Namecalling Begins Around Intel's USB 3.0 Slowdown, Slapfight Imminent

There's more drama today around Intel's recent USB 3.0 announcement. Intel last week announced it is postponing work integrated USB 3.0 technology into its mainboards. Nvidia, extreme veteran of the video game 3D hardware arena, accused former partner Intel of stifling innovation. Not quite as biting as an accusation of unfair business practices, Nvidia claims that as Intel has quashed its abilities to enter the chipset market, Intel is now going to sit on its hands. They claim that, with the absence of any major competitors, Intel is slowing down its innovation. Looking at the timeline of competition and developments by Intel while challenged by Nvidia, you can see their point. Intel made major advances keeping up with nVidia who was trying to push its own nForce chipset. The fierce competition and market turn has led nVidia to return to its mainstay and effectively exit the motherboard chipset race.

While the pain felt by Nvidia is understandable, business is business. Competition drives innovation, and silicon behemoth isn't a charity. We do hope they will continue to innovate and we'll have to look to AMD/ATI to really bring the pain to Intel and keep prices low, features high and the bytes flying.