Replies to post #83642 on Intel Corp (INTC)

[Elmer Phud]

People generally hate Microsoft and are always looking for alternatives and IBM has only now just started to lose its big ogre status many decades on.

People, especially losers, will always hate whoever is on top. It's human nature. Works in politics & sports as well as techland. Losers hate winners because they can never be like them.

[chipguy]

Perhaps there should be a negative line on the balance sheet that specifies 'Badwill' as a lot of it sure is generated when companies act like big schoolyard bullies throwing their weight around, no-one of fair mind likes to see that and people remember and store the hate just like they generally hate those that bullied them at school for a long time.

The obvious counter example is Apple. In terms of relations
with suppliers and customers as well as a corporate citizen
in general it is a schizo prima donna supermodel on meth yet
the level of fawning press coverage and general good will
among the consumer class is naseating.

IMO the issue is moot. The average person who is even aware
of the EU fine of Intel is probably well aware of the entire back
story of AMD's extended global campaign to push regulatory
bodies in protectionism prone locales to go after Intel as AMD's
products fall ever further behind Intel's and its self-inflicted
financial wounds fester ever more seriously. Hardly a month
goes by without a major business magazine or newspaper noting
how marginal AMD's financial and competitive positions have
become, some even questioning its chances for survival has
become. That is the real tech news that could affect purchasing
decisions.

[techno_bull]

Your opinion on this matter is well documented, I'm just saying that anecdotally, I'm not seeing it. While an accurate focus group with statistical analysis would be necessary to really understand the impact of these matters (i.e. AMD lawsuit, EU decision), I say that if each person on this board polled two people (one being a non-tech consumer, the other being a business manager type with > 10K signing privileges), the results would show that the Intel brand remains untarnished.

Note: 'Likable' and 'cool' are not the same as having a highly valued brand. I don't view Caterpillar or UPS as particularly likable or cool, but I know where to turn when I need a backhoe or I need to ship my backhoe, well maybe not. :)