Get hooked up with AT&T ConnecTechLast modified: September 26, 1997 6:45 PM PDT
Readers speak out about Intel
Looming large among respondents' concerns is the threat of an Intel monopoly.
"If I were buying a PC right now, I would go out of my way to purchase one with a non-Intel CPU," wrote Pierre Billon. "Monopolies always work to the detriment of the consumer: when you own the market, why spend to develop truly innovative new technology? And if consumers don't like it, where else are they going to go?"
Another respondent, who identified himself as "Davy," predicted that if Intel gained more than 80 percent of the market, prices could jump by as much as fourfold. "I seriously would like to see more competition," he wrote. "If Intel has over 80 percent of the market share, everyone in the world will hurt badly."
Readers with less global perspectives were more concerned about what was in their computers. Among these respondents, a difference of opinion emerged over the comparable quality of non-Intel products.
"I have bought an AMD chip before, and was unhappy with it," wrote Brian Knotts. "It consistently overheated, even with a Peltier cooler."
By contrast, Thomas Buckland wrote that "AMD chips are faster AND cheaper than Intel chips." And Mac user Lee Hassler weighed in with the opinion that "everyone has the image that Intel with its wacky commercials has the fastest chips in the world, which is a false statement. Motorola is making chips faster than Intel's on the MacOS platform."
But as the tortoise showed the hare, speed isn't everything. One respondent wrote that he's sticking with Intel chips because they work consistently.
"Performance can be argued but reliability cannot," wrote Peter Wolfley. "Personally, I don't care about a 5 percent to 10 percent boost in CPU speed or a slightly lower price. I just want the damn thing to run. All the time."
Consumers should protest monopolies with their purchases
If I were buying a PC right now, I would go out of my way to purchase one with a non-Intel CPU. Monopolies always work to the detriment of the consumer: when you own the market, why spend to develop truly innovative new technology? Just keep gouging customers with last year's overpriced merchandise...Or come out with an 'incremental upgrade,' and make sure they pony up for it big time. And if they don't like it, where else are they going to go? Right now, buying Intel is a bad long-term strategy for me, the consumer.
--Pierre Billon
