Intel Chair Calls $100 Notebook a "Gadget"

GHoosdum

Intel chairman Craig Barrett knocked the $100 notebook being developed by MIT, saying that it's merely a "gadget" that schoolchildren in developing countries will not want.

Barrett said Intel was committed to delivering IT access to the developing world -- and is helping Sri Lanka Telecom set up south Asia's first long-range WIMAX wireless network -- but would not produce a cut-price product like MIT's computer.

"We work in the are of low cost affordable PCs, but full function PCs," he said. "Not handheld devices and not gadgets."

He said Intel was also expanding an IT teacher training scheme it says has already reached three million schoolteachers worldwide to Sri Lanka, and praised local projects aimed at producing computer literacy. Some 90 percent of Sri Lankans were literate but only 10 percent computer literate, he said.

Is he against it because he's got a competing product? Or because it's powered by an AMD processor, perhaps?

Source: Reuters

jradmin

I don't understand why anyone would want to down something thats going to help the world as a whole. These execs don't know what children in 3rd wold countries want or need. People like that are what keep 3rd World countries the way they are.

Jengo

hmm... why does anyone even pay attention to that dolt? Seriously, He thinks he can do better? Ya, im sure a poor kid in africa can afford one of his Pentium 4s

Its crap like this that gets me pissed of at intel. I mean.. i dont hate them.. (hell im running on a Celeron M) but damn... cant that dude just stfu?

dragonV8

This phrase comes to mind.

"It's better to be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt".

It's pretty obvious he is NOT from the PR dept.

Leonardo

Intel chairman Craig Barrett knocked the $100 notebook being developed by MIT, saying that it's merely a "gadget"

Yes, I think part of this is envy stems from the fact that no PR will be coming Intel's way if this 'world' PC actually sees the light of day. There is though, an element of truth to what Barret said. At $100, the notebook will NOT come to market, and would be probably something akin to a "gadget". In order for the notebook to have communications ability worthy of doing, well, anything of much use, the machine will end up costing probably $150 or more. That's a price before distribution costs. We tend to think of hype and dubious PR as the hallmarks of business and political activities. MIT in this case is waving the "$100" flag for all it's worth, even though no machine will change hands at that price. I do though, applaud MIT and their technology partners in their effort to bring computers to the poor of the world.

Bud

when intel can do that for $100 i think they can talk, d@@! intel bitches. and they wonder why amd is spanking them, instead of coming up with new ideas there 10 steps behind

Leonardo

when intel can do that for $100 i think they can talk

If anyone can do it for $100, they deserve all the positve PR that comes their way. Intel can't, MIT can't, AMD can't.

BuddyJ

Perhaps Barrett has a limited vocabulary and confused the word "gadget" for "badass" ?

Pumalite

Thinking of switching to AMD myself

Qeldroma

jradmin wrote:

... These execs don't know what children in 3rd wold countries want or need...

I wonder if it is edible. Has anyone seen or tried this notebook?

GHoosdum

Qeldroma wrote:

I wonder if it is edible. Has anyone seen or tried this notebook?

Tastes just like chicken, AFAIK.