Mannerisms

In the late summer, it is expected that Intel will be found guilty of malpractice by the EC for unfairly offering PC companies special deals if they restricted their exposure to AMD microprocessors..

If that is indeed the case, then Intel could be hit with the biggest fine the EC has ever imposed (the biggest so far being the $1.4 billion fine levied on Microsoft).

So, if all this actually happens, and a a billion or two smackers are going to be flowing into the EU coffers, how should it be spent?

Well a witty way to spend this particular billion or two would be to provide venture funding to some chip start-ups. Particualrly chip-start-ups in the processor business aimed at weaning Intel off its monopoly.

After all, Intel's problems have stemmed from its monopoly position. Before it became the monopoly supplier of processors to the PC industry, Intel was a much admired, highly innovative silicon company, being among the first to come out with MOS memories, DRAMs and SRAMs, and inventing the EPROM, the E2PROM and the microprocessor.

After Intel established its monopoly on PC microprocessors, it switched its energies from silicon innovation to trying to control everything in the PC industry.

Intel did pretty well in this respect, growing huge, sucking most of the profits (with Microsoft) out of the PC industry, and putting the fear of God into any PC-maker which dared buy AMD processors.

But the old Intel, the Intel which the whole industry admired, the engineering-led, innovation-driven, inspired old Intel, died the death.

So, what would be best for Intel would be a challenge to the x86 architecture. The EC should use the fine money to fund half a dozen start-ups to make alternative processors to drive PCs.

Suddenly, Intel management would have to turn to its engineers to find new solutions to the challenge. The ruling clique of marketeers would be relegated to the back seat, as the company became engineer-driven again. Imagination and inspiration would flourish.

Really, spending the fine like this would be the kindest way for Intel.