The Wall Street Journal-20080111-Intel Is on the Outside of One Laptop Project
Return to: The_Wall_Street_Journal-20080111
Intel Is on the Outside of One Laptop Project
When Intel Corp. leaked the news of its departure from the One Laptop Per Child Association, the company branded OLPC as against competition ("Intel Ends Its Collaboration With Nonprofit Laptop Project," Leading the News, Jan. 4). Intel creates a false impression by suggesting that the essence of OLPC's anti-competitiveness is its objection to the introduction of competitive products. In fact, OLPC's objection is to anti-competitive practices, not products. To object to unfair competitive practices is hardly a stance against competition.
Since its inception, OLPC has been consistent in encouraging "fair" competition. We have encouraged industry to offer quality products in the very markets in which we are working. OLPC has done well in light of competition. Notably, in every forum where it has competed apples to apples with Intel, OLPC has won. To advance its mission, OLPC even went so far as to help Intel improve its competitive offering by incorporating the unique features of our XO laptop. However, Intel didn't meet our cost, power or environmental specifications. In contrast, we have a very fruitful collaboration with AMD.
OLPC objects to unfair competition, and Intel has been unfair. As Intel Vice President John Davies admitted in these pages last month, the company was caught making distinctions without a difference, gratuitously belittling the XO before the president of Mongolia. Mr. Davies implied that this was a one-time slip, an exception. It is, in fact, the rule. The recent example of an Intel representative trying to intimidate a Peruvian official who is supportive of OLPC underscores this fact.
Intel has great engineers and, undoubtedly, someday there will be a laptop with "Intel inside" that enhances choice and opportunity for children. Meanwhile, OLPC continues to move forward in its mission despite the tactics of doublespeak and dealings in misinformation of a Goliathian Intel senior management team.
Walter Bender
President
One Laptop Per Child
Cambridge, Mass.
(See related letter: "Letters to the Editor: Wait Just a Minute -- Intel Isn't the Bad Guy Here" -- WSJ January 17, 2008)
