Intel has withdrawn from its partnership with the
One Laptop Per Child project following ‘philosophical’ differences with the organization. The reality is that the dispute centres around a request from the organizers of the One
Laptop Per Child scheme for
Intel to cease
advertising its own cheap
computer which also targets developing countries.
The world’s largest
chipmaker offers the ClassMate
PC for $285, retailing for nearly $100 more than the $188 price tag attached to OLPC’s XO laptop. Since deciding to assist the One Laptop Per Child scheme, Intel have offered their advice and
funding to the non-profit project, though the initial decision to partner the organization was surprising given Intel’s volatile relationship with
OLPC founder
Nicholas Negroponte .
Intel’s ClassMate PC is part of their $1 billion ‘World Ahead’ project which has been in operation for a year and a half now, and although each ClassMate PC sold results in Intel making a profit, the company donates around $100 a year to
charity .