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A possibility is, that someone at intel, after doing some math, just doesn´t believe that the project will succeed and that a free, competing market may be the better solution. And the marketing department at AMD might have come to the conclusion that doing a this "charity" project would be the cheapest and most effective marketing campaign they ever had.

I don´t know it, but it could be.

It´s not stabbing anyone in the back. It´s just a free market. If Intel would just let AMD make this deals, well, they just could gift all of their facilities and money to AMD, well, after being eaten alive by their shareholders - it would be faster that way.

Communism and central market planning doesn´t work. Wake up.

Well, the competition to get name recognition among these kids (future computer customers) will indeed benefit them I think. There is probably room for both companies, even though there is a danger Intel could succeed in sinking the OLCP due to decreasing the size of it's production runs (which is crucial to cost!).

Main thing I have against the Intel machine here is it's use of a form of Windows.

But RedHat is said to be working to offer an open source desktop for the classmate also, so perhaps these machines won't be so crippled.

Re the OLCP, even if Intel sinks the original organization, it was still a success -- in getting the cheap laptops going.

There is more than one way to skin a cat.

I think it would be smart for the governments to haggle with Intel to *keep* that price down there near $100, and require a contract to that effect.

It would also be smart for the countries to band together and buy laptops from both efforts, as a kind of insurance for success in the long run.

Indeed! You know what that means. The OLPC project failed, yet Negroponte succeeded since there is something that doesn´t need a project name to work and offer cheap laptops to 3rd world countries. It´s the free market!

The point is to turn the attention of the world to the plight of the poor and get companies to offer cheap, good computers to kids so that they can bridge the digital divide. It seems with Intel walking into this area, Mr Negroponte succeeded. He was selling these laptops at over $100, Intel will do it for cheaper. Meaning that the governments can buy more laptops. He's crying over nothing.

Intel = Bad, AMD = Good....

Got it.. Check!

Understand...

I think you will find mister Negroponte is upset, as it will directly affect HIS bottom line as well.

Now please do not think that the OLPC was JUST donated machines. It is NOT.. It was a way to make it cheaper for other countries to receive and distribute these devices. The countries were in agreement to purchase a portion of them as well.

Please look at the Red-Cross scandal.. If you are wondering if these Not-For-Profit organizations are not profiting someone. I do not deny the guy a living. I am saying that with the volume of sales (yes sales) of these devices and the overall cost (some donated) for distribution infrastructure. You could in effect have one of the worlds largest PC vendors. He may be benefiting he may not.

There have been many many articles written on this effort and how poorly implemented it will be. How many of the devices will end up on the black market, stolen and used for weapons trade, food trade...

In essence many of the people "in-the-know" in these countries will see it as a way to keep the wealthy wealthy, and the poor poor (see Serbia's and Mogadishu's relief efforts). Many will see it as a way to exercise further control over people as well.

I guess what I am getting at is there are many angles to every effort. Please do NOT see only one side/angle as it only distorts your view (don't look behind the curtain type of thing).

Intel offering the laptops for a lower amount is one part of "their" angle as well... OLPC would also put mister Negroponte in a position of authority in MANY international communities. So there is gain from every area.

AMD invested a meager 2M. I guess that makes them saints right? Intels investment would be much greater without a DIRECT return (notice direct is in all caps. (This is because they want name recognition in ALL areas).

Just don't be blind as to the whole efforts/gains on both sides of this discussion.

That would be the case if this hadn't decayed down to another AMD Vs Intel battle and how absolutely evil Intel is and how they secretly work for Satan and making money is the greatest of great evils.

Exactly. Shouldn't he be happy that his mission succeeded and these kids are getting laptops? Who cares where they come from if they benefit the kids. It sounds like he's crying because the money isn't going into his pocket. Intel might be a bit misguided here, but in the end it seems like the children win, which is the whole point.

The only possible bad result would be if Intel killed the OLPC organization, yet itself raised the price of the future version of classmate significantly in a year or three, thus killing the whole effort in a sense (to make cheap laptops widely in use). That's the worst possible outcome. I don't think it's the most likely, but it would be smart for the governments (the ones paying for these laptops!) to make long term contracts that prevent that outcome.

The point is that he approached Intel and they said beat it. Now they smell money so they say "Wait, just a sec, that's too much for you to handle."

Of course we all know that only the chipset and CPU have to be different so why couldn't they (Intel) work to get both in to the systems?

It would be the same as Dell, or HP since a third party assembles the systems.

So he's angry because he can't make money anymore.

Terrible example.

Terrible because you don't have refutation or terrible because it doesn't apply? If it doesn't apply, tell me why it doesn't apply and how you came to the conclusion that it doesn't apply.

http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/ [...] 59b,00.htm

The only way for the governments to not let Intel's below cost chips carry a sting (future price increases) is with a contract.

But a more interesting thing to me (instead of more Intel tricks), is the aspect of the open source software.

http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/ [...] 59b,00.htm

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Forget Intel, forget AMD, this isn't about them. This is about the children. They are the only ones we should be worrying about.

Yes. I'm not making excuses/denying that Intel has alterior motives(how many co.s don't? ) BUT. Ever hear the saying..."Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth" ? If i was a kid, and my sister's(who's babysitting me) boyfriend comes up to me and says....here's $10... go see a movie(cause he wants to make out with my sister)hey....it's a free movie, whether he actually cared if i see a movie or not. Yes, Intel is likely being cagey...but look at the possible benefits for both sides.

1tanker your are right

Let me get this straight

Intel is getting laptops to children at the $100 mark, but they make a profit.

OLPC is getting laptops to children around $130-$170 and giving back some of it.

now for some math Intel + (OLPC + AMD) = competition

competition is good for whom?........the consumer


Like Intel, AMD is not going to be out done by its competition and may very well donate more resources, resulting in cheaper OLPC laptops.

I'm not defending Intel's reasons for undercutting OLPC, but pointing out (as many of you should already know) that competition is good. The only real bad guy here is going to be AMD if they pull out as to not challenge Intel on yet another front. And how likely is that? And if OLPC is concerned about not being able to compete, maybe they should shift their focus to providing internet connectivity, thus providing a way to work with Intel who has the real resources to make this happen.

Just my 2 cents