Microsoft and OLPC Agree To Put XP On the XO Laptop

Apro+im points out a NYTimes report which states that Microsoft and the OLPC project have officially agreed to put Windows XP on the XO laptop. While Microsoft has been working toward this for some time, analysts began to think a deal was more likely after Walter Bender resigned from the project and was replaced by Charles Kane. Former OLPC security developer Ivan Krstic had a lot to say about Windows on the XO as well. From the Times: "Windows will add a bit to the price of the machines, about $3, the licensing fee Microsoft charges to some developing nations under a program called Unlimited Potential. For those nations that want dual-boot models, running both Windows and Linux, the extra hardware required will add another $7 or so to the cost of the machines, Mr. Negroponte said. The project's agreement with Microsoft involves no payment by the software giant, and Microsoft will not join One Laptop Per Child's board. 'We've stayed very pure,' Mr. Negroponte said.

One Blue Screen Per Child?

[johngault33]

Now, even poor kids can learn to hate M$

Re:"extra hardware"?

[NotBornYesterday]

They have to install a special blue screen to run MS products.

It's just as well

[presidenteloco]

I for one was not looking forward to welcoming a new generation of young, creative, inquisitive, independent minded developing country overlords.

Purity is in the eye of the beholder?

[conlaw]

'We've stayed very pure,' Mr. Negroponte said.

Yep, as pure as the bride wearing a white dress for her wedding when she's six months pregnant.

Re:"extra hardware"?

[Anonymous Coward]

MS is providing a "special" version of XP that will run with the limited hardware... trimming some of the crap (clippy perhaps?)

Re:Send them a message!

[Phroggy]

You should send an impolite message too.

At least the price is right

[athloi]

$3? I wonder what they want for Vista... $0.50?

Re:So $10 gets you what

[jav1231]

"The people who buy the machines are not the children who use them, but government officials in most cases," said Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the nonprofit group. "And those people are much more comfortable with Windows."

Somewhere Balmer strokes his horns and drinks a toast to another soul!

Re:Maybe

[Tikkun]

I prefer the command line to pc games. Beside being more rewarding intellectually, all my friends think I'm in the Matrix. And by friends I mean my collectible action figures.

Re:So much for that.

[jav1231]

Balmer: "Hey, Nicky? Balmer here. Hey that little blurb about "open formats" and "no ceiling" for the OLPC, yeah you need to take that down, Man. Yeah. Yes, THEN I'll give you back you're testicles. I promise...no I'm not crossing my hideously devilish fingers. Okay....thanks, Buddy.:

Re:How about applications?

[FoolsGold]

whereas under XP, they have...... notepad?

Don't be ridiculous.

It's got MS Paint too.

OBNPC

[gmuslera]

One Botnet Node Per Child

Re:XO has been assimilated

[mrbluze]

Why not just wipe your ass with the money you payed for the license?

You never know, US Currency might just go that way.

This is truly a feat for Negroponte

[commodoresloat]

This is the last nail, but you have to give him credit for hammering it in from inside the coffin.

OLPC

[Anonymous Coward]

One Lame PC.

Re:It's just as well

[FLEB]

Everyone's so negative around here. It's a great teaching tool.

STOP: 0x00000FE1 (0x029FBE01 0x0000007B 0x0001029A 0x0000003E)

DRIVER_IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO

First, you're learning about hexidecimal numbers. Enough unsigned drivers and hitting things on the ground, and you've got a great "flash card" teaching tool. Plus, the general math aspect, "Okay, class, if the IRQ is 'not less or equal to', then what is it?" "Okay, since nobody knows what this means, let's say that first number is the driver IRQ, which of the other numbers are not less than or equal to it?"

Not to mention learning about colors (blue)... and... um... death.

Re:Give it to them for free

[Hal_Porter]

No Sarbanes Oxley only applies to Apple

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/21/the-20-ipod-touch-upgrade-really-for-legal-reasons-or-not/ [engadget.com]

Re:Give it to them for free

[Hal_Porter]

I say we put Bonzi buddy on the OLPCs going to Nigeria and have the gorilla thing mess up their email settings.

Re:"extra hardware"?

[flyingsquid]

Windows without crap is nothing.

Wow, that's deep. It's like a zen riddle or something. "What is the nature of the Buddha? What is the sound of one hand clapping? What is the functionality of Windows with all the crap removed?"

Re:Give it to them for free

[TeknoHog]

An organization that sets out to change the world and abandons one of main principals

I can see that's a problem, since this is an education project after all. What are the teachers going to do without principals?

Re:Give it to them for free

[Abcd1234]

Thai government reversed its stance and killed the FLOSS movement there

Unbelievable! I mean, Thailand has it's share of problems, but to completely outlaw dental hygiene?! That's going *too* far...

FUCK YOU Mr. Negroponte!

[Anonymous Coward]

I purchased two OLPC PCs because I believed so strongly in the OLPC projects intent.

Now that I find out that a portion of my DONATION to the OLPC project is ending up in the pockets of Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer makes me fuckin' retch!

Mr. Negroponte has done more to damage the goodwill of people and the soul of open source more than Bill Gates, Novell and Darryl McBride even did!

AN UTTER FUCKIN' SELLOT!

The computer is not teh God.

[reiisi]

Any more than Bill Gates or Microsoft (or Jobs/Apple or even Linus/x) is God.

The computer is just a tool.

Unless it's running MSwhatever, in which case, the user is just a tool, and the computer+MSwhatever is what they used to call idolatry.