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Intel decides to leave OLPC project

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

January 4, 2008, 2:50 PM

Citing "philosophical differences," the chipmaker has abruptly announced its departure from the One Laptop Per Child organization.

Intel failed to appear at a board meeting in Florida recently, which apparently set off a dispute between the company and those in charge of the program. It is this argument which led to Intel's announcement on Thursday.

The company attempted to present to OLPC its own vision of putting laptops into the hands of children. However, organization founder Nicholas Negroponte demanded that Intel support OLPC exclusively.

Obviously, this was not going to happen. Intel is pushing its own Classmate PC as the system of choice for laptops for students in developing countries. Additionally, OLPC's XO laptops run on AMD's chips.

Intel joined the OLPC initiative in July and took a seat on the organization's board of directors. It also pledged at the time to help fund the group's efforts.

During its participation, it developed an XO laptop that included an Intel chip. However, OLPC executives claim that the company failed to deliver on its agreement when it joined and was attempting to undermine the program.

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By zridling

posted Jan 5, 2008 - 4:47 AM

Intel really looks bad here. If they can't have the monopoly on OLPC chips, then they're quitters — at the expense of a great idea for this century and of their own reputation. Hard not to think of them as kicking a poor kid when he's already down.

Screw you Intel; OLPC ain't playing your corporate game. Stick to sucking Microsoft's wind.

Score: 0

By mdotwills

posted Jan 4, 2008 - 7:24 PM

Yea, lets give every child in Africa a laptop! I bet they can eat it!

This project should fall away. Food, health and infrastructure in Africa is much more important than a dinky laptop.

Score: 0

By sjc001

edited Jan 5, 2008 - 9:49 AM

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. These laptops are a fishing line. It is just as important to feed the mind as it is to feed the body. This way they will have the tools to make themselves self-sufficient.

Plus, these places are very poor, but they are not starving there either. They do have a functioning educational system. They value education. Sadly I can't say the same about most Americans, though.

You are being extremely short-sighted. Just as Intel is being.

Score: 0

By LastManStandn

posted Jan 5, 2008 - 3:46 AM

Not all parts of Africa are crippled by these inequities. In fact, you don't have to go far to find them; we have plenty of examples of the same here in the United States and in other developed civilations.

Clearly the mission here is not to put laptops in the hands of naked and starving children.

-LMS

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Jan 5, 2008 - 9:47 AM

Too many people think that when they hear Africa that everyone there is just like Starvin' Marvin from South Park...

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Jan 4, 2008 - 7:20 PM

I had concerns over the whole OLPC idea, and when Intel joined the group I knew then that their intentions were not honest.

As said bellow, I find it hard to agree with the idea of giving them laptops in the first place when there are other priorities.

All year round clean drinking water, power, food, medicines, vaccines and condoms would be a better idea. If you want to educate them, give them Books, paper, pencils or anything but a laptop.

If you MUST give them computers, and in light of the need to recycle, ship all surplus equipment to any organisation and build them. Im sure they will be just as powerful, have a better upgrade opportunity and have a positive effect to recycle.

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Jan 5, 2008 - 9:43 AM

See my reply above.

Score: 0

By Lawrence01

posted Jan 4, 2008 - 5:27 PM

Not surprising to me. Intel up to its old tricks again.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jan 4, 2008 - 4:09 PM

So, Intel would prefer to make money by crushing a project that helps children, rather than actually helping children.

Nice.

Score: 0

By the artist

edited Jan 4, 2008 - 5:31 PM

exactly! helping in this case wouldn't be profitable.

I'm not sure what to think, it is mostly a hope that this ridiculous OLPC sh*t ends once and for all. Yeah, selling computers to those who barely have enough to eat is helping them...

The UN should sell packs of notebooks, pencils, rubber, ruler and more school utensils for 2 dollars and make a strong awareness campaign of the benefits of education. THAT IS HELPING, burocratic mo**er fu**ers!

Score: 0

By sjc001

posted Jan 5, 2008 - 9:44 AM

See my reply above.

Score: 0

By ZenWarrior

posted Jan 4, 2008 - 3:30 PM

Intel has done its best to deride and derail OLPC since the idea's inception. AMD had the common sense not to do the same. Intel itself made certain its chips would not be used.

Score: 0

By dracodos

posted Jan 4, 2008 - 4:07 PM

I agree, it seemed from the start Intel did not like the idea that AMD was the first to support such a project. Then they get on the board, and now jumped ship after realizing that they haveto work with the group, not steer it in the direction they want. They agreed to help, not push their stance. But on the same note i don't know if OLPCs stance that INTEL needs to be exclusive with them was also the right move on their part. They have AMD already so why would they bother with Intel? Unless it's a thing of making sure secrets don't get leaked out.

Score: 0

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