Intel relents on laptop project

Intel said it would support a non-profit foundation's project to put computers in the hands of poor children around the world, reversing its long-standing opposition to the proposal.

The world's biggest chipmaker will join the board of the One Laptop Per Child Foundation, which developed the XO laptop - a personal computer that it plans to put into production in September and sell for US$176 ($227).

Intel markets the Classmate PC, a computer that competes with the foundation's XO laptop. The two parties said they would also consider collaborating on developing a laptop.