Gizmodo
Microsoft has officially announced that Windows XP is coming to the OLPC XO with trial runs beginning as early as June. This comes after months of discussion and speculation of when the move would happen. The operating system has been specially modified to run on the computer and support its ebook reading mode, writing pad and camera. And according to the press release, the plan is to have both Windows and Linux running on the machines, to let users decide what's best.
The price increase for the OLPC loaded with XP will be about $3 on top of the $200 price tag. Users who want a dual boot version to the OLPC will pay $7 extra. The XP operating system will come preloaded on an additional 2GB flash chip, offering 3GB of storage space total (1.5 usable after OS install).
After months of opposition by Bill Gates, talks of the joint venture began at CES 2008, where both men were attending. Widespread distribution of the machines is expected to happen in August or September. Check out the video demo below. [Microsoft and NY Times]
Comments
Best of both worlds. It'd be good for them to learn both operating systems.
^^ QFT.
So, will we early adopters be able to retrofit our existing OLPCs with XP (I mean, should we want to)?
this is great, i mean WIn XP is good and these kids might end up using an XP or any MS os machine when they grow up and work on a job.
Shrek-pc.
@moukkis: It is pretty fahkin' ugly, eh?
@In Other News...: Hold one and you will disagree. It's almost Mac-ish in it's lovability factor.
What's with the baby shit green color?
As much as I have been against the idea of MS pushing their OS onto OLPC, I have to say I enjoyed watching that video and if I can retro-actively acquire the XP-OLPC license for $3 I probably will.
i really hope they continue to work on the sugar os and get substancially more funding so that they can afford more than 2 paid workers and a couple of volunteers for a project that is just so damn important and potentially revolutionary if done right (still has a looonnggg way to go though).
Let's not forget that despite the "successful" creation of the unit, the project is still solidly ensconced in the failboat realm. The laptop is too expensive, and no countries are buying into it.
Oh, and Negroponte is batshit crazy in the business sense. Don't forget that, either.
XP looks so horribly old, and why does it have IE6 and media player 7? It seems to me that microsoft could have done more to suit this to the intended market.
If this helps governments jump on the OLPC project then AWESOME.
If not then eh... cuz linux will be bundled in there anyways.
Good stuff
This is all part of MS's ongoing struggle to maintain OS dominance. With the majority of the world using some form of Windows, kids/parents who want to enter the global workforce are going to choose the current standard. If young XO users grow up using Windows, thinking outside the MS box will be a culture-shock. When Windows/Office-based skills are were the most money's at, what's the incentive to bother learning how to use OSS?
hey this actually looks cool! just gotta wait for a $100 one. then we're talking laptops for everyone.
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