Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2001/06/07/intel_incensed_at_via_inflatables/

Intel incensed at VIA inflatables

Pair squabble like schoolboys over balloons

By Tony Smith

Posted in Channel, 7th June 2001 10:25 GMT

Intel and VIA have been scrapping again, but the source of the dispute wasn't the two fingers VIA gave its giant rival when it launched its Pentium 4 chipset. No, the squabble is all about balloons - Computex advertising balloons.

Intel, we hear, wanted the organisers of the Taipei-hosted expo to force VIA to remove balloons raised aloft to promote the VIA brand, according to DigiTimes. Anandtech has some nice piccies of the inflatables here.

The Taipei Computer Association effectively told Intel to fornicate off, it seems. VIA had paid for the right to put up the balloons above its own stand and those of mobo makers, it said.

Even a resort to the local fuzz failed to deflate VIA's floating challenges to Intel.

In a move with an eye more to the publicity than protection, VIA posted security guards at each balloon, lest rampaging hordes of Intel Insiders tried to take them down.

No attempt seems to have been made to down the dirigibles, leaving VIA's fears of an Intel assault just so much hot air. ®

Related Links

DigiTimes: Advertising banners ignite battle between Intel and VIA
Anandtech: balloon pictures