Microsoft's XO Laptop Strategy 242
gbulmash writes "Microsoft is spending a 'non-trivial' amount of money to get Windows XP working on the OLPC project's XO laptop. But why? Despite the conjecture that the Linux-based XO could convince millions of people in the developing world that they don't need Windows and build a huge base of developers for Linux, there still remains the question of how Microsoft would convince owners of XO laptops to buy and install Windows XP over the functional Linux-based OS already on it. It's doubtful that Microsoft could encourage or coerce Negroponte to put XP on the machine, so whose arms will they twist?"
So the OLPC laptop will be getting . . . (Score:2, Funny)
They did consider Vista....... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Windows *XP*? (Score:4, Funny)
sure it'll run Vista... you just have to duct-tape this $1000 laptop to it
But think of the advantages (Score:4, Funny)
Exactly what OLPC needs - a real operating system (Score:2, Funny)
Kudos to Microsoft for supporting this platform, and hopefully Classmate PC [classmatepc.com] will be able to bridge this gap with a real system. Certainly the OLPC business model is exciting and I think given the opportunity to buy a student this kind of computer would be something better for students and teachers to work with.
Re:I Like Your Ideas But They Are Altruistic (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It's sorta like this (Score:2, Funny)
Real Men(tm) use the shell.