John,
I didn't mean to imply never. However, in my estimation the conditions necessary for Intel to feel compelled to compete against Dell and others would only happen way after I had cashed in my Intel chips. The only way Intel is going to go up against their best customers is if their best customers start using signficant amounts of non-Intel chips. Until this happens, it doesn't matter if Dell or Intel's name carries more weight. This is a mutually beneficial deal to both the OEM's and Intel. That is why I believe you don't see tier 1 vendors using many non-Intel chips. No one wants to be last on the priority list next time Intel chips go on allocation.
As for a true and tested component vendor example, I believe Briggs and Straton was previously provided.
Now, I ask you for an example of any component vendor that has ever waged a multi hundred million dollar TV advertising campaign to build name/brand recognition. That is why Intel is unique as a component vendors and that is why I think their name will continue to command a premium.
<Compaq has never been Intel's best friend....>
And HP hates Canon but that doesnt' stop them from buying all their Laserjet engines from Canon. Why??? Because the relationship is mutually beneficial. There's nothing magical about Canon engines.
<Fred, I don't believe there is an antitrust issue, there are plenty of computer makers out there to provide competition. >
It depends on how Intel would behave. Could you imagine if when Intel introduces a new chip and there are shortages (like there always are) if Intel said, sorry all you OEM's we only have CPU's right now for Intel PC's. There is no doubt that antitrust would be an issue. The only question is how hard the OEM's would lobby the DOJ or if the DOJ would initiate an investigation on it's own. It might turn out that Intel would get a green light in the end, but it would not be a non-issue.
Like I said, I could see Intel doing what you suggest but this would only be because they have lost their dominance and made strategic mistakes to get them into a much weaker position than they are in now. Their supperior marketing would have taken a serious turn for the worse if they find themselves in this position. Nothing is going to happen overnight and I'll be out long before they ever feel they need to market PC's. If Intel ever gets to that point, it would have lost it's appeal to me long before then.
Respectfully,
FF |
