Intel accused of putting profits over poor
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Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:19:49 GMT |
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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 9 U.S. computer chip giant Intel is accused of undercutting a program to give cheap laptops to children in developing countries so it could up its profits.
Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the One Laptop Per Child effort, claimed Intel used "underhand" sales tactics to try to block contracts to buy his machines, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday. Both OLPC and Intel produce laptops designed for use by children in poor countries.
The OLPC version is a rugged machine, featuring a sunlight readable display and open-source hardware. It uses a processor by Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices. Intel's version can run Microsoft Windows operating system and is part of the company's broader educational effort.
The OLPC computer is the less expensive of the two and OLPC hopes to get the per-laptop price down to $100, the British newspaper said.
Leaders of the Cambridge, Mass., organization said Intel failed to deliver on its promises and the root of the problem is Intel's wanting the laptops to contain its more expensive microchips rather than those from AMD.
But Intel chief executive Paul Otellini called the accusations "hogwash," saying the company has met its obligations. Copyright 2008 by UPI
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OLPC might be more successful by focusing on customer
By:
sifta ,
Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:12:42 GMT
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I wonder if Negroponte can blame Intel for OLPC's declining star. As I understand it, he is sore because Intel salespeople were supposedly trying to sell similar laptops to the same governments that he is, and he wants the OLPC laptop educational mission to be unfettered by competition. Isn't it rather paternalistic to presume that the governments whose citizens he is on a 'mission' to help are not qualified to make their own decisions?
I suspect that the more holistic approach that OLPC has taken is superior. They have created a whole new platform, with new technologies, and an education focus on the intended users. My hunch is that it is very likely a better long-term value than the competitors.
Rather than bringing this up, Negroponte, the visionary who has not really been responsible for any of the details of the technical or educational innovations, has focused on 'teaching' the third-world officials about his educational mission. From what I understand about marketing and sales, this approach is fine for small groups but is not scalable. Obviously, the Intel sales team doesn't sell in this high-handed way. If I was responsible for the tightly-held resources of a third-world country I wouldn't feel comfortable handing over piles of money to a starry-eyed, white American visionary with a 'mission' to help my people. I would prefer a low-risk, staged integration plan that maximized my return on investment and that I could advance at my own pace.
Thus, my view is that OLPC's problems lie more within Negroponte's grandiose visions and vanity rather than any conspiracy by others.
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