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Microsoft looking to run Windows on OLPC | |
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| Time: 02:28 EST/07:28 GMT | News Source: VNUNet | Posted By: Kenneth van Surksum | ||
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Microsoft is looking to have its Windows operating system run on the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) notebook computers, OLPC chairman Nicholas Negroponte said at the Netevents conference in Hong Kong on Saturday. "I've known Bill [Gates] his entire adult life. We talk, we meet one on one, we discuss this project," Negroponte said according to a transcript that was provided to vnunet.com. "We put in an SD slot in the machine just for Bill. We didn't need it but those machines are at Microsoft right now, getting Windows put on them." The SD slots allows users to add additional storage capacity to the units. Additional memory would be required for Windows to run on the current XO test models because they ship with only 512Mb of built in flash memory. | ||
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| #1 By 52115 (66.181.69.250) at 12/5/2006 8:54:14 AM |
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And now the price of the OLPC has jumped from $100-150, to $600.. You know, Ballmer has to keep his net worth up into the millions/billions..
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| #2 By 7390 (71.125.38.82) at 12/5/2006 10:05:11 AM |
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Off topic....
Activewin....can you guys please make your site with with IE 7.0, I keep getting some stupid javascript popup errror. I think that it is because I have "show friend errors" turned off. At first I thought that it was because I am running visual studo also. But that is not the case <body bgcolor="#ffffff" link="#0628e6" vlink="#0628e6" topmargin="0" leftmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" onload="preloadImages();"> |
| #3 By 135 (209.180.28.6) at 12/5/2006 10:20:20 AM |
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"And now the price of the OLPC has jumped from $100-150, to $600.. "
How so? |
| #4 By 52115 (66.181.69.250) at 12/5/2006 11:27:17 AM |
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#3
The article states: "Additional memory would be required for Windows to run on the current OLPC XO test models because they ship with only 512Mb of built in Flash memory. The system requirements for Windows XP demand a minimum of 1.5Gb of storage space for both the Home and low cost Starter Edition that Microsoft targets at developing nations." Then you figured MS's normal licensing fees, etc the price will undoubtly go up even further.. But if they can't get this to work, I'm sure they'll copy the idea and come out with their own cheap laptop to compete with this.. I hope OLPC has patents on this then they can sue MS for IP infringment when MS creates their own version.. |
| #5 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 12/5/2006 12:55:31 PM |
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#4: for what it's worth, I wonder if they considered Windows XP Embedded. At any rate, if they're looking merely for a means to access the internet, I'm not sure if it matters much. If they want to provide something beyond that, I think Gates may be right--the storage on these devices is just not enough. 512 Mb--is that really megaBITS, or is that a typo? If it's megaBITS, that's awfully slim.
"I hope OLPC has patents on this then they can sue MS for IP infringment when MS creates their own version.." Right, because the goal is to stick it to Microsoft, not focusing on bridging the digital divide. Even still, from what I've read, many 3rd-world countries are much less concerned about providing laptops than they are with more basic issues of health and education. None seem to be saying, "Oh, if only laptops cost $100!" Not to say that there's no merit in this type of project... but many 3rd world countries have more pressing issues that need to be addressed first. |
| #6 By 135 (75.73.90.215) at 12/5/2006 1:29:17 PM |
| To some like Winux, this is more about screwing Microsoft over and less about actually helping children. |
| #7 By 3746 (71.19.41.232) at 12/5/2006 2:18:20 PM |
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I think we should start with feeding everyone, getting them proper medical care, and providing clean water. Once children aren't starving to death or dying from diseases that are easily treatable then we can worry about getting them cheap laptops.
Edit - should have read the other poster but my view still stands. I just think this kind of project is insanely stupid given the current state of the world. This post was edited by kaikara on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 at 14:22. |
| #8 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 12/5/2006 4:15:11 PM |
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Is it permissible to the pc cops that we criticize One Laptop per Child (OLPC) now that Microsoft's name has been uttered in the same sentence?
I just want to make sure the coast is clear before I rant. |
| #9 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 12/5/2006 4:55:24 PM |
| Wow... sodablue and I agree on something touching on politics/philosophy. Now, if we could get sodajerk on board, I'm certain we could cause Hell to freeze over. ;) Which, if it's anywhere near Minnesota, it apparently has as of late.... |
| #10 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 12/5/2006 6:09:44 PM |
| bluvg, you'll find that you'll agree with him more and more as sodablue gets older and wiser. |
| #11 By 12071 (203.185.215.144) at 12/5/2006 8:05:32 PM |
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#7 Do you remember that old saying "Give a man a fish... teach a man to fish..."? Education is the key not handouts. Sure handouts are necessary during the education process but if the education isn't there then you'll never get anywhere. That's what this project is about - education, not giving every man and his dog a laptop to play Wolfenstein 3D on.
If you believe this project is stupid - simple, don't support it, there have been plenty of people completely behind it all the way, so much so that even your hero Mr Gates is now interested! |
| #12 By 32132 (142.32.208.231) at 12/5/2006 8:16:55 PM |
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"That's what this project is about - education, not giving every man and his dog a laptop to play Wolfenstein 3D on."
Thank goodness the OLPC runs Linux. We wouldn't want the chidren to have some entertainment to divert themselves from their lives ... work, work work! Compiling the kernel as a form of entrtainment will soon wane. |
| #13 By 12071 (203.185.215.144) at 12/5/2006 10:55:57 PM |
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#12 That's right, thank goodness that the OLPC runs an OS that doesn't need huge requirements to even start up let alone run in a timely fashion so the poor kids can see something other than the 'Loading Windows...' screen.
Thank goodness that the OLPC runs an open OS that comes with complete source code so that if they have any questions about how something works they can find out for themselves. Thank goodness that the OLPC runs an open OS that allows them to tinker it in any way imaginable if they should so choose! Thank goodness that the OLPC runs an open OS that comes with some basic software to allow them to get up and running and perform basic functions whilst having the opportunity to learn the more complex functions without having to worry about EULA's, WGA and checking in with Microsoft to make sure their copy is legal. |
| #14 By 32132 (64.180.219.241) at 12/5/2006 11:06:27 PM |
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#13 "That's right, thank goodness that the OLPC runs an OS that doesn't need huge requirements to even start up let alone run in a timely fashion so the poor kids can see something other than the 'Loading Windows...' screen."
WinFLP runs really quick on old hardware. XP run oks on PII-350's and up. WinFLP runs quicker on the same hardware. So that isn't a real issue. A lot of Linux distros have higher hardware requirements than XP. And I still think the kids would prefer an OS that has a lot of decent games. There lives must be hell a lot of the time. A good game would be a nice diversion from all that kernel compiling fun! |
| #15 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 12/6/2006 1:00:55 AM |
| #11--this isn't just about philosophies, though; this is the direct feedback from the ministers of education and other officials from various 3rd world countries. If a child's health is in danger because of an easily-treatable disease, teaching them about medicine isn't doing them any favors--they need the medicine first. Or, if a child has a broken home or no family and has to work to survive, education becomes very challenging. That's why they're saying they need help taking care of the basic, fundamental issues first, then they can start worrying about laptops--not because it's a stupid idea (it's not), but because there are more pressing needs. |
| #16 By 12071 (203.217.94.252) at 12/6/2006 8:41:53 AM |
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#14 No-one is going to be compiling the kernel... unless of course they want to understand HOW a kernel works, how an OS works, how different components are integrated etc etc. The sort of information that you cannot get from any Windows. Everything is completely open and available to them to learn from and whilst using it. Playing games, although admittedly fun, doesn't teach you very much unless they're puzzle games in which case there's just as many of those available on Linux as any other OS.
The OLPC runs on a AMD Geode GX-500 at 366Mhz and there was talk at one stage of potentially running WinCE on it so no it cannot run WinXP, especially not with the RAM requirements XP has to actually run at a decent speed! As for the Linux distro's - this is a completely irrelevant point as this is a custom distro for this project (see you can do that with Linux). #15 I'm not saying that they don't require food, medicine, clothing and other help... I'm saying that simply giving those things to them isn't going to help them out in the long term. You should continue to do all those things whilst giving them the tools possible for them to start being self sufficient, even if it's only for 1 or 2 minor things (it all has to start from somewhere). i.e If you teach a man to fish then sure you'll need to keep giving him fish until he gets the hang of it but after that he can support himself and his family. "teaching them about medicine isn't doing them any favors" It doesn't need to be that sort of education initially. How about starting with really obvious things like making sure they don't touch certain things with their hands, that they have fresh water to clean their hands with, that their hands are washed after certain activities to not allow bacteria to spread etc etc and work from them. This isn't about giving them a beaker, a bunson burner and telling them how to mix drugs together. That can come later. So you're right in a way, there ARE more pressing needs RIGHT NOW. But you also need to think long term and the current solutions aren't going to solve anything long term, they will only put a greater burden on giving more and more. You just need to give those people a chance to learn, a chance to develop the skills rather than treating them like completely hopeless souls than can't take care of themselves. Perhaps we just have differing opinions on this topic. |
| #17 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 12/6/2006 11:34:53 AM |
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chrisK, i wasn't aware that this cheap laptop was akin to a developer workstation. wow, i hope my kid gets one. Daddy needs a cheap dev box.
Seriously, why dont the project designers simply install some crap OS on a Nintendo DS. Thats $130 and they could have been selling them over a year now. |
| #18 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 12/6/2006 12:05:10 PM |
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#16--nah, I think we're totally on the same page. The overall goal certainly should be one of a long-term education solution towards self-reliance, but certain needs must be met before that can even start to be effective. However, with regard to the OLPC program, I think there is something to be said for "classical education" as well, and while internet access certainly can be highly valuable, a laptop (which is only one approach to providing internet access) shouldn't be viewed as the lynchpin of any educational program--here or abroad.
To me, it seems that this is a highly optimistic program that started with "Let's take on this engineering challenge of building a super-inexpensive laptop" with a somewhat vague--and again, highly optimistic--notion that simply putting this in the hands of every poor child will automatically transform their education. From the feedback I've read, it didn't start with an evaluation of the educational (and other) needs of children in third-world countries, but the idea seems to be "How could this NOT help?" It's probably true, but the education officials from other countries seem to be saying, yes, this can help, but if you're really interested in helping us, let's look at the whole problem, rather than just dumping a bunch of gear on us. |
| #19 By 135 (209.180.28.6) at 12/6/2006 12:51:04 PM |
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"If a child's health is in danger because of an easily-treatable disease, teaching them about medicine isn't doing them any favors--they need the medicine first."
I was listening to a doctor talk about his experience with trying to treat diseases in Africa. He said they had the drugs. The problem was when they told the patient "Take one of these every 12 hours", the patient would respond "But I don't have a clock." There are many needs. Technical and physical. Africa can produce a lot of food, but has no transportation system to move it around to where it is needed. |
| #20 By 32132 (142.32.208.231) at 12/6/2006 2:31:43 PM |
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#16 "The OLPC runs on a AMD Geode GX-500 at 366Mhz and there was talk at one stage of potentially running WinCE on it so no it cannot run WinXP"
It can run XP embedded for sure. The Geode is x86/x87 compatabile. The OLPC has 128MB of ram. WinFLP runs great on PC's with as low as 64MB of ram (but it needs s disk for a swap file). It would be horrible for those poor kids to have to run Linux. Yuck! |
| #21 By 12071 (203.185.215.144) at 12/6/2006 7:22:59 PM |
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#17 " chrisK, i wasn't aware that this cheap laptop was akin to a developer workstation"
Education is a good thing, and not just for these kids! First and foremost it's not a developer workstation, but with an open OS and tools like Python, Javascript, CSound and Squeak/EToys there is nothing to stop the kids from giving it a go if they should so wish. The whole point of it is to open a hole new world of possibilities to them not tie them down into what YOU think they should and shouldn't do. #18 You're most likely right about how this project started out, but I have to say that now that it's getting off the ground I hope it's successful or that it at least spawns other ideas to try and solve the long term problem. #20 "It can run XP embedded for sure" These kids have suffered enough! |
| #22 By 52115 (66.181.69.250) at 12/7/2006 8:58:34 AM |
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# 20 - "It would be horrible for those poor kids to have to run Linux. Yuck!"
And when was the last time you installed/loaded up a version of the latest distro? I have a laptop which I dual-boot XP and SuSe 10.1 Remastered on. I find myself going into Suse more than XP now days. There aren't too many things which I can't do on Suse. Sure there are some nicities with XP, but Suse especially has come a long way since I first started using RH 5. |
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