Windows
The OLPC laptop's firmware has "dual-boot capability". It can boot into Windows XP as well as any Linux distribution, including OLPC's own system software featuring the Sugar UI on Fedora Linux.
As of January 2011, no large deployment of OLPC laptops is running Windows.
Announcements
In some media resources, e.g. at the website of the official Austrian media station ORF, it was incorrectly announced that OLPC is performing a strategy change and that a version of Microsoft Windows will be the offical standard software system that runs on the OLPC laptops. These erroneous reports have been debunked on the OLPC myths page; the OLPC Association continues their development of a Linux-based software set for the laptop in conjunction with RedHat.
On the other hand, Microsoft has internally developed a version of Windows XP that runs on the OLPC laptop. According to an ITWorld article, Bill Gates said that Microsoft is planning to offer a $3 software bundle for the XO consisting of
- Windows XP
- Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
- Microsoft Math 3.0
- Learning Essentials 2.0 for Microsoft Office
- Windows Live Mail
This offer will only apply to developing countries. No details were provided about availability, conditions of licensing or the language support included in or available for this software. The range of languages supported appears to be quite limited.
In a DesktopLinux article, Eric Brown reported:
- The version of Windows XP installed on the XO supports all the laptop's features, says the OLPC, including networking, speakers, microphone, and webcam. It also allows the display to pivot into its "e-book" configuration and change into a power-saving, sunlight-readable monochrome mode, according to Microsoft. James Utzschneider, GM of marketing and communications for Microsoft's Unlimited Potential group, blogged that "the Windows port to the XO is a snappy release that doesn't cut features or functionality in order to work in the constrained memory and storage environment of the XO."
However, it should be noted that Windows does not support Sugar, for fundamental reasons.
Trials
Microsoft has not announced where trials of XP on XO will take place, but reports are appearing as the trials begin. Please add more information.
Peru
The first announced trial of XP/XO is in Peru. The immediate reaction in the computer press is that Sugar is now doomed. This is greatly exaggerated.
Walter Bender commented on these reports in an interview with GrokLaw.
India
We are planning to use XO laptops with Windows at a girls school in rural area near Kanpur.
Egypt
Nicholas Negroponte reported that every Egyptian education official he talked to asked about Windows on the XO, which was one of the main reasons he went forward with dual-boot Linux and XP on the XO. Egypt also has a contract with Microsoft for Windows. It is widely expected that Egypt will conduct a trial of XP/XO, but none has been announced as of 09/22.
See also
- Dual-boot of Linux/Windows
- MS FAQ and AnnounceFAQ
External links
- background of dual boot work by firmware engineer Mitch Bradley
- Informative article by Eric Brown at DesktopLinux.com "Microsoft frees poor children from Linux struggles"
- Microsoft press release announcing an agreement with OLPC
- James Utzschneider's blog entry about Windows on the XO
