Intel and the OLPC

I've often wondered whether or not Anandtech / Dailytech was funded by Intel. I'm pretty sure I've floated the observation that I think that they are before on this blog. Previous examples indicating a bias towards Intel have included such items as passing off known performance bugs and issues as factual performance, even though patches and new versions where available that fixed the bugs.

Well, I received another piece of ammunition today. Seems DT is running a report on Intel's breakup with the One Laptop Per Child project. In the original report, the author stated that Intel had already been enthusiastic about the OLPC project.

Okay, has anybody else seen Mel Brooks Robin Hood: Men in Tights movie? Yes? Okay, remember the scene at the very end where Prince John is trying to pass the blame off on the Sheriff of Rottingham? Okay, go the image? What did Robin Hood and his Merry Men do in the background? Something that resembled coughing, but wound up being mass pronouncement of "Bullshit" ... remember that?

Well, now you got an image of the reaction to DT trying to re-write history. Fact is, Intel hated the OLPC. From the start of when it was first announced and the initial development began Intel was a constant detractor to the OLPC project. I quite literally lost count and stopped recording the number of snide remarks and insults hurled by Intel against the backers of OLPC. I distinctly remember several comments made by Craig R. Barrett of Intel Corporation rubbishing the project and detailing why the OLPC project would fail. I also recall Craig R. Barrett specifically stating that their vision of a low-end computer was a much better solution.

In fact, Intel hated the OLPC so much, they designed a competitor, the Intel Classmate. Okay, it was heavier, more traditionally manufactured, made in partnership with Microsoft, and costs more than the OLPC's final price tag.

In fact, Intel only became interested in the OLPC project when it became clear that the OLPC was going to succeed, and that AMD was going to reap the sole benefits both in public relations and profits. So, Intel performed an about face and did it's best to get involved with the project they had never supported from the start.

So, while I'm not surprised that Intel broke up with the OLPC Project, I was shocked that DT would try to re-write history so close to the events. Sorry DT, you can't tell us what we experienced. If you think you can, you do need to go read Albert Temple's Gene Catlow Webcomic. I linked it a couple of posts back. It has an excellent story arc covering media outlets trying to shape what everybody experienced. It doesn't work.

All it does is show yet again that somebody's funding you to make Intel look good. Sorry, that's not going to happen. The requirements for Intel to look good, and be good, have already been laid out.