Comments on: Windows and the OLPC XO http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/ Where the urethane hits the pavement Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:34:18 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ASF http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18595 ASF Wed, 02 May 2007 03:31:33 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18595 I think that part of the money to fund XO comes from governments from the developing countries. Is it fair to use public money to support a commercial endeavor from Microsoft? I think that part of the money to fund XO comes from governments from the developing countries. Is it fair to use public money to support a commercial endeavor from Microsoft?

]]> By: Phil http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18592 Phil Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:00:28 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18592 Kevin, yes there are two not-very-secret ways to drop into a bash shell: * Switch to virtual terminal 1 or 2--X runs on VT 3. * Open up the developer's console: alt-= (alt-gear). Kevin, yes there are two not-very-secret ways to drop into a bash shell:

* Switch to virtual terminal 1 or 2–X runs on VT 3.

* Open up the developer’s console: alt-= (alt-gear).

]]> By: nikulinpi http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18591 nikulinpi Mon, 30 Apr 2007 07:09:51 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18591 Billy will eat children brains. Billy will eat children brains.

]]> By: Kevin Kofler http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18590 Kevin Kofler Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:41:52 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18590 Is there still the secret combo to drop into a bash shell or was that on developer builds only? Because if it's there, it's not too hard to get the regular Fedora XFCE packages on there. It's not Xubuntu, but it's better. ;-) Is there still the secret combo to drop into a bash shell or was that on developer builds only? Because if it’s there, it’s not too hard to get the regular Fedora XFCE packages on there. It’s not Xubuntu, but it’s better. ;-)

]]> By: Serhei http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18589 Serhei Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:39:33 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18589 @ Tom: There will likely be an "Linux Classic" activity which will allow users to run non-Sugarized applications, as long as their system requirements are modern; thus, it'll run any software that you could run on an old 466-MHz 1GB-disk laptop that you installed Linux on. @ Tom: There will likely be an “Linux Classic” activity which will allow users to run non-Sugarized applications, as long as their system requirements are modern; thus, it’ll run any software that you could run on an old 466-MHz 1GB-disk laptop that you installed Linux on.

]]> By: Julian http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18588 Julian Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:25:46 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18588 I think you're being a little naive. Merit only has value in a meritocracy. How often are Microsoft products chosen purely on their merits, really? Not all that often.. Microsoft could easily afford to lobby for government adoption of Windows on OLPC in developing countries on the basis of offering them free educational programmes and even career centers, taking the angle that the innovative OLPC interface and OS is obscurist and only marginalises the futures of children learning with it. OLPC's original hard-ball approach was the working strategy in order to be competitive in light of the inevitable appearance of competing hardware shipping Windows in the near future. There were always going to be 10 different 'OLPC-like' solutions.. Linux was always going to be a minority OS in this space, but previously it _had a real running chance_. Of course MS will do what it takes to have this market sewn-up; the company needs outsourcing recruitments in the developing world to expand and the last thing it can afford is to lose South America and Africa like it is arguably losing China and India to free software. This is an ideal opportunity for MS to compete in the long term with Linux adoption in these regions: it simply can't afford _not_ to play nasty to these ends. I wish OLPC Linux luck. I think you’re being a little naive. Merit only has value in a meritocracy. How often are Microsoft products chosen purely on their merits, really? Not all that often..

Microsoft could easily afford to lobby for government adoption of Windows on OLPC in developing countries on the basis of offering them free educational programmes and even career centers, taking the angle that the innovative OLPC interface and OS is obscurist and only marginalises the futures of children learning with it.

OLPC’s original hard-ball approach was the working strategy in order to be competitive in light of the inevitable appearance of competing hardware shipping Windows in the near future. There were always going to be 10 different ‘OLPC-like’ solutions.. Linux was always going to be a minority OS in this space, but previously it _had a real running chance_.

Of course MS will do what it takes to have this market sewn-up; the company needs outsourcing recruitments in the developing world to expand and the last thing it can afford is to lose South America and Africa like it is arguably losing China and India to free software. This is an ideal opportunity for MS to compete in the long term with Linux adoption in these regions: it simply can’t afford _not_ to play nasty to these ends.

I wish OLPC Linux luck.

]]> By: Peteris Krisjanis http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18587 Peteris Krisjanis Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:14:42 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18587 Alex: "can run" doesn't mean it will run. And "working with XO developers" could mean a lot - and could mean almost nothing. I guess they just provide technical specs. Sorry about ranting, but I read all this stuff like "we are afraid from Microsoft, so better let's be safe to jump to worst conclusions instead of investigating issue". I am all about be careful with Microsoft, but ranting and calling everyone who deals or even talks with Microsoft betrayers is too much. It is "it is a trap" mentality what drives me nuts, because then let's better not deal with any company, right? Have heard those arguments thousand times before (Sun/Microsoft deal => OpenOffice.org is dead, poisonous, Novell/Microsoft deal => Mono is dead poisonous, etc. etc. at nauseum) about lot of issues so it is even not funny anymore, it is tiring to see wasted community resources to these "issues". Maybe let's work on code, specs, docs, art, design of open source products instead. Alex: “can run” doesn’t mean it will run. And “working with XO developers” could mean a lot – and could mean almost nothing. I guess they just provide technical specs.

Sorry about ranting, but I read all this stuff like “we are afraid from Microsoft, so better let’s be safe to jump to worst conclusions instead of investigating issue”. I am all about be careful with Microsoft, but ranting and calling everyone who deals or even talks with Microsoft betrayers is too much. It is “it is a trap” mentality what drives me nuts, because then let’s better not deal with any company, right?

Have heard those arguments thousand times before (Sun/Microsoft deal => OpenOffice.org is dead, poisonous, Novell/Microsoft deal => Mono is dead poisonous, etc. etc. at nauseum) about lot of issues so it is even not funny anymore, it is tiring to see wasted community resources to these “issues”. Maybe let’s work on code, specs, docs, art, design of open source products instead.

]]> By: Tom http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18586 Tom Sun, 29 Apr 2007 11:47:35 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18586 I think you're right that Microsoft's OS won't compete with Sugar. However, I think that there will be a significant demand for a non-Sugar UI from some users, and there should be an open source alternative. So, what about offering Ubuntu or Xubuntu as a third choice? I think you’re right that Microsoft’s OS won’t compete with Sugar. However, I think that there will be a significant demand for a non-Sugar UI from some users, and there should be an open source alternative. So, what about offering Ubuntu or Xubuntu as a third choice?

]]> By: Alex http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18585 Alex Sun, 29 Apr 2007 11:00:33 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18585 BTW ... I have high hopes for this project, and to put my money where my mouth is I have an idea for an application that I want to implement, and probably help on fixing Sugar bugs in the process. I do live in a poor (ex-communist) country, and I would like nothing else but the best access to education for all the children here ... because that's our only hope for the future. I only hope that I will have sufficient time, because I also have to work and feed my family, but just for the record ... this project reminded me of why I became a software developer ... to change people's lives. I just hope that this process will not be screwed before it takes off. BTW … I have high hopes for this project, and to put my money where my mouth is I have an idea for an application that I want to implement, and probably help on fixing Sugar bugs in the process.

I do live in a poor (ex-communist) country, and I would like nothing else but the best access to education for all the children here … because that’s our only hope for the future.

I only hope that I will have sufficient time, because I also have to work and feed my family, but just for the record … this project reminded me of why I became a software developer … to change people’s lives.

I just hope that this process will not be screwed before it takes off.

]]> By: Alex http://www.j5live.com/2007/04/29/windows-and-the-olpc-xo/comment-page-1/#comment-18584 Alex Sun, 29 Apr 2007 10:53:31 +0000 http://www.j5live.com/?p=363#comment-18584 Peteris ... from the article on zdnet.com ... "Negroponte disclosed that XO's developers have been working with Microsoft Corp. so a version of Windows can run on the machines as well". Although I don't know if that quote is authentic, the facts confirm it ... the XO's specs definitely increased, and so is the price. Also ... the price will go down, I said it myself, but you are naive to think that it will decrease by the end of this year. That's impossible ;) Not too mention, if the price is said to decrease so fast ... who will be stupid enough to buy the first units ? Peteris … from the article on zdnet.com … “Negroponte disclosed that XO’s developers have been working with Microsoft Corp. so a version of Windows can run on the machines as well”.

Although I don’t know if that quote is authentic, the facts confirm it … the XO’s specs definitely increased, and so is the price.

Also … the price will go down, I said it myself, but you are naive to think that it will decrease by the end of this year.
That’s impossible ;)

Not too mention, if the price is said to decrease so fast … who will be stupid enough to buy the first units ?

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