Struggling To Help the Third World

Advanced Micro Devices had better watch out. Intel is trespassing on their largesse. Advanced Micro Devices has been helping the poor for many years, while Intel has been comfortably partnered with Microsoft. Now things are changing.

I refer to a story in the New York Times (July 14, 2007) that describes a breakthrough for a non-profit called One Laptop Per Child. Nicholas Negroponte, the chairman of the Board of One Laptop Per Child has pursued Intel for a while, by chiding the Chairman of Intel, Craig R. Barrett. Negroponte says that Intel is harming the effort to bring cheap laptops to third world students. There are all kinds of technological issues here, but the real issue is the competition among chip makers. Negroponte, a wise and clever man, has brought Intel to the table simply by embarrassing them with the fact that its much smaller competitor, Advanced Micro Devices, has been forthcoming while Intel has been withholding. He’s said that Intel has been trying to sabotage the effort to help the poorest of the poor gain computer literacy.

Intel, on its side, has said it favors other educational approaches. Until now. Now it sends one of its Vice Presidents to sit on the Board of One Laptop Per Child, presumably to guide its journey, increase its fundraising profile, and generally help the “issues” resolve themselves.

Advanced Micro Devices has given the effort over $2 million in the last couple of years. Let’s see what Intel gives.