May 13, 2000

10:14 AM

Intel royally fucks over one of its best customers.We don't ordinarily get into hardware here, but what's important about this is that this has a damned good chance of putting ASUS out of business. (And just two weeks after I put an ASUS mobo into my computer, sob. Fortunately, mine is not one of the ones involved.)

If Intel has any honor (or wants to maintain any kind of reputation) they're going to completely cover ASUS's losses on this, which could easily top a billion dollars. I wonder if they will.

Anyone want to lay odds on when the first lawsuit gets filed? (Or who will sue whom?)
posted by Steven Den Beste (5 comments total)

Some additional comments:

1. Do NOT purchase a computer or motherboard which contains one of the new Intel controllers; you're taking major chances here, because every independent test says that the i820 and i840 are both dogs. Right now the only safe choices for a mobo to support an Intel CPU are the Via Apollo Pro 133A or the aging Intel 440BX.

2. Intel's reputation for reliable products is irreparably damaged. It's hard to think of anything they could have done which would more assist AMD, Via and Micron in stealing market share.

3. Heads at Intel will roll for this. Watch and wait.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 10:29 AM on May 13, 2000

You would think there were better ways for Intel to prop up Rambus's ailing business...

Then again, it took a while for AMD to provide ASUS with the specs to build an Athlon motherboard, didn't it?
posted by holgate at 4:29 PM on May 13, 2000

Um, Steven? Thanks for the heads up... but watch your fscking language; 'k? ;-)
posted by baylink at 4:36 PM on May 13, 2000

Sorry about the language; I reserve the strong stuff for cases which really deserve it, and this one seemed appropriate.

ASUS is a fine corporation with a reputation for producing really good products and supporting them well, and they've been given the royal shaft by Intel's sheer incompetence. It got me really mad.

I'll try to control myself in future.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 9:28 PM on May 13, 2000

I don't argue with you one bit... I just figured *I'd* be more polite than some people might have been...

and besides, I don't get to say 'fscking' in public too often. :-)

I like ASUS, too.
posted by baylink at 9:49 PM on May 13, 2000