Windows on the OLPC Coming Soon?

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

This is interesting, particularly since Bill Gates mocked the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Foundation’s XO-1 when the idea was first presented.

Some of what Gates said was,

“If you are going to go have people share the computer, get a broadband connection and have somebody there who can help support the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can actually read the text and you’re not sitting there cranking the thing while you’re trying to type.”

However, Thursday in an interview, Microsoft Corporate Vice President Will Poole said, “We’re spending a non-trivial amount of money on it. We’re working hard. But we’re still at least a few months away.”

It seems Microsoft has finally decided that there might be a threat in having millions of children exposed to Linux rather than Windows and has decided to take steps. The question is, how much will this increase the price of the already nearly 2x so-called “$100 laptop,” which now costs $188?

We Say: For those interested in getting one of these for themselves, don’t forget that the foundation will start taking orders for its Give 1, Get 1 Program on November 12 at http://www.laptopgiving.org.