Third World Disempowerment
December 6th, 2007 by Maddog
The One laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative has gotten quite a bit of
coverage lately. The latest development is that Microsoft may be jumping
on the bandwagon if it can get a version of Windows XP to run on the XO
laptop. The "Microsoft Statement on Expanding Support for Low Cost Flash
Based Computing Devices" states:
REDMOND, Wash. -- Dec. 5, 2007 -- As part of Microsoft Corp.'s
Unlimited Potential effort to bring the benefits of technology
to the next 5 billion people by transforming education,
fostering local innovation, and enabling jobs and opportunity,
Microsoft today announced plans to further expand flash-based
Windows XP support for low-cost hardware computing devices.
This builds on the success of similar support for devices such
as Intel Corporation's Classmate PC and ASUS' Eee PC,
complementing Unlimited Potential's focus on transforming
education in emerging segments.
As part of this commitment, Microsoft plans to publish formal
design guidelines early next year that will assist flash-based
device manufacturers in designing machines that enable a high-
quality Windows experience. In addition, there will be limited
field trials in January 2008 of Windows XP for One Laptop per
Child's XO laptop. Microsoft's goal is to provide a high-quality
Windows experience on the XO device; if this is achieved, then
Windows XP for the XO could be available as early as the second
half of 2008.
Mary Jo Foley, veteran Microsoft watcher, in her article "Microsoft
moves a step closer toward getting Windows on OLPCs", asks:
What do you think the prospects are for Windows XP-based OLPC
systems? Will Microsoft be able -- and willing -- to undercut
Linux OLPCs on price (and will that be a bad thing, if poorer
nations end up with more, less-expensive computer choices?
My question is: Why replace free with proprietary?
Read the entire article at:
http://www.infoweapons.com/blog/?p=100
--
Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to
do what we ought. -- Pope John Paul II
--[Manny [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Alternative Information and Opinion at http://www.phnix.net
Advocacy blog: http://mamador.wordpress.com
Personal website: http://mannyamador.multiply.com
--[Pro-Life Philippines]-------------------[http://www.prolife.org.ph]--
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