XP meets XO: What about Linux?
section: windows, for your questions: KezNews forum, 16.5.2008
The One Laptop Per Child program will put XP on its XO laptop and children in the developing world will have a choice between Windows and Linux.
On the surface, a little choice isn’t going to kill anybody. In fact, choice is good. And if some poor kids can get a laptop, learn a bit and be exposed to the world I don’t care about the operating system.
But here’s what gives me pause about XP coming to the XO (statement, Techmeme): There’s no way Linux will get an equal shake on OLPC’s XO. In fact, I reckon that more XO units will ship with XP than Linux in the not too distant future. Why? Governments are making the buying decisions. Not kids.
As Mary Jo Foley reports XOs will go with either Linux or Windows based on the preference of governments. Quoting an OLPC spokeswoman, Mary Jo reports:
“Laptops will be installed with one of two operating systems - Microsoft Windows OR Linux-based Sugar OS at the factory, based on the preference of governments and NGOs. In the case of these trials, the XOs will ship with Windows. In addition to these choices, in the future OLPC intends to develop … the ability to have both on the same machine.”
How quickly will the OLPC (all resources) have both on one machine? Probably not quickly.
The big question: What OS would the kids choose? I’d argue that the Linux interface would win. I’ve seen my own daughter navigate the XO Linux operating system even though I couldn’t. Kids just get it. Let’s compare and contrast..
source:
blogs.zdnet.com
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Comments(6)
yes, that's right kids, money talks and linux walks...
i do not understand your humour nor your mention of money having anything to do with kids
and the idea of olpc. perhaps greed is the motive of the humour?
i mentioned kids because the olpc program is aimed at kids, hence the "c" stands for
child.
secondly, i made a reference to the saying: money talks and bulls***
walks, the latter representing the bureaucracy of the olpc program selling out to
microsoft when they originally planned to go with linux exclusively.
lastly, i
phrased it so as to address the kids who'd be using these laptops as an explanation why
some of the laptops will have ones with xp while others will have linux. granted, the kids
of one country will probably all be using the same os, but if they ever make friends
online with other kids using the same laptops and some of the features work better with
one os than the other, the brighter ones may ask about it.
i thought olpc was never doing too well and they finally thought about putting xp in it,
instead of linux, because it's considered to be more in demand and easier and more
familiar to use. (after all windows is in 95% in desktops)
everyone know windows is crap compared to linux but the issue is windows is easier to
navigate then linux. now what????
lubing u always
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this article is too funny!
By yoyoma on 17.05.2008 - 03:05