for the developing markets in order to accelerate its 50x15 effort. If OLPC demands AMD not to proceed with its platform, either OLPC loses its only microprocessor supplier, or AMD loses a customer.
Comments currently: 8
Discussion started: 01/04/08 08:36:56 AM
Latest comment: 01/06/08 03:55:19 AM
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[1-6]
1.
That is just insane. Intel could have clearly helped the OLPC Project, even though I suspect their intentions were to mainly frustrate their rival AMD. If Nicholas Negroponte tries to do that to AMD then you would have a laptop without a CPU. You could say that they could go with VIA, but VIA has been providing low cost computing for emerging markets with various partners implementing Linux or BSD on devices with VIA technology. Considering the market OLPC is targeting VIA would be the most logical entity to create a competing product.
I don't really feel that Intel's classmate PC targets the same market as it is more expensive and more power hungry. Nicholas Negroponte should stop being a whiny little punk and focus on promoting the benefits of the OLPC project rather than spending his energies whining about competitors and alienating those whom could otherwise help the project.
[Posted by: Megamanx00 | Date: 01/04/08 08:36:56 AM]
2.
OLPC is an elitist monopolistic nonsense. Computers for $100 already exist; they are called used computers or "obsolete" computers. What is "obsolete" in the US may well be useful for many years in other parts of the world. Heck, wouldn't surprise me if a lot of computers in active use today in the US would fetch less than $100 if the owner were to sell it. No government intervention needed to bring the cost of PC from $10,000 25 years ago to sub-$500. Competition always bring out the best bang for the buck for consumers, not the "benevolent" government, which has brought us skyrocketing education and healthcare cost, all in the name of making it accessible to the poor. What the government wants is rendering everyone poor so that they can decide who gets what. If we examine OLPC closely, it is a quasi-government transnational organization designed to live off coerced tax dollars, for the benefit of its monopolistic directors.
Cheers for Intel!
[Posted by: Jim | Date: 01/04/08 10:19:11 AM]
3.
I'll 2nd that Jim.
I do not believe in the OLPC at all, and never have. They are out to make a buck like everybody else, only they are pushing incredibly crappy computers that I don't even know who they can manage to load up the windows xp that they come with, let alone do anything else.
I love you idea of just send out "obsolete" computers instead! Heck you can always find people selling old desktops or laptops for $100 or less in the papers, and most of those will have far more power then the OLPC laptops!
I hope the OLPC crashes and burns, this is the wrong way to help people.
[Posted by: gamebro | Date: 01/04/08 01:26:34 PM]
4.
Noobs 2 and 3...
The problem with your 100$ obsolete computer (P4 3.0Ghz, 256MB RAM, 20GB HDD, CD-ROM, ...) VS OLPC is that they both do the same propose that is to learn and develop; but one of them uses about much energy has 1000 OLPC computers and that only if you can find something where to plug them....
So noobs keep you stupid opinions to you.
[Posted by: ActionMan | Date: 01/04/08 04:10:42 PM]
+ expand thread (2 answers)
- collapse thread
Well obviously you would need to swap parts lol, but it is easy enough (and cheap enough).
Sure they use more power, but I am willing to bet a kid in some 3rd world country would be MUCH happier with a "P4 3.0Ghz, 256MB RAM, 20GB HDD" then they every would be with the embarrassingly weak OLPC.
You know what the OLPC laptops will teach those kids?....... They will teach them how much it sucks to have a POS laptop that can barely play solitaire! =D
[Posted by: gamebro | Date: 01/05/08 02:49:30 AM]
Noob. How do you do that on the magnificent P4 with no electricity?!
Besides the transportation costs would be huge.
And with so many wires I bet they would be using the cables as a rope before figured out where to plug them…
I think you never been in a 3rd world country, you know where every one is poor not the only guys you find sleeping in your street at 0:00 covered with newspapers.
[Posted by: ActionMan | Date: 01/06/08 03:55:19 AM]
5.
dont forget that some of these countries they are aiming the XO at don't have electricity available so they can't really plug in a used desktop computer. thats why the XO laptop has a crank on it.
[Posted by: kristoph | Date: 01/05/08 04:52:26 AM]
6.
Intel's worst rival is AMD... and AMD is gaining momentum in poor countries from this project since people in those countries who like electronics and computers will see AMD as the saviour. People buy products they know work. You can like electronics and computers without even owning a clock.
Do you think Toyota would work with in a project that promoted cheap vehicles for poor countries that had Mitsubishi motors? I think not.
Read the definition of a corporation... what do you expect?
[Posted by: pffffhahahahaha | Date: 01/05/08 07:51:16 AM]
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