dougSF30, no offense intended! Seems we do not see Intel in the same way, I don't think they have the degrees of freedom in influencing other companies that you ascribe to them.
I think that Intel has to participate in a lot of give and take, and make compromises along the way. If they really were to give such preferential pricing to Dell as you suggest they could, then the fallout from HPQ retaliation would be very serious. How about if HPQ funded a 300mm 64nm fab for AMD, in trade for first dibs on the production?
Once Intel forgot that they have to work with the industry. That was the RDRAM fiasco.
I am not claiming that Intel can't use brass knuckle tactics, or that they don't. That is not normal business for any successful company, however. They have to make deals mutually beneficial, and consider the needs of their OEMs.
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