IP: Re: Intel and Broadband Deregulation ..

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 08:57:24 -0500 (EST)
> From: "Mike O'Dell" <mo () ccr org>
> To: dave () farber net
>
>
> Dave,
>
> why Intel seems fickel w.r.t. telecom is not a deep question
>
> Intel is in favor of anything which will require people to keep
> upgrading their computer, and they see "broadband access" as key
> to maintaining the demand for faster CPUs.
>
> when the Telecom act looked like it would break the logjam
> and get DSL deployed via the CLEC route, they were in favor
> of the Telcom act.
>
> now that that ILEC slow-roll local-loop hostage-taking has
> succeeded and the ILECs are now claiming "just let us do it
> and we'll finally deploy DSL", Intel is in favor of letting
> the ILEC do it.  Intel is in favor of *anyone* doing it just
> as long as it gets done, and soon.  they've been all but
> foaming at the mouth about this for two years now.
>
> Intel and Microsoft are in the same boat - their financial
> viability RELIES on keeping everyone upgrading.  If the
> upgrade machine stops, the bubble bursts and they are toast.
>
> if you look at the "minimum requirements" for Windows Xtra
> Pain, such a machine is more than adquate to design a nuclear
> warhead.  the argument of how you need that much horsepower
> just to run a wordprocessor and a spreadsheet is getting a
> bit tiresome.  the "new features" in XP are so far on the
> margin of genuine utility to be laughable.
>
> No, the deal is simple.  Intel needs Microsoft to keep making
> their product bigger and slower so people need faster computers
> every so often (more often is obviously better), and Microsoft
> needs Intel to make the faster computers so they can keep
> shovelling in features so they can claim people need to upgrade
> their software (likewise).
>
> This is the other half of the Internet Bubble which hasn't burst, yet.
>
> When the market figures out how much they are being manipulated,
> it's gonna be very, very ugly.
>
>         cheers,
>         -mo


For archives see:
http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/