Negroponte says he'd welcome Intel back to OLPC

He's already made nice with Microsoft, and it now seems that OLPC head Nicholas Negroponte is extending an olive branch of sorts to Intel as well, despite the all-out lambasting of the company he doled out only yesterday. According to Infoworld, Negroponte calls what happened with Intel "very unfortunate" and says that he hopes "there's a way of rebuilding it in the future because there's no interest in OLPC pushing Intel out." In case you missed it, Intel up and left the OLPC board of directors last week after it claimed that OLPC insisted it give on cooperating with the competing Classmate PC if it wanted to stay in the OLPC fold. Negroponte, however, now says that the idea that OLPC is anti-competition is "ridiculous" and that it wants to "see as many laptops out there as possible and kids have the widest choice possible." For it's part, Intel says it's willing to talk with OLPC, although it maintains that there are "differences" that they've so far unable to resolve.

[Aaron Wanker @ Jan 9th 2008 3:44PM]

It almost seems like a publicity stunt, to make people feel bad for OLPC and donate/buy a few PCs or so... either that, or Negroponte is bipolar

[J Dubya @ Jan 9th 2008 4:07PM]

People ask me about the OLPC program more frequently now referring to the commercial with that nice asian guy from Heros. I find myself explaining that first of all they should buy an eee instead and second not for nothing, but there are better options for donating to the less fortunate. Is this wrong of me, to feel that this is a scam that people have fallen for?

[nih @ Jan 9th 2008 8:02PM]

You've hit the nail on the head unfortunately. It's a gigantic ego-stunt for Negroponte.

[Arsenic0 @ Jan 9th 2008 6:25PM]

This guy is a damn loser..

I think he realizes how much his little crybaby antics from earlier in the week make his organization look unprofessional.

Intel and other companies just part ways with a minimal press release. The OLPC organization makes giant headlines about how Intel hates children and is a big evil corporation.

[Markus @ Jan 9th 2008 9:30PM]

Every time i read "the OLPC board of directors" i'm reminded just how far removed this outfit is from the children it claims it wants to benefit.

[suv4x4 @ Jan 10th 2008 4:59AM]

I see only polarized opinions here. Not good.

Intel is a necessary evil. They have horrible business practices, but their chips are amazing, and with the release of Silverthorne this year, will be the most amazing x86-compatible chip ever in existence.

Negroponte needs to make it clear to Intel that he's looking to OLPC-s with Intel processors as soon as technically viable.

This should calm down Intel, it could even lead to the canceling of the Classmate PC

Intel will have to compete on objective ground like price, performance and efficiency, so if it beats AMD there, Intel OLPCs stand to only benefit OLPC and the children.

[jack hidary @ Jan 15th 2008 1:38AM]

I am lucky enough to have one of the new XO laptops from olpc. this device is nothing short of revolutionary.

more thoughtful design went into this object than the boeing 777.

it is not just about the hardware. this software -with its many opportunities for kids to program and experiment - will lead to even further innovation.

intel is acting like a lumbering elephant in its heavy-footed approach on this. sad but predictable. olpc is better off without intel's big brother attitude. nick just say no!


Jack