X-bit labs

Intel Quits OLPC Board After Scandal.

Category: Other

by Anton Shilov

[ 01/03/2008 | 11:43 PM ]

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.