With the 100$ Laptop/OLPC/XO it was about bringing education and computer knowledge to the developing world. Linux (the kernel) is an instrument in that, because it's easy to get, easy to extend and free. But it's not about bringing linux to the developing world.
In that sense it shouln't be about bringing linux and/or windows to them but to educate them and give them a chance to pull themselves up. And that chance they would have - maybe - got with the original design of a 100$ laptop to read stuff on and the ability to alter, not with a dual-booting-something.
And, as a side note, if you think about it: what do you do with the other 49 billion once you got your billion? What do you buy more that you can't with the 1?
I've followed the development of the $100 laptop (first name) loosely from day one. I thought about the goals and effects this might have and thought they had a point. That the price would be higher beforehand and get lower over time as more machines get produced was clear. But it went from 100 to 110, 140,..., 175. I toyed with the sugar interface and didn't like it. It was nowhere what I'm used to. But then I realised that the kids down there aren't used to anything and maybe this "all new" was not only a chance for them to get into computing a little better but also for the whole world to think over the current GUIs. But now they just added a few dollars to the machines price to raise the hardware (which I thought was overpowered already before, but a 400MHz Geode costs AMD the same as a 300MHz one) AND the kids shall get the windows UI? That's very bad in two ways! If they really go through with this (haven't found much on the laptop.org page about this subject) then they really lost it and I think that this will break their neck... Predictions for the future: just a little higher prices still (220 or so) in order to properly run windows and maybe linux - but that won't matter because none of the targetted states will be able to buy enough of them - so they have to choose who gets the few they have. That will be the ones who already have a little knowledge (equals a little money) and the poorest will be left out. A selection process again and absolutely against the initial idea...
Ok, they capped the legal expences. This means ALL legal expences, right? So, if linux kernel contributors sue SCO for infriging on their copyright (not honoring GPL) then SCO needs lawyers for these cases too, or not? And there is no money to be made in these cases, so the lawyers will probably bail out earlier since they see that the capped money will be reached earlier, before the IBM case can even come close to being ended. Ergo: SCO has no more money AND no lawyers and the IBM case simply ceases to exist
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With the 100$ Laptop/OLPC/XO it was about bringing education and computer knowledge to the developing world. Linux (the kernel) is an instrument in that, because it's easy to get, easy to extend and free. But it's not about bringing linux to the developing world. In that sense it shouln't be about bringing linux and/or windows to them but to educate them and give them a chance to pull themselves up. And that chance they would have - maybe - got with the original design of a 100$ laptop to read stuff on and the ability to alter, not with a dual-booting-something. And, as a side note, if you think about it: what do you do with the other 49 billion once you got your billion? What do you buy more that you can't with the 1?
I've followed the development of the $100 laptop (first name) loosely from day one. I thought about the goals and effects this might have and thought they had a point. That the price would be higher beforehand and get lower over time as more machines get produced was clear. But it went from 100 to 110, 140, ..., 175.
I toyed with the sugar interface and didn't like it. It was nowhere what I'm used to. But then I realised that the kids down there aren't used to anything and maybe this "all new" was not only a chance for them to get into computing a little better but also for the whole world to think over the current GUIs.
But now they just added a few dollars to the machines price to raise the hardware (which I thought was overpowered already before, but a 400MHz Geode costs AMD the same as a 300MHz one) AND the kids shall get the windows UI? That's very bad in two ways!
If they really go through with this (haven't found much on the laptop.org page about this subject) then they really lost it and I think that this will break their neck...
Predictions for the future: just a little higher prices still (220 or so) in order to properly run windows and maybe linux - but that won't matter because none of the targetted states will be able to buy enough of them - so they have to choose who gets the few they have. That will be the ones who already have a little knowledge (equals a little money) and the poorest will be left out. A selection process again and absolutely against the initial idea...
Go and grep through a some man-pages and see who keeps popping up: David MacKenzie I think this is his homepage: http://www.djmnet.org/ Thanks David!
Ok, they capped the legal expences. This means ALL legal expences, right? So, if linux kernel contributors sue SCO for infriging on their copyright (not honoring GPL) then SCO needs lawyers for these cases too, or not? And there is no money to be made in these cases, so the lawyers will probably bail out earlier since they see that the capped money will be reached earlier, before the IBM case can even come close to being ended. Ergo: SCO has no more money AND no lawyers and the IBM case simply ceases to exist