I think I was wrong about Intel

I mentioned earlier how Intel might be concerned that Google's Chrome OS is targeting ARM as well as x86. Turns out Intel has been 'in' on this Chrome OS thing for some time now. PCWorld reports that Intel has been helping Google develop features of Chrome OS to work better with Intel processors. And that's a good thing, considering that Intel processors are in "around four-fifths of the world's computers."

But what's telling is that Intel was not mentioned as one of Chrome OS' early supporters in Google's initial announcement. Why?

Google is aiming the Chrome OS at desktops, laptops and netbooks, all devices dominated by Microsoft Windows, so supporting Chrome could put Intel in an awkward position with Microsoft.

There's that accusation again that Google is aiming the Chrome OS at desktops and laptops, not just netbooks. Again, I have to keep going back to Google's original announcement and the emphasis on netbooks, netbooks, netbooks.

But if it is true that Google's long term goal is beyond the netbook, then Intel's lying low to avoid colliding with Microsoft is telling about Microsoft's continuing monopolistic dominance. And it may be that Intel wants to play nice with Google in spite of its emphasis on ARM-based netbooks in order to pull away from being a bullying monopolist itself.

Funny old world we live it, isn't it?