OLPC, Microsoft Working Toward Dual-Boot XO Laptops 231
Ian Lamont writes "The OLPC Project and Microsoft are developing a dual-boot system to put both Linux and Windows on the laptops, according to an interview with Nicholas Negroponte. The article is thin on details, as the OLPC/Microsoft talks are apparently at an early stage. Could this be the end of the OS wars in Nigeria and other developing countries?"
While Microsoft has been working on an OLPC-capable version of Windows for some time now, the interesting thing here is the dual-booting provision, rather than forcing users into an either-or choice.
Dual OS on laptop/pesktop (Score:3, Interesting)
MS need dual boot on OLPC!
XO is already dual-boot (Score:4, Interesting)
KeS
Speed Considerations? (Score:4, Interesting)
OLPC-capable version of Windows (Score:2, Interesting)
OLPC Principles compromised??????? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Not all code needs to be made visible (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Delusional (Score:5, Interesting)
So yup, Microsoft's involvement is only reactionary because the project leveraged the cost savings and efficiencies of Linux and OSS. From what I've heard, even the Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation computer donations come with restrictions on usage of Linux and OSS. So they still want Linux and OSS destroyed and helping kids is only PR. IMO.
LoB
Re:Not all code needs to be made visible (Score:5, Interesting)
But isn't that what MS has done with computers until 2 or so years ago? Until 2 years ago or so, it was nearly impossible to go to a major manufacturer such as Dell and the like and get a computer with a non-MS OS on it. Whats to say that the OLPC won't turn out this way? With Intel leaving, OLPC needs cash, MS has a lot of cash, if MS for the next model of computers by the OLPC decide to pay OLPC say 50 million if they ship with Windows CE on them rather then Linux, how are they to complain? It always starts out small with MS, then before any non-geek knows it, MS controls it. If OLPC turns to MS, you can bet that freedom will get restricted.
there goes that project! (Score:1, Interesting)
Hey, dumbass OLPC guys! Ya, YOU! Go back in history and look at MS and what happens to other companies that have anything to do with them, take yer time....
Seen enough? It ain't too late, tell em to buzz off before they infect and infest you with non fixable expensive cooties. Guess what, you ain't special, I don't care how leet you think you are, there is no way to avoid the poisonous toxic taint of those criminal bozos once you climb into bed with them. Ever watch Charlie Brown going to kick the football with Lucy holding it? That's you as Charlie Brown, Lucy is Microsoft, and the football-the laptop project- will become hers once she gets her hands on it and you'll just fall flat on your ass after being hoodwinked. That is the only track record MS has for anyone to look at, take it as reality.. If you want another story, the tale of the scorpion trying to get across the river. MS as a corporation was born, run in the past and continues to run in the present as a pure predatory exploitative cut throat, fuck everyone else, lie through their teeth old robber baron styled monopoly. That is their full complete business model.
Re:Delusional (Score:2, Interesting)
Can you imagine how well M$'s uber-bloat OS's will run on these little boxen? If you asked me, let M$ put Windows on the XO, so that all the little children of the world can see that it's such a resource hog it converts your neato XO into a thrashing paperweight.
Re:Delusional (Score:2, Interesting)