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From: joel@peora.ccur.com (Joel Upchurch)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.sys.m68k,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: The New Chips
Summary: Intel 8085 production problems
Message-ID: <2757@peora.ccur.com>
Date: 28 Jan 88 20:50:50 GMT
References: <4746@watdragon.waterloo.edu> <1430@husc2.UUCP> <883@xn.LL.MIT.EDU> <2751@fluke.COM>
Organization: Concurrent Computer Corporation, Orlando, Fl
Lines: 24

In article <2751@fluke.COM>, kurt@tc.fluke.COM (Kurt Guntheroth) writes:
> Those discussing IBM's purchase of a nontrivial share of Intel (~10%) should
> keep in mind IBM's recent partial divestiture of it's Intel stock.  It is
> more than possible that to IBM, Intel is "just a supplier" and beyond that,
> a sole-source supplier with demonstrated problems with its manufacturing
> process.  The stake in Intel may have been nothing more than a way to insure
> delivery during a critical period.  One should note that IBM could have
> purchased Intel on the open market for cash during the time it bought it's
> 10% stake.

I would think that IBM would have good right to be concerned. I seem to
recall that a couple of computer makers went out of business in the 70s
because of problems getting 8085 chips. Didn't IBM get the right to use
the Intel photomasks and manufacture their own chips? I suspect that
IBMs interest in Intel decreased a lot after they got their hands on those.
If IBM had bought out Intel, it seems to me that it would put them in a
uncomfortable position with regard to potiental antitrust action, since
they would be supplying critical components to their competitiors. If there
were significant problems supplying chips to those companies, IBM might
find themselves in Federal Court.
-- 
   Joel Upchurch @ CONCURRENT Computer Corporation (305-850-1040)
   Southern Development Center/2486 Sand Lake Road/ Orlando, Florida 32809
   {decvax!ucf-cs, ihnp4!pesnta, vax135!petsd, akgua!codas}!peora!joel