What's our problem? What do YOU hate about Intel?

By Josh Bancroft (Intel) (69 posts) on May 24, 2007 at 8:51 am

I'm in an ISN staff meeting right now, and we're talking about risk taking opportunities. Broad topic, and we all have lots of ideas (including me). In fact, I maintain a draft blog post that's basically a list of hairball wild ideas that I'd like to do at Intel. I added a few ideas from the discussion this morning.

But the thing that keeps popping up in my mind is this: what is the problem we're trying to solve?

At ISN, we look at Intel as a software company (that is, we don't concern ourselves too much with designing the next CPU, or the manufacturing side of the company).

Our goal at ISN, as I see it, is to help developers make Really Awesome Software. The mission statement for our parent group, the Developer Relations Division, is "Inspire Software Innovation on Intel", which is just another way to put it. We're not a revenue generating part of Intel. We exist to help developers, and to tell them "hey, we know our products aren't free, and we appreciate you for buying them. Here are some things that might help you, as a way of saying Thank You."

That's all well and good, but I want to figure to figure out what the obstacles are to being the best dang software community in the world.

Is it an image problem? Do too many people hate Intel because we're a huge company, seen as heartless and cruel and evil?

Is it an awareness problem? Do people just not realize that Intel is a software company, too, and that these things are available?

Tell me what you think. What do you hate about Intel? What do you see as Intel's negative side?

Be honest, and don't hold back. I really want to know.

Categories: Intel® Software Network 2.0

Comments (32)

May 24, 2007 10:09 AM PDT


mike		 Not a direct answer to your question but...

If goals of ISN are as you state how about open sourcing the compilers?
May 24, 2007 10:17 AM PDT

Josh Bancroft (Intel)
Total Points:
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Brown Belt
 Mike, have you been peeking at my "hairball wild ideas" list? ;-)
May 24, 2007 10:39 AM PDT


Chris Brogan...		 I have worked with Intel for several years, through their telephony work. Some of that comes from acquiring (and then spinning back off) Dialogics. Some came from Intel's ATCA program, to make a telco-quality open-standard platform. In several years of enterprise technology work, wireless telecom work, and overall understanding of the industry, I never considered Intel a software company. Drivers, sure. Diagnostics tools, sure.

But then again, I'm not a manufacturer, and I'm not writing code. I was a commercial end user.

There's a branding issue here. Intel=chips.
May 24, 2007 10:45 AM PDT


Chris Brogan...		 Spinning a brand could look like this:

ShinyNewSoftwareName- Driving Intel. : )

Play on words, but also showing your ties, your first-mind association. Sure, you write tons of other stuff, but tagging that "driving Intel" gives people a sense of where you fit in the ecosystem and where you derive your prime experience.

Just no missing vowels. Softwr isn't a good name. : )
May 24, 2007 10:50 AM PDT

Josh Bancroft (Intel)
Total Points:
3,492
Status Points:
2,992
Brown Belt
 I think you're right, Chris. A large part of the problem is brand/perception. Look a the text on our header graphic ("Intel has software?!")

What if the software part of the company were spun off/rebranded? Interesting idea. Probably never happen, but food for thought, nonetheless. Thanks for the comments! :-)
May 24, 2007 12:54 PM PDT


Dan		 As a developer I depend on the software tools I use to be frequently updated with bug fixes and new features on a regular basis. This is something that Intel is lacking, your software suite is still not fully functioning with Vista and your own Quad CPUs.

Also the website need to be updated more frequently with info, articles and content, currently the CPU section of the website gets more updates than the software. Daily updates with a couple of in-depth articles a week would be a great leap forward.
May 25, 2007 11:54 AM PDT


Cam Soper		 As previous comments pointed out, Intel isn't a name associated too often with software. Just chips. But I'm just repeating what others have said; I have no ideas of my own.

Any predictions on how quickly this conversations devolves into posters ranting about the whole 915GM thing? :)
June 22, 2007 9:06 AM PDT


Slask		 I hate Intel for not making WDDM Drivers for the 915 chipset.
June 22, 2007 10:18 AM PDT


Andrew W		 The only missing is the harware scheduler
June 22, 2007 10:21 AM PDT


IBB		 That exactly...do not see uses from openings these themes about the Intel...firstly why drivers for the Intel 915, and now why he hate..has asked herself which following theme...what thinks, why the Intel does fire labour forces ...maybe?
Without resent but think that know only to s***...changes of Intels for the other manufacturer has opened we eyes and now see that are poor....show that are the surge so that do some what difficultly was capable of, but nevertheless is not impossibly.(the Whist drivers for the Intel 915 cards) in this case!
June 22, 2007 8:51 PM PDT


dky		 I hate Intel for not making WDDM driver for intel 915 (gma900) video card even though their custumers are asking for it in every possible way!!!
June 24, 2007 6:07 AM PDT


someone		 I hate Intel for NOT showing Apple that the PPC processor was never a long term solution. Because of that, i have to buy a new Intel iMac.
June 26, 2007 1:27 AM PDT


Fast Aero		 We have asked you Intel which your problem...have set the question us, and like has been created for the Intel!
June 28, 2007 2:44 PM PDT


Roger		 l hate intel, i buyed a Samsung Q1 for ~1200€, but no GMA 915 Vista driver with Aero has released after 6 Months of Vista Release! Sorry my English is Bad, but your Support for my intel Device is terrible! I cant understand where is the problem? Please, take time to realease new driver for the 915 Grafik!

Greets Roger.
July 8, 2007 7:06 AM PDT


Lord Volton		 They say success breeds contempt. So not everybody is going to like Intel, particularly the AMD crowd. And I think a lot of their love of AMD stems from the fact that they're the little guy and the geeks are keenly aware that if there is no viable competitor for Intel then it might result in higher prices and Intel resting on its laurels.

Of course, if AMD gets snapped up by IBM then there will still be a competitor for Intel. Actually, that might be an even better fight.

But Intel is not the devil and AMD is not a white knight, they're both companies trying to make a profit.

My experience with the Software side of Intel has been positive in the sense that I think everybody is well meaning, but lacking in direction.

I don't remember an Intel representative asking, "What do you think Intel should be working on?"

They instead ask, "What are you working on?"

That is a really boring question to ask a developer since they've forgotten more than any outside will ever know about their software. They eat, drink, and sleep their software.

But ask them what you should be doing and you spark their imagination. Because in their free time they dream about other things.

There is a Bible verse that says, "You have not because you ask not."

If Intel would ask developers that simple question the keys to the kingdom will be revealed. And that's because the software developers are considering ideas that go way beyond the fastest processors available.

They dream of photoreal.

They dream of streamed games that completely get rid of turbo charged processors as know them. And that means that Intel needs to prepare for that moment which may come sooner rather than later.

If you talk to the tech guys at hospitals using the PACs system they have all kinds of ideas when it comes to handling the massive, massive amounts of data that come along with CT Scans, MRIs, and someday soon thousands if not millions of scanned genomes.

You want to talk about horsepower req's... try searching through a human genome!

Not all of their grandiose visions will come to pass, but it will give you a much better compass. And I would ask that question beyond the traditional Intel developer group, since the future revolutions may be fueled by thinkers who are not in the public spotlight today.
July 8, 2007 9:12 PM PDT


JMPZ		 I must concur with Roger, dky, IBB and Slask:

I "hate" Intel for not provided WDDM drivers for the 910/915 Graphics chipset. (How about an update to the other post? Folks are getting anxious)
July 25, 2007 4:03 AM PDT


GB		 Ditto on the lack of support for a WDDM driver for the 915 chipset to enable Vista users to use Aero. If you want people to like and rally around Intel, the company should support its products by providing updated drivers. Going the extra mile usually produces the results you desire.
August 15, 2007 3:18 PM PDT


Niall Mooney		 Intel should suspend all business functions with immediate effect. All resources must be stood by and set to the disposal of the Graphics Media Accelerator team.

The GMA support team needs to implement drivers for the GMA chipset under Microsoft Windows so that trust can be restored with Intel's partners.
August 16, 2007 4:52 PM PDT


Simon Metcalfe		 I agree with those above. Intel needs to address their 910/915 Graphics chipset users. There are a lot of people who are still waiting for the possibility that intel or some third party is going to release a WDDM driver so that they can use Aero Glass etc, in Windows Vista.
Intel needs to try harder to work with Microsoft to resolve this issue. Maybe they can make an adjustment to Aero and include it in the Vista SP1?
Can intel make a project team attempt to fix this issue? and if not possible, then at least release the results to show that you tried.
Shame on Intel if a third party succeeds to make a WDDM driver for this chipset first!
August 28, 2007 7:41 AM PDT


Neonkoala		 Intel needs to make some GMA900 drivers - that's their biggest problem - they're to busy whining about profit margins than to provide some actual support.
November 1, 2007 2:28 PM PDT


PRIYESH		 I want window vista graphics drivers for intel D915GLVG ,so from where i got it,tell me clearly?
November 1, 2007 2:29 PM PDT


PRIYESH		 which intel processor is best on linux?
November 12, 2007 12:05 PM PST


MikeBalls		 Almost all mid rang dell machines sold between 2004 and 2006 have intel 910/915. Does Intel want to fall out with its Dell customers?
December 2, 2007 4:40 PM PST


Peter		 I have decided to boycott Intel after reading and hearing about your attempts to crush John Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child project. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. It's Linux, AMD, and open-source from now on.

The sad thing is, you guys are probably going to win. New rule of thumb: next time you want "corporate aid" to the little guy (ie starving kids in Thailand/Africa/South America), create a start-up that threatens the corporate monopoly.
January 13, 2008 9:59 AM PST


24doska		 Intel it's the best! I use only Intel proccessors in my company.
February 26, 2008 11:41 PM PST


Jon Watte		 Intel is too slow, and reacts too slowly. It is also not good at being "officially" open to developers. For example, I have found a bona fide bug in the Intel GMA DirectX drivers (or hardware?) Software that works on REF, that works on NVIDIA, that works on ATI, draws only a black screen (very slowly) on GMA 950 (both Vista and XP, laptops and desktops). I even have a small, simple reproduction case, with source.

Now what?

For NVIDIA, I e-mail devrel@nvidia.com, and they always answer.
For ATI/AMD, I e-mail devrel@ati.com, and they usually answer
From Intel, not only isn't there an easy to find e-mail address, but there's also no answer.

Also, NVIDIA and ATI/AMD want to push their technology, so they ship tools like CG, RenderMonkey, CodeAnalyst, PerfHud et all for free to developers. Meanwhile, Intel builds software like VTune, IPP and icc, and charges enterprise class prices for the software. Of course developers will go elsewhere -- I work for an actual company with actual budgets, and "free" beats "$500" on a line item any day. It's even worse for indie developers or hobbyists.
March 24, 2008 4:24 PM PDT


iniraq		 I really think that intel needs to put out drivers for the 910/915. I have a laptop that has this. I have installed vista but to find out that I also cant run the aero theme. I am really sad at this also because it runs vist great. Also there is so meny laptops with these chips in them. To just screw this meny people just because you dont want to spend the money I think is pretty stupied. So does that mean if I buy another chip from intel I am not going to get any driver support with it also? I am not going to ever buy another laptop with intel parts in it. I am done buying intel. I know that it was going to be crappy when I bought it but wow didnt think that it was going to be this bad. Oh well you live and you learn. DONT BUY INTEL!!!!!!
March 31, 2008 5:08 AM PDT


Jeremy		 I hate Intel because Intel just flat out wont stop pulverizing the processor market competition in a bad way that is just too evil, Intel plays wayyyy too many dirty tricks, and it makes me sick. Intel would not be able to compete with AMD if Intel played even half as much dirty crap tricks that Intel has. Look at it this way. Without so many dirty tricks that has punched AMD into the ground and just kept kicking AMD hard while AMD was on the ground with Intel's evil tactics, AMD would have been able to excel ten times faster than Intel. Not only would the market be wayyy better, because Intel takes any ideas that AMD has as soon as they get word of it and pump way more money into it to improve it in term keeping the competition fresh, but technology would be far more advanced as well. And the world would be a better place, more advanced, more balanced, less crappy bully tactics being shoved down the throat of competitors.
June 21, 2008 7:11 AM PDT


newb		 Because Intel killed OLPC.
August 9, 2008 2:51 PM PDT


Conor		 Intel is probably the worst compnay ever i will hand it to you ur Preoccessors are great but your chip sets are horible your graphics card or whatever you have are not compatible with any game i have downloaded for my new computer

To sum it up I hate intel
October 24, 2008 3:46 AM PDT


Krishan		 I hate Intel because Its 945G drivers are the worst.They are completely lousy.It wont run a new game.Also Intel is not making any driver to enable support for Hardware TnL.It is probably the worst Graphics manufacturing company.
October 28, 2009 9:37 AM PDT


Bad İntel		 I hate İntel, bir sürücü çıkartmadın 910/915 e, Senden nefret ediyorum !!!!!

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