Techtree News Staff, May 16, 2008 1546 hrs IST
The intention is to eventually create a dual-boot version of the XO laptop that has the ability to host both Windows and Linux operating systems.
After months of dilly-dallying, Microsoft has finally given the green signal to offering its Windows operating system (OS) on One Laptop Per Child's (OLPC) XO laptops for children in developing countries. So far, XO laptops have been using the Linux operating system.
Buyers of XO laptops will now have the option to choose the OS that is best suited to their requirements. The intention is to eventually create a dual-boot version of the XO laptop that has the ability to host both Windows and Linux operating systems.
The XO laptops are being sold mainly to education ministries and governments familiar with Windows-based computing, hence the reluctance to buy machines that do not run Windows that could also be the reason for slow initial sales. The general belief among buyers is that Windows-based machines will open doors for students and educators to access Windows-based educational software and tools as also a broad ecosystem providing relevant content.
Trials of Windows-based XO laptops are slated to begin next month in key markets with general availability expected by September. The OLPC Project is also planning on getting a Windows version of its 'Sugar' educational software hitherto workable only with Linux.
But as is the case with everything much else, putting windows on the XO machines will increase their price by $10:$3 in terms of licensing fees Microsoft charges in some developing nations under a program called 'Unlimited Potential' plus the cost of extra hardware required. Which means the XO laptops will now cost more than the existing price of $200 each. The OLPC claims it will eventually bring down prices to $100 as preordained at the time of launch (we sincerely hope so!).
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Does anybody else think that the OLPC concept has become obsolete by becoming boring? It was a good concept when it began but now the news is starting to get frustrating to say the least and I still cant see any laptops around.
Ameya Sohoni | Mumbai | 19/05/08 08:43 AM | Report abuse Reply
The ultimate choice has to be that of the user. If you can afford the MS XO then why not? If there are few takers for the MS XO it will die a natural death. Ofcourse, it would be difficult to use both the XO versions in the same classroom, since I assume MS will also insist on installing MS applications, and not free ones.A
igamer | calicut | 17/05/08 04:43 PM | Report abuse Reply
No, they were being sold at $180 despite their initial goal of $100. The MS tax increases it by 10-18 dollars out of which 3 are licensing costs thereby bringing the $180 to $200.
charlie | chennai | 16/05/08 09:58 PM | Report abuse Reply
Education without Freedom? Does not an educational project? How can you study with something you can not know? Negroponte where are the scruples? This is big business for M$, but it's bad for everybody. Paying $ 3 for the "first dose" of technological dependency is paying for be an slave in the future. $ 0 is too expensy. Freedom is not sold, but here there are many governments that not only delivered free if not also pay for leave.
Denis | Bogota | 16/05/08 06:17 PM | Report abuse Reply
Good for M$'s business but for the all the world. Pay $ 3 for the "first dose" of technological dependency is paying for a drug dependent knowledge that will in the future.
Denis | Bogota | 16/05/08 06:01 PM | Report abuse Reply
Nothing wrong with this, I support XP being on OLPC instead of that crappy OS that Linux uses called "Sugar".
LockDeltz | San Diego | 16/05/08 05:16 PM | Report abuse Reply
Sugar is fine for what it does. My one year old kid has an XO, and I'd much rather he had this than windows. This way he'll actually learn about what a computer is and learn how to program, which would never happen with the windows offering.
Taoy | London | 16/05/08 05:39 PM | Report abuse
The process is actually a step backward, there are many open source OS which could have been used with a little innovation and support from the open source community(which i am sure can be found is abundance). OLPC should reconsider its step and get back to the goal that it so earnestly has set in the first place.
Anant Bhushan | Bangalore | 16/05/08 05:31 PM | Report abuse Reply
Microsoft didn't give the green light, they begged! this is a sad day for OLPC they've gone from a project to a product :(
Rioting_pacifis | london | 16/05/08 05:07 PM | Report abuse Reply
Boycott M$ OS all together .... at least the younger generation would be Linux litrate and wont create a fuss over it like the current generation does
MaxAxe | Delhi | 16/05/08 04:50 PM | Report abuse Reply
i hope (!!?) u r writting this post from Linux PC. ;-0
Shailendra | Panvel | 16/05/08 04:53 PM | Report abuse