Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 6th Dec 2007 16:27 UTC
Microsoft is serious about getting Windows XP to work on OLPC's low-cost laptop, but the company still isn't sure it will be able to make a go of it. In an interview, James Utzschneider, the general manager of Microsoft's emerging market unit, says Microsoft has devoted about 40 employees and contractors to work on its effort. However, there are plenty of technical hurdles, he said. One of the biggest is the fact that the XO has no hard drive and only 1GB of built-in memory. The company concluded it needed at least 2GB of memory just for Windows and Office, so it convinced the OLPC folks to include an SD slot on the laptop's motherboard.
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RE[2]: OLPC $200 vs Toshiba Satellite $400
by tomcat on Thu 6th Dec 2007 22:41
in reply to "RE: OLPC $200 vs Toshiba Satellite $400"
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Member since:
2005-09-15
[quote]Why not TWO thirdworld students share one laptop of $400 with million times better configuration rather than 'yet to be delivered' 200$ OLPC[/quote]
Because the $400 laptop isn't conceived to be used in harsh environnement like the third world. You only get two and half hour with a single charge (cheap battery), the laptop is fragile (prone to break), wouldn't resist well to dust/sand/water and not to mention that charging the battery require a working power oulet. The power grid in many sub-developped country is far from reliable, power being cut now and then. Even better, the XO has a networking scheme conceived for low net availlability. Its OS has been thinkered with this in mind, especialy for software updates.
The better of the XO, is the fact that is use open source software and has been designed to be extended by kids who would program for it. The linux distribution on it is open and can be customized. This my friend, is FREEDOM. And it's exactly what this laptop has been conceived for. Giving these kids a tool to learn and set themselves free of poverty. The laptop wont do it alone, but it's still a great tool. Software is idea and ideas are cheap but powerful.
The idea of having Windows on it digust me. This is simply greedy. How much for it mr Ballmer? Ho you give it away? Ho sure, but it's still your IP! I don't think that Windows on this platform would have a lot of attraction. Even free. For many countries, especialy in the arabic world and in asia, MS is another USA capitalism icon. Still I suspect that MS could give money to some governements individuals to get their product trough like they did with the Nigeria (like the Nigeria had money to waste on Windows)!