

The complaint also asks that the agency investigate Intel's decision to use the technology.īecause Intel dominates the microprocessor market, the Pentium III's serial number ''has the potential to change the Web experience to one where every move is virtually recorded,'' said Deirdre Mulligan, a lawyer for the Center for Democracy and Technology.Īn Intel spokesman, Tom Waldrop, said the company had been meeting with privacy advocates to address their concerns, but he added, ''We do not believe that there is anything deceptive or unfair regarding our activities.''Īn F.T.C. to enjoin Intel from shipping any more of the chips and asks it to prevent computer makers from shipping equipment with the chip unless it has been securely disabled.

And yesterday, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and Consumer Action filed a complaint with the trade commission charging Intel with unfair and deceptive trade practices. Intel responded by enabling computer makers to ship Pentium III machines for consumers with the feature turned off.īut questions remain about whether hackers or other third parties could turn the feature back on without a user's knowledge. When the chip was announced, the Electronic Privacy Information Center and two other privacy groups started a boycott of Intel and began lobbying the Federal Trade Commission and computer makers, demanding that the feature be eliminated. Though Intel has touted the feature as an advance for security in Internet commerce and for authenticating E-mail and other documents, privacy and consumer groups protest that it will allow marketers and others to surreptitiously track the movements of computer users around the Internet. Release of the Pentium III, however, has been marred by controversy over its processor serial number.
Intel pentium 3 software#
The results were compiled by PC Data of Reston, Va., which collects point-of-sale statistics on software and hardware sales. In fact, January data released yesterday showed that for the first time, desktop computers running AMD processors, which are about 25 percent cheaper than Intel's, outsold machines running chips from Intel in the United States. PC in the early 1980's, is now faced with tough competition from competitors like Advanced Micro Devices, whose AMD microprocessors are slowly but steadily capturing a growing share of the market dominated by Intel, analysts said. Intel, which has dominated the microprocessor market since the introduction of the I.B.M. The lowest prices ever for first shipments of computers based on a new Intel processor reflect both cost-cutting across the hardware sectors and Intel's struggle to keep pace with rapid price cutting in the industry. Under a growing cloud of controversy about an embedded identification number - and in the face of the most competitive market the Intel Corporation has faced - the company's powerful new microprocessor, the Pentium III, began appearing on store shelves yesterday in computers priced as low as $1,599.
