News - Intel's appeal over €1.06 billion EU court fine is rejected

[DanceswithUnix]

Joe and Jane consumer couldn't care less, so long as their box store, discount computer boots and they can play the latest version of Farmville

But if the motherboard manufacturers were afraid to make AMD motherboards, then Joe and Jane would be forced to buy an Intel based system, and no other metrics of cost, performance, reliability or even compatibility with Farmville will get a chance to come into it.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...iew,123-2.html

"Well, as you might have guessed already, there's a very strong rumor that the one company that hates and detests AMD's Athlon really badly is throwing its whole weight in to threaten the entire Taiwanese motherboard industry."

No sales means no funds for engineering, and rough times ahead.

I would say a billion euros is a bargain for what they got.

[GuidoLS]

I'm not arguing, nor even trying to imply, that Intel did nothing shady, or bad, or (arguably) illegal, nor am I trying to argue they didn't get off cheap, in the scheme of things. I do think they weren't the only ones culpable in this, and that Dell, HP, NEC and Lenovo, if proven to have taken part in these deals, are as guilty, and should be fined just as vigorously. They surely profited as much, if not more, than Intel did.

What I am arguing is, simply, that nobody outside of these tech sites will ever notice, or care. They can still buy their Dell, or HP, or Lenovo, or whatever. And much like buying a car, they don't care if it's Intel or AMD any more than they care if it's AC/Delco or Champion spark plugs. They feel they have had the freedom of choice via what's on the outside (read: label). What's inside only matters to the enthusiast, and the serious tech head sticks their own label on the box.

[crossy]

And while I can't speak for the EU, WalMart and similar outlets are where the primary sales of Dell and HP take place. NEC is a non-player, and Lenovo is 'high end' business, and seldom (if ever) bought over the counter. Lenovo is/was IBM, and has ALWAYS been Intel prejudiced. The term wasn't Intel compatible - it was IBM compatible, with the Intel chips inside.

Interesting to hear the US perspective. Over here in the UK Acer, Dell and HP are definitely the #1 in the big chain electronic retail stores and in the supermarkets. Toshiba and Lenovo also seem to get representation - Lenovo especially in the likes of Staples.

HP is considered by a lot of people to be some of the dirtiest players in the game - they probably approached Intel and came up with the 'rebate' scheme to begin with.

No sorry, I'm not going to let that one pass. Mark Hurd (pauses to spit) definitely would kiss any body part of a supplier who'd give him a "better deal". On the flipside, what's in it for HP for Intel to give kickbacks not only to them, but also their competitors? Much as it might appeal to be able to move some blame from Intel, the only company to profit from these shenanigans is Intel, so it's unlikely that anyone else was involved ... except perhaps to "go along" with the deal when it was offered.

I'm not arguing, nor even trying to imply, that Intel did nothing shady, or bad, or (arguably) illegal, nor am I trying to argue they didn't get off cheap, in the scheme of things. I do think they weren't the only ones culpable in this, and that Dell, HP, NEC and Lenovo, if proven to have taken part in these deals, are as guilty, and should be fined just as vigorously. They surely profited as much, if not more, than Intel did.

I've said the same in one of my earlier posts on this thread. HP especially espouses this "whiter than white" corporate culture, so if there were folks involved in taking these "payments" (I hesitate to call them "bribes" although that's pretty much what they are), still working then maybe it's time for them to be pink slipped? Especially if that means saving the jobs of folks who's "moral compass" was a bit steadier.

And I've singled out HP for comment because you did. Although I'd obviously want to see the other companies receiving these monies carry out similar "distancing" activities from their folks involved in this shoddy practice.

[HalloweenJack]

reuters have confirmed this fine was never paid - they now have to pay.

[GuidoLS]

reuters have confirmed this fine was never paid - they now have to pay.

Any chance at a link for that, please? My Google-fu seems to be inadequate to the task.

[canopus72]

It serves intel bloody well right. I hope this will be one of many costly litigation cases as intel has been using illegal means to dominate the market for at least two decades. Not only that but in August 2005, when intel accepted massive investment from israel, it established it's R&D centre on illegally acquired Palestinian land in Haifa. Unsurprisingly, this has been swept under the rug, but I hope it will be a matter of time before this act of criminality is brought to light. I cannot in good conscience support a company that is pretty much owned by an illegal state.