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Our Blogs The BeerFiles Intel climbs aboard OLPC program | Intel climbs aboard OLPC program |
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| Written by Stan Beer | |
| Saturday, 14 July 2007 | |
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The move by Intel comes as a surprise because the giant chipmaker appeared to be doing its best to derail the OLPC program. Like other detractors, Intel believed the OLPC laptop could not be used to do any useful real world work. In response Intel released its own low-end competitor called the Classmate, which runs a cut down version of Windows for US$200 - a move which angered OLPC. However, that all appears to be water under a third world bridge as Intel and OLPC are now projecting an image of smiles, cooperation and synergy. As the joint announcement says: "Intel and One Laptop per Child (OLPC) today announced they have agreed to work together to bring the benefits of technology to the developing world through synergy of their respective programs. Under the agreement, Intel and OLPC will explore collaborations involving technology and educational content. Intel will also join the board of OLPC." The move by Intel to join OLPC suggests a realization by giant chipmaker that the movement is gaining some traction. In addition, with rival AMD already on the OLPC board, the negative PR of being seen to be at loggerheads with a philanthropic organization that its chief rival supports was obvious. Microsoft has already flagged the third world as the market where it sees the next billion computers being sold. Intel obviously intends to play a big role in that and, despite the motherhood statements about synergy its own program with OLPC, the announcement suggests that the world's largest chipmaker wants its cards in every deck.
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