also remember that the OLPC software stack was chosen to use an interpreted environment( Python ) for the complete application stack. There are benefits to this and costs, one of which is performance. There is also a cost related to resolution of the display and a smaller display requires less resources than a larger one.
it was probably a very interesting design meeting where it was discussed if the desktop system was going to be native compiled system or interpreted. We know what won but the detail of the discussion would be quite interesting IMO. In the long run and considering the market of this device, I believe the correct choice was made. 10 years from now, we'll know for sure if that's the case. If there is little innovation going on in the OLPC application space and less from the user community, then it was probably a mistake. Time will tell.
he may have given up that right in the license but he deserves credit none the less and calling a packaged system one based on GNU/Linux or Linux/GNU isn't so difficult to do. What people call Linux would be no where near where it is today with the would of the GNU environment and what the FSF did and does. are those 4 characters so difficult to type?
then why are the parents sending the kids to school instead of into labor camps,etc? I would think that there are SOME parents in these regions really trying to put their children in better positions than they are in. I would think that these kinds of parents would do more to make sure these kids took care of the OLPC device instead of taking it from their school kids and selling it off for food.
I'm sure there will be some of this but for the most part, the governments involved would be somewhat concerned with their money being wasted on local warlords stealing from school kids.
With hope, we'll actually see how this plays out and I hope you are wrong. For the sake of the kids involved.
That is the one thing I just can not get across to people who are afraid to try Linux instead of Windows. These people are having a very hard time keeping their systems running and many cases have paid over $200 a couple of times to have their systems completely rebuilt because of software problems. It seems that a very few actually understand the basic concepts and just memorize ways to do certain tasks. You wouldn't believe how many Windows users email me by finding an old email and clicking the 'reply' button instead of creating a new email with new subject and my email address.
What I'm hoping is that the OLPC project, because it is 'different' will give these kids a chance to look at other systems with an eye towards the concepts required instead of memorization. The fact that the entire system is open to exploration might also help feed the desire of the youths to learn more than just using the applications. IE, I hope there will be some simple tools to create basic programming concepts so later on, when they see something like Design, they'll not be afraid to try changing existing programs.
BTW, kids today are still not taught the basics of using computers. They are taught how to use certain applications and nothing more. Have people noticed you keep hearing people talking about creating "a powerpoint" or "an excel"? It's not flattering in this day and age and it does not help them when they enter the business world. IMO.
I could see either an SD slot or the extra FLASH but both seem to provide the same feature of added storage space. And just because the chipset has the support, it's not free or cheap. The SD slot required a new case and planarboard layout and it opens the package to environmental incursions. But like I said, putting expanded onboard FLASH or removable FLASH provide the same function. As far as increasing system runtime memory from 128MB to 256MB goes, it's a toss up as to if this really buys you anything in that the device is a limited function laptop and not a general purpose laptop.
So, where did all the extra cost come from? The CPU upgrade was free, there's double the DRAM and FLASH and the CPU uses far less power than the previous version IIRC( 1.5W compared to 3W ). But there's little talk about the fact that the battery went from NiMH to LiON. Surely the power requirements/loads were factored in before this latest change. What was driving that change and did it also change the charging system too. Granted, LiON does not have the internal self-discharge rate of NiMH but they are far more expensive and not forgiving in charge regiment.
I will also say that I've SEEN how Microsoft works for over 20 years and when Bill Gates goes public and bashes a project to educate poor kids around the world, he and his company are a threat to the project. They are a business and have no interest in feeding the world or other humanitarian effort except to put a Microsoft Windows desktop OS and Microsoft software in front of them. The very day I heard that Quantus was the OLPC partner, I wondered if their contracts to build Microsoft systems would allow Microsoft to somehow derail the manufacturing process. It's not a conspiracy theory, it is a fact of how Microsoft does business.
I'll be brining up a OLPC dev env and will see how their python based Sugar does. To me, when I saw that the original CPU didn't have L2 cache, it definitely put a question mark on the performance aspect of the device. It is very tough to see the price keep going up though.
Troll? LoL, show where Microsoft plays in the "real" cross platform space and explain why they would do it. I double dog dare ya. No, I triple dog dare ya.
Why would this author not have put Windows in a VM on Linux years ago if it was that big of a deal? Sorry but that bit just sounded kinda strange but my guess it was all just to make it sound like he's a real programmer or something.
Regarding your comment with respect to the "user"; Not knowing the boundaries one is restricted to does not mean you are not constrained. What is that saying, "ignorance is bliss"?
But this is a whole other story that I just don't want to go into right now.
just replying to your comment and if it would make you more comfortable, exchange the word "you" with "anyone".
And sorry, can't help but go into "sychobabble" mode when talking about Microsoft since that is what 90% of this is about. The other 10% is actual technology and typically, that's been done years before Microsoft rebranded it as theirs. As far as the caps go, it's easier than changing to HTML(it's an acronym) and adding all the
stuff to the edit/text. I apologize if it offends anybody.
good point but I come from a background where being cross-platform allowed your customers to put your product on the best hardware for the task. I remember when "C" came out and all the talk about cross platform, when Pascal did the same, C++ application frameworks in the late 80s to mid 90s.
I can see how you might FEEL safe in a MS Windows-only world but that is NOT the world I see. If all you see is the Windows desktop PC then it's a narrow view of the computing landscape. There are mobile phones, handhelds, DVRs, and I'm missing a few million classes of devices. Adobe knows there's a larger world than the Microsoft Windows PC and they are taking up the task of playing in those areas.
So, isn't it still being like a caged animal when all you are ALLOWED to see is the Microsoft Windows desktop?
hey, that's great, Microsoft is doing what HP had done with Java 10 years ago. Well, you don't know this because when HP went to productize the HP Jornada with the Chai JVM and all Java application framework/GUI, the loss of Microsoft marketing $$ from their WinCE handheld line was enough to end the project.
So it's great to see developers getting exactly what Microsoft wants them to get. And only TEN YEARS later. Go Microsoft!
It sure seems like ANY company who makes software for Microsoft Windows is Microsoft's competition these days. Get it? Anybody who starts to become profitable on the Windows platform is a likely target for destruction by Microsoft. Talk about a love/hate relationship. I guess winning the lottery and building on the Microsoft Windows 'platform' have alot in common.
Oh, and I'm sure MS.Net is such a great tool that Microsoft would NEVER consider twisting, tweaking, and manipulating it to serve the purpose of controlling its competition. Never.
It's for the customers man. Those poor thoughtless, ignorant, and mostly naive people who have bought into Microsoft's lies and are now stuck with them with no way out. Like a cute fuzzy forest creature following a food trail into a dastardly trap. You feel sorry for the thoughtless creature and want to help it out of its cage. So too is the desire to lead the caged masses out of the trap(s) Microsoft has lead them into.;-)
someone is up against the ropes and to help control the 'hit count' better, controlling how information gets out to the public is a must. After all, lying to the public and then having information from the soldiers contradicting those lies makes one look like a fool.
I've heard Ozzy talk about how the Internet is going to take over the TV for our entertainment and advertising and I've heard Microsoft say that they'll be putting everything on the Internet. Any discussion about crossplatform support is just plain silly since we ARE talking about Microsoft and crossplatform does not mean it'll work well off of MS Windows.
anyways, I've recently seen a MS Silverlight demo shown online and they showed it playing a movie via NetFlix over IP. Put all this together with their massive deals with the Telecoms for MS IPTV and it looks like MS Silverlight is going to be more about the Silver Screen than it is about Adobes Flash. IMO.
I wonder what technique they'll use to force this on OEM pre-loads and what techniques they'll use to break the Flash/Shockwave plugins from working.
It's not like OEMs are going to be as easily pushed around like they were when Microsoft forced their browser on them and essentially pushed Netscape Navigator off the pre-loads. Just competing isn't something Microsoft knows how to do so there must be some way they plan on forcing this on the public along with a way to harm Flash sites/users.
Any discussion about Microsoft supporting ANYTHING outside of Microsoft Windows is a waste of time. They will NEVER support anything outside of Microsoft Windows for any reason other than to make those others look like a joke. This is because EVERYTHING Microsoft does is to maintain and protect the Microsoft Windows monopoly and has little to do with profits. After all, approximately 30% of Microsoft profits come from the Windows Desktop, 30% from MS Office, and 30% from Microsoft Windows Server. Everything else is just using those profits to hold down the threats to Windows and that includes court costs, lobbying, etc.
So, this crossplatform Silverlight crap is all about stopping Adobe Flex/Flash from growing into a platform. It is already VERY capable as a client platform and BECAUSE it is crossplatform(the real one, not MS-crossplatform) they must stop it at all costs.
CLR is a hammer against the competition and MS Silverlight is also. BFD, it's meaningless unless you're a Microserf and then you already believe crossplatform == MS-Crossplatform which => Windows forever. IMO.
I made it through about 30% of the article and just can't read any more. This is typical Steve Balmer and therefore there is nothing here but marketing junk and chest thumping of how great he and Microsoft are and will continue to be. Sorry but reality is that Balmer and Gates were handed a monopoly which they've leveraged to the hilt but can't make a dent outside of. They just lost another $300 million in the last THREE MONTHS in the MSN division. They've lost over $10 BILLION in over ten years on the Microsoft Windows CE based productline and it's still a loser. XBox, a loser. But somehow he's all cocky that they'll beat Google, the Apple iPhone won't do well but Zune is all "crack-a-lack'n" and a big deal. All of these losing products and product lines are funded by profits from MS Windows and MS Office and even with no hope of ever being profitable, they'll keep dumping money into them so the others in those fields don't grow to threaten Windows. My gawd, I'm still hearing people complain of Windows CE/Windows Mobile/PocketPC/etc crashing after over ten years on the market!
I just can't read any more of his marketing speak. It's not even closely tied to reality. Maybe that he trained as CEO under Enron's Jeff Skilling is telling of how truthful he is?
It also doesn't help that the interviewer is spineless and lets Balmer go without answering questions. IMO
There's a couple of decades of evidence as to how Microsoft "works" and this person seems to be aware of this. He/she knows that what is said publicly by Microsoft or associates is NOT related to reality since it is ALL PR and marketing-speak. BTW, the OLPC people have already said that they have increased the cost of the OLPC device by adding the SD lot AT MICROSOFTS REQUEST. Therefore, there is already evidence that they are adapting the system for Microsoft without an official partnership with them. The latest moves stating that they've increased the CPU performance, doubled both system memory and storage ALONG WITH stating support for Microsoft Windows makes it easy to put together the picture of what is going on and to fear the end of the OLPC project.
BTW, I agree 100% with the comments stated. Microsoft must see OLPC fail if it is not running Microsoft Windows. Microsoft is not out to save the world or educate the world and their only purpose on this earth is to sell Microsoft software. Negroponte and group are fools if they think Microsoft has ANY OTHER MOTIVE. Like I said, there are a couple of decades of evidence which shows how Microsoft 'works'.
it was already publicly stated that the SD slot was added at Microsofts request. And "no formal partnership" does not mean that they haven't started falling for Microsofts tricks. It appears their scheme of bloating the OLPC project into extinction is well on its way. Get a clue folks, Microsoft wants OLPC gone if it's not running Windows. Period. IMO
Windows supported now that they've increased processor power, and doubled RAM and Flash? WTF, they are falling for Microsofts tricks. This raises the price and delays the product launch so that Micrsoft has time to get its marketing team out there and either buy out prospective customers of OLPC or sells them on how a WindowsPC is better for their future with some kind of 'training' or kickback deal.
Sorry but this device does not need to run Windows and I'd already heard previously that the OLPC project had already increased the system cost once to enable 'Windows support' and now they've gone way overboard in both adding more onto the price AND delaying initial shipments.
Microsoft is NOT a partner unless you like being a partner of a Black Widow. IMO.
If this "kid" REALLY intended to bring his findings to Cisco, then he should have been documenting not only his intent but also his findings and techniques used and this should be enough to prevent a suspension. Unless he came up with this idea of 'going to Cisco' after he got busted.
I have a hard time believing his story without some proof he'd been discussing visiting Cisco or interning there well in advance of getting busted for spoofing their APIs.
last fall, I'd heard a few in some development meetings say they'd be waiting until Windows Vista shipped before upgrading their systems. IE, waiting for pre-installed versions of Microsoft Windows Vista.
Again, BFD, it's pre-installed versions of Microsoft Windows one way or another. It is probable that Microsoft can now charge more of a Windows-tax now that they supposedly have a "new" OS out. You know Windows XP licenses were getting sold much cheaper leading to the end of 2006 and with increased fees for MS Vista, a bump in profits from pre-installs should be expected. IMO.
financially, this means nothing to Microsoft and the press given to this is worth more than anything. OEM pre-installations of ANY version of Microsoft Windows is what continues Microsofts massive profit gravy train. The fact that OEMs are forced to put MS Windows Vista on most, if not all, shipped units is all that matters and any discussions(press, PR, etc) otherwise is just a peripheral expense to make it seem like it really matters. It took over 2 years before businesses 'accepted' MS Windows XP even though there was a huge hardware upgrade expense and the EULA changes gave Microsoft 'legal' rights to extract information from every MS Windows XP system.
So it is a waste of time/effort discussing if MS Windows Vista will fail or not and if there's any financial impact on MSFT as a result. They will keep extracting profits from OEMs for Windows Vista immediately and for Windows XP for the next few years. Only when OEMs and/or businesses start pre-installing Mozilla products and/or OpenOffice can there be any worthwhile discussions of Microsoft Windows productlines. IMO. Nothing else effects the monopoly control and gravy train as much.
Slashdot Mirror
also remember that the OLPC software stack was chosen to use an interpreted environment( Python ) for the complete application stack. There are benefits to this and costs, one of which is performance. There is also a cost related to resolution of the display and a smaller display requires less resources than a larger one.
it was probably a very interesting design meeting where it was discussed if the desktop system was going to be native compiled system or interpreted. We know what won but the detail of the discussion would be quite interesting IMO. In the long run and considering the market of this device, I believe the correct choice was made. 10 years from now, we'll know for sure if that's the case. If there is little innovation going on in the OLPC application space and less from the user community, then it was probably a mistake. Time will tell.
LoB
the "Linux" brand is protected and must be licensed if used in the product name. Linus owns those rights and actively protects it.
LoB
he may have given up that right in the license but he deserves credit none the less and calling a packaged system one based on GNU/Linux or Linux/GNU isn't so difficult to do. What people call Linux would be no where near where it is today with the would of the GNU environment and what the FSF did and does. are those 4 characters so difficult to type?
LoB
then why are the parents sending the kids to school instead of into labor camps,etc? I would think that there are SOME parents in these regions really trying to put their children in better positions than they are in. I would think that these kinds of parents would do more to make sure these kids took care of the OLPC device instead of taking it from their school kids and selling it off for food.
I'm sure there will be some of this but for the most part, the governments involved would be somewhat concerned with their money being wasted on local warlords stealing from school kids.
With hope, we'll actually see how this plays out and I hope you are wrong. For the sake of the kids involved.
LoB
That is the one thing I just can not get across to people who are afraid to try Linux instead of Windows. These people are having a very hard time keeping their systems running and many cases have paid over $200 a couple of times to have their systems completely rebuilt because of software problems. It seems that a very few actually understand the basic concepts and just memorize ways to do certain tasks. You wouldn't believe how many Windows users email me by finding an old email and clicking the 'reply' button instead of creating a new email with new subject and my email address.
What I'm hoping is that the OLPC project, because it is 'different' will give these kids a chance to look at other systems with an eye towards the concepts required instead of memorization. The fact that the entire system is open to exploration might also help feed the desire of the youths to learn more than just using the applications. IE, I hope there will be some simple tools to create basic programming concepts so later on, when they see something like Design, they'll not be afraid to try changing existing programs.
BTW, kids today are still not taught the basics of using computers. They are taught how to use certain applications and nothing more. Have people noticed you keep hearing people talking about creating "a powerpoint" or "an excel"? It's not flattering in this day and age and it does not help them when they enter the business world. IMO.
LoB
I could see either an SD slot or the extra FLASH but both seem to provide the same feature of added storage space. And just because the chipset has the support, it's not free or cheap. The SD slot required a new case and planarboard layout and it opens the package to environmental incursions. But like I said, putting expanded onboard FLASH or removable FLASH provide the same function. As far as increasing system runtime memory from 128MB to 256MB goes, it's a toss up as to if this really buys you anything in that the device is a limited function laptop and not a general purpose laptop.
So, where did all the extra cost come from? The CPU upgrade was free, there's double the DRAM and FLASH and the CPU uses far less power than the previous version IIRC( 1.5W compared to 3W ). But there's little talk about the fact that the battery went from NiMH to LiON. Surely the power requirements/loads were factored in before this latest change. What was driving that change and did it also change the charging system too. Granted, LiON does not have the internal self-discharge rate of NiMH but they are far more expensive and not forgiving in charge regiment.
I will also say that I've SEEN how Microsoft works for over 20 years and when Bill Gates goes public and bashes a project to educate poor kids around the world, he and his company are a threat to the project. They are a business and have no interest in feeding the world or other humanitarian effort except to put a Microsoft Windows desktop OS and Microsoft software in front of them. The very day I heard that Quantus was the OLPC partner, I wondered if their contracts to build Microsoft systems would allow Microsoft to somehow derail the manufacturing process. It's not a conspiracy theory, it is a fact of how Microsoft does business.
I'll be brining up a OLPC dev env and will see how their python based Sugar does. To me, when I saw that the original CPU didn't have L2 cache, it definitely put a question mark on the performance aspect of the device. It is very tough to see the price keep going up though.
LoB
Troll? LoL, show where Microsoft plays in the "real" cross platform space and explain why they would do it. I double dog dare ya. No, I triple dog dare ya.
LoB
Why would this author not have put Windows in a VM on Linux years ago if it was that big of a deal? Sorry but that bit just sounded kinda strange but my guess it was all just to make it sound like he's a real programmer or something.
LoB
The customer in my comment is the developer.
Regarding your comment with respect to the "user"; Not knowing the boundaries one is restricted to does not mean you are not constrained. What is that saying, "ignorance is bliss"?
But this is a whole other story that I just don't want to go into right now.
LoB
And sorry, can't help but go into "sychobabble" mode when talking about Microsoft since that is what 90% of this is about. The other 10% is actual technology and typically, that's been done years before Microsoft rebranded it as theirs. As far as the caps go, it's easier than changing to HTML(it's an acronym) and adding all the
stuff to the edit/text. I apologize if it offends anybody.
LoB
good point but I come from a background where being cross-platform allowed your customers to put your product on the best hardware for the task. I remember when "C" came out and all the talk about cross platform, when Pascal did the same, C++ application frameworks in the late 80s to mid 90s.
I can see how you might FEEL safe in a MS Windows-only world but that is NOT the world I see. If all you see is the Windows desktop PC then it's a narrow view of the computing landscape. There are mobile phones, handhelds, DVRs, and I'm missing a few million classes of devices. Adobe knows there's a larger world than the Microsoft Windows PC and they are taking up the task of playing in those areas.
So, isn't it still being like a caged animal when all you are ALLOWED to see is the Microsoft Windows desktop?
LoB
hey, that's great, Microsoft is doing what HP had done with Java 10 years ago. Well, you don't know this because when HP went to productize the HP Jornada with the Chai JVM and all Java application framework/GUI, the loss of Microsoft marketing $$ from their WinCE handheld line was enough to end the project.
So it's great to see developers getting exactly what Microsoft wants them to get. And only TEN YEARS later. Go Microsoft!
LoB
It sure seems like ANY company who makes software for Microsoft Windows is Microsoft's competition these days. Get it? Anybody who starts to become profitable on the Windows platform is a likely target for destruction by Microsoft. Talk about a love/hate relationship. I guess winning the lottery and building on the Microsoft Windows 'platform' have alot in common.
.Net is such a great tool that Microsoft would NEVER consider twisting, tweaking, and manipulating it to serve the purpose of controlling its competition. Never.
Oh, and I'm sure MS
LoB
It's for the customers man. Those poor thoughtless, ignorant, and mostly naive people who have bought into Microsoft's lies and are now stuck with them with no way out. Like a cute fuzzy forest creature following a food trail into a dastardly trap. You feel sorry for the thoughtless creature and want to help it out of its cage. So too is the desire to lead the caged masses out of the trap(s) Microsoft has lead them into. ;-)
LoB
someone is up against the ropes and to help control the 'hit count' better, controlling how information gets out to the public is a must. After all, lying to the public and then having information from the soldiers contradicting those lies makes one look like a fool.
LoB
I've heard Ozzy talk about how the Internet is going to take over the TV for our entertainment and advertising and I've heard Microsoft say that they'll be putting everything on the Internet. Any discussion about crossplatform support is just plain silly since we ARE talking about Microsoft and crossplatform does not mean it'll work well off of MS Windows.
anyways, I've recently seen a MS Silverlight demo shown online and they showed it playing a movie via NetFlix over IP. Put all this together with their massive deals with the Telecoms for MS IPTV and it looks like MS Silverlight is going to be more about the Silver Screen than it is about Adobes Flash.
IMO.
LoB
I wonder what technique they'll use to force this on OEM pre-loads and what techniques they'll use to break the Flash/Shockwave plugins from working.
It's not like OEMs are going to be as easily pushed around like they were when Microsoft forced their browser on them and essentially pushed Netscape Navigator off the pre-loads. Just competing isn't something Microsoft knows how to do so there must be some way they plan on forcing this on the public along with a way to harm Flash sites/users.
So how will they push this onto the market?
LoB
Any discussion about Microsoft supporting ANYTHING outside of Microsoft Windows is a waste of time. They will NEVER support anything outside of Microsoft Windows for any reason other than to make those others look like a joke. This is because EVERYTHING Microsoft does is to maintain and protect the Microsoft Windows monopoly and has little to do with profits. After all, approximately 30% of Microsoft profits come from the Windows Desktop, 30% from MS Office, and 30% from Microsoft Windows Server. Everything else is just using those profits to hold down the threats to Windows and that includes court costs, lobbying, etc.
So, this crossplatform Silverlight crap is all about stopping Adobe Flex/Flash from growing into a platform. It is already VERY capable as a client platform and BECAUSE it is crossplatform(the real one, not MS-crossplatform) they must stop it at all costs.
CLR is a hammer against the competition and MS Silverlight is also. BFD, it's meaningless unless you're a Microserf and then you already believe crossplatform == MS-Crossplatform which => Windows forever. IMO.
LoB
I made it through about 30% of the article and just can't read any more. This is typical Steve Balmer and therefore there is nothing here but marketing junk and chest thumping of how great he and Microsoft are and will continue to be. Sorry but reality is that Balmer and Gates were handed a monopoly which they've leveraged to the hilt but can't make a dent outside of. They just lost another $300 million in the last THREE MONTHS in the MSN division. They've lost over $10 BILLION in over ten years on the Microsoft Windows CE based productline and it's still a loser. XBox, a loser. But somehow he's all cocky that they'll beat Google, the Apple iPhone won't do well but Zune is all "crack-a-lack'n" and a big deal. All of these losing products and product lines are funded by profits from MS Windows and MS Office and even with no hope of ever being profitable, they'll keep dumping money into them so the others in those fields don't grow to threaten Windows. My gawd, I'm still hearing people complain of Windows CE/Windows Mobile/PocketPC/etc crashing after over ten years on the market!
I just can't read any more of his marketing speak. It's not even closely tied to reality. Maybe that he trained as CEO under Enron's Jeff Skilling is telling of how truthful he is?
It also doesn't help that the interviewer is spineless and lets Balmer go without answering questions.
IMO
LoB
There's a couple of decades of evidence as to how Microsoft "works" and this person seems to be aware of this. He/she knows that what is said publicly by Microsoft or associates is NOT related to reality since it is ALL PR and marketing-speak. BTW, the OLPC people have already said that they have increased the cost of the OLPC device by adding the SD lot AT MICROSOFTS REQUEST. Therefore, there is already evidence that they are adapting the system for Microsoft without an official partnership with them. The latest moves stating that they've increased the CPU performance, doubled both system memory and storage ALONG WITH stating support for Microsoft Windows makes it easy to put together the picture of what is going on and to fear the end of the OLPC project.
BTW, I agree 100% with the comments stated. Microsoft must see OLPC fail if it is not running Microsoft Windows. Microsoft is not out to save the world or educate the world and their only purpose on this earth is to sell Microsoft software. Negroponte and group are fools if they think Microsoft has ANY OTHER MOTIVE. Like I said, there are a couple of decades of evidence which shows how Microsoft 'works'.
LoB
it was already publicly stated that the SD slot was added at Microsofts request. And "no formal partnership" does not mean that they haven't started falling for Microsofts tricks. It appears their scheme of bloating the OLPC project into extinction is well on its way. Get a clue folks, Microsoft wants OLPC gone if it's not running Windows. Period. IMO
LoB
Windows supported now that they've increased processor power, and doubled RAM and Flash? WTF, they are falling for Microsofts tricks. This raises the price and delays the product launch so that Micrsoft has time to get its marketing team out there and either buy out prospective customers of OLPC or sells them on how a WindowsPC is better for their future with some kind of 'training' or kickback deal.
Sorry but this device does not need to run Windows and I'd already heard previously that the OLPC project had already increased the system cost once to enable 'Windows support' and now they've gone way overboard in both adding more onto the price AND delaying initial shipments.
Microsoft is NOT a partner unless you like being a partner of a Black Widow. IMO.
LoB
If this "kid" REALLY intended to bring his findings to Cisco, then he should have been documenting not only his intent but also his findings and techniques used and this should be enough to prevent a suspension. Unless he came up with this idea of 'going to Cisco' after he got busted.
I have a hard time believing his story without some proof he'd been discussing visiting Cisco or interning there well in advance of getting busted for spoofing their APIs.
LoB
last fall, I'd heard a few in some development meetings say they'd be waiting until Windows Vista shipped before upgrading their systems. IE, waiting for pre-installed versions of Microsoft Windows Vista.
Again, BFD, it's pre-installed versions of Microsoft Windows one way or another. It is probable that Microsoft can now charge more of a Windows-tax now that they supposedly have a "new" OS out. You know Windows XP licenses were getting sold much cheaper leading to the end of 2006 and with increased fees for MS Vista, a bump in profits from pre-installs should be expected. IMO.
LoB
financially, this means nothing to Microsoft and the press given to this is worth more than anything. OEM pre-installations of ANY version of Microsoft Windows is what continues Microsofts massive profit gravy train. The fact that OEMs are forced to put MS Windows Vista on most, if not all, shipped units is all that matters and any discussions(press, PR, etc) otherwise is just a peripheral expense to make it seem like it really matters. It took over 2 years before businesses 'accepted' MS Windows XP even though there was a huge hardware upgrade expense and the EULA changes gave Microsoft 'legal' rights to extract information from every MS Windows XP system.
So it is a waste of time/effort discussing if MS Windows Vista will fail or not and if there's any financial impact on MSFT as a result. They will keep extracting profits from OEMs for Windows Vista immediately and for Windows XP for the next few years. Only when OEMs and/or businesses start pre-installing Mozilla products and/or OpenOffice can there be any worthwhile discussions of Microsoft Windows productlines. IMO. Nothing else effects the monopoly control and gravy train as much.
LoB