Boston (MA) - The idea of a $100 laptop sounded fascinating, when we first heard about it. When the product actually became available, the $100 goal was gone, the initial hype seems to have faded and several other companies are cashing in on the cheap laptop trend. Microsoft never seemed to be a great match for the device to keep the price down, but market powers may have succeeded and it has been confirmed that there will be a Windows XP version of the XO notebook.

According to Microsoft, Windows XP on the OLPC system will be “the same basic implementation” as it is already available on other small notebooks, such as Intel’s Classmate PC and the Asus EeePC. However, the implementation isn’t as easy as simply installing Windows on the PC, as the operating system requires a lot more space: Instead of the usual 1 GB chip and Sugar, XP will come preloaded on a 2 GB.

Pricing will be an interesting topic. We have heard different numbers so far. Apparently, Windows XP is priced at $3 per machine. Add a few more dollars for the flash memory, which could be as little as $4 or as much as $11 per notebook, we heard. Considering the fact that the XO currently sells for $188, the Windows version should check in for about $200 – which means that it is about 50% cheaper than other potential competitors such as the Asus EeePC and the MSI Wind.

Stupid

May 16, 2008 10:35     

They should first focus on reaching their goal of $100 per laptop before they start increasing the price just for the sake of loading less functional software. Microsoft is already rich enough, how does taking money from poor people and giving it to Microsoft fit in the supposedly humanitarian picture? The ethics of this project have clearly gone down the drain, no wonder some key people already left.

Patrick report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Why oh why

May 16, 2008 10:40     

Why would they put Microsoft crap on their systems? They should had stuck with Linux. The only reason why Microsoft wants Windows on these systems is because they can see future market share going and with the millions of OLPC's they are suppose to sell that would give 3rd party software companies more of a reason to develop more titles for the OLPC. That would had made Linux a great contender to knock Windows and Microsoft off their dominance over the OS market. And why would OLPC even consider putting Windows XP on their systems when Microsoft plans on killing it off in a few years, then what try and fit Microsoft's bloated Vista on to it or Probably the even more bloated Windows 7? So why even pay $3 or $11 for a OS that Microsoft is intent on killing off in just a few short years?

ThomFrost report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Who needs Win XP...

May 16, 2008 10:58     

When you got ubuntu? ALl the software you'll ever need is there o_O for free...
Phil report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Why lower standards and use Windows?

May 16, 2008 11:55     

I think they should not bend to Microsofts will and use Windows (in any form). Why can't Microsoft be happy with the majority of the computer market that they have? If OLPC don't want to use Linux, they should help develop or create a special form of ReactOS http://www.reactos.org This will give Windows compatibility and still be free. ReactOS is very small and very ideal for the OLPC and other very small computers.

TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

That's not their responsibility

May 16, 2008 13:35     

OLPC's responsibility(according to their mission statement) is to expose children in developing countries to computers, and to teach them to learn "learning". They are not tasked with the responsibility of keeping big bad MS out of the game. Maybe these developing countries WANT an XP version of the laptop since that's most of the rest of the world uses. I can't even begin to imagine how adding a Windows XP flavored XO to their lineup is a bad thing. It may prove more valuable to expose these children to XP than to Linux. Then again maybe it doesn't matter one lick. The point is that now there's a choice...and I don't see anything unethical about that.

Thunderdome report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

I'll take a more realist approach and say that whil...

May 16, 2008 14:47     

I'll take a more realist approach and say that while having XP on the machines won't help bring down cost and get them inline with their original project vision. It can be beneficial to those who used the laptops to have experience with Windows. Windows still runs the vast majority of the world's computers and if students from these poorer countries want to one day join the international market they'll have to know how to use Windows since it isn't going away anytime soon.

rodneyg79 report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

Sheesh, the whining....

May 16, 2008 14:48     

Just suck it up and admit you're disappointed because OLPC negotiated a deal so that people could have CHOICE. Isn't that what you want anyway... the ability to choose an OS instead of being stuck with the only one that can run on your hardware? This may end up working out well for OLPC as it may drive the buy one/donate one program. I'm sure that's part of the rationale for going this route. Besides, if the US Dollar gets any weaker, $200 will be the same as $100 when they started the program.

Jim L report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

whatttt !!!!! 2GB preloaded XP

May 16, 2008 16:06     

This is just a plain stupid to have 2GB O/S on OLPC. My main computer still run by XP and I thing it only occupies 600 MB ... I have no interest to upgrade my system to Vista .. Vista just simply too bloated and crap ... Micro$oft should be banned on OLPC ... Linux should do the job just fine and free.
Whoever report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

It's about maintaining a monopoly

May 16, 2008 16:24     

Last year Microsoft made $14 billion in profits on $51 billion in sales. That's an astronomical rate of profit that even surpasses Walmart, and the big oil and big pharma conglomerates. They make these profits from having a stranglehold on desktop operating systems and their office suite. As long as no one else gains the slightest toehold in these two areas Microsoft is guaranteed this obscene rate of profit. The "new" markets are in the developing world and Microsoft wants kids to be addicted to the Microsoft drug so that they will have paying addicts 10-15 years down the road. Microsoft is just thinking about the obscene profits of the future. If the OLPC Project is playing footsie with Microsoft I see no reason for the community to support this initiative...better to support other initiatives that help the third world without creating Microsoft addicts.

bobincanada report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

You can't learn on Microsoft

May 16, 2008 16:28     

There is no genuine learning using proprietary software. Why? Because you don't have access to the source code. Techno-smart third world students will not be able to learn how to improve the software on their machines because it's illegal under the Microsoft EULA. Altering software is very legal and even encourage under the GNU GPL. It's not just about cheap computers for the third world...it's also about user freedom and the economic development that comes from that. Using Microsoft software just means economic and social colonization...something the third world has had centuries of.

bobincanada report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

Whoever: Ever hear of reading comprehension???

May 16, 2008 18:04     

The article DOES NOT report that the install of XP is 2GB. It merely mentions because XP takes up more space... they increased the flash memory capacity to 2GB. Another sad example of the decline of western civilization.
RockHop report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

it's just business

May 16, 2008 20:48     

First of all, five companies posted bigger profits last year(2007) than MS. This list includes Exxon($40B), General Electric, JP Morgan, and Bank of America. I would hardly characterize MS as the big-bro evil empire that you claim it is. They're simply near the top of the pyramid. Someone has to be there. If nobody likes 'em, then Apple or Linux will take their place. The primary customer of the XO are kids that otherwise wouldn't have ANY computer. I'm not knocking the intellect of these kids, but they're not going to be doing a whole lot of messing around with source code on this "proprietary" OS. It sounds more like you're upset that you personally won't be able to tinker with this thing...which you, of course, will. Just get the Linux version. Ahhh...choices! Aren't they great?

Thunderdome report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Choices, but only when...

May 17, 2008 08:20     

I find it very funny the Linux advocates are now up in arms that the World has another choice. Originally it was all about the lack of choice, and that Linux MUST be given as a choice. Now, that a company includes Windows AFTER Linux, the choice option is no longer good anymore? GEES!!!! And did anyone think that the 2 Gig memory upgrade may be due to prices going down? Didn't think so, then it wouldn't be a good argument about the size of XP. Which, BTW, installs in as little as only a couple hundred megabytes, if installed correctly. Linux is smaller, but then again so is it's abilities. All animals are equal, except for pigs. Right Linux fans?

Narg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

Duh

May 17, 2008 13:02     

well, if microsoft builds schools in china, and some what supports their illegal sharing of their op software, and is applying its software to about every poor child in the world, then what control would they have? Absolute? and the international power groups can use microsoft as a gateway of dominance themselves. On the other hand, some power groups use some conglomerated companies to look more evil than they are, so that they can do more sinister things in secret

Harvester report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Missing something

May 17, 2008 20:05     

/* XP will come preloaded on a 2 GB. */ A 2GB SD device? A completely different laptop? I'm interested in a $3 upgrade to XP on my XO laptop (finally, the cost and value of XP are the same!), but I can't parse your article to determine if I can buy such a thing. BTW: The $200 XP laptop isn't available to consumers, and probably won't be.
wpns report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

You all are forgetting

May 18, 2008 12:33     

Since Microsoft does have so much money, they can spend more money to help foster this product and keep it inexpensive. While Linux is a great (free) OS, it also requires more development to keep it small while working on a perticular product. THink of it as an embedded device. Also, for as much as people complain about MS,they donate TONS of money to organizations.
Xier report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Microsoft is "Donating XP-lite" to Maintain Their Monopoly

May 22, 2008 01:58     

Microsoft is NOT donating XP at $3/copy out of the kindness of their hearts. They are afraid these low-priced laptops will have other O/S's, such as Ubuntu, and undermine their present lucrative monopoly. Microsoft is probably already donating to the OLPC project and that's why the "OLPC team" has chosen XP-lite. In this application, XP-lite is not the optimum O/S to use. A smaller footprint O/S would have been better. If Ubuntu was installed on every low-priced laptop, it would gradually KILL Microsoft's monopoly. First it would kill it in the developing world, then it would kill it in First World countries such as the USA. The leaders of the "OLPC team" who chose XP-lite should be questioned about their decision. IMO, this is really about corporate maneuvering and corruption, insider wheeling and dealing.

Cypherdude report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

Microsoft

May 22, 2008 13:35     

There is no issue with putting XP on a laptop meant for impoverished nations. It is not a requirement that the laptop have XP, but a choice to the person consuming the laptop. If the point of the laptop is to show children how to use a computer and give them expirience that will help them down the road then the choice of XP, since it is the dominant operating system should be available. Just because Microsoft is a for profit corporation is no reason they should not be included. The OLPC project should not as many of you who have posted be a way to forward an agenda that you see fit of attempting to hurt microsoft by denying nations the choice of putting windows on the PC's. That would go against the nature of the project.

Greg report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Good day for the world

May 22, 2008 20:16     

XP should be included for the choice. Why wouldn't you include the most popular OS in the world? If the kids get linux, do they get the laptop and told to write the drivers and updates themselves? Sounds like the linux supports are just whining because they know most of the laptops will be running XP because of the features and ease of use. Weren't there a bunch of people just whining that XP was going away?

Headward report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

RE: Microsoft is "Donating XP-lite" to Maintain Their Monopoly May 22, 2008 01:58

May 22, 2008 20:38     

I didn't say MS was donating XP, simply that MS donates tons of money. The fact remains that MS owns the OS world and probably will for a while. I personally would rather learn on a main stream OS verses the flavor-of-the-month of Linux. Yes, Linux is free, yippy. MS is mainstream and known by everyone. Also, footprint really isn't an issue. Do you realize that XP has an XPe version? Designed for, get this, specific hardware. Did you know LINUX is now a DVD to install the OS? Did you know XP is a CD. Think about it.

Xier report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0