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Microsoft's XO Laptop Strategy

gbulmash writes "Microsoft is spending a 'non-trivial' amount of money to get Windows XP working on the OLPC project's XO laptop. But why? Despite the conjecture that the Linux-based XO could convince millions of people in the developing world that they don't need Windows and build a huge base of developers for Linux, there still remains the question of how Microsoft would convince owners of XO laptops to buy and install Windows XP over the functional Linux-based OS already on it. It's doubtful that Microsoft could encourage or coerce Negroponte to put XP on the machine, so whose arms will they twist?"

4 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. They did consider Vista....... by edwardpickman · · Score: 3, Funny

    The problem they ran into was translating "Not Allowed" into all those third world languages.

  2. Re:Windows *XP*? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    If they can get Vista running on the XO, I'll eat my shoe.

    sure it'll run Vista... you just have to duct-tape this $1000 laptop to it

  3. But think of the advantages by wsanders · · Score: 3, Funny

    When some African child gets a 419 scam he can just get a couple of his buddies together and walk down teh street to personally kick the guy's ass!

    --
    Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and he'll say "WHERE'S MY FISH, YOU IDIOT?"
  4. Re:I Like Your Ideas But They Are Altruistic by Myopic · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wouldn't buy Office at any price (I never need it, so it is worth zero) but I would pay a reasonable price for Windows. Say... three or four dollars. Five seems a little steep.