One Laptop Per Youngster (OLPC) chief Nicholas Negroponte is hinting the undertaking is leaning strongly toward dumping x86 processors in favor of lower-power Arm-based ones for your next-generation XO-2 laptops. There;s 1 problem: A minimum of as Arm and Windows at present exist, a complete version of Windows is not likely to load on an Arm-based machine.From a report around the Great Gear Tutorial (which I saw via OSnews):“As with the XO-1,
Microsoft Office Pro 2007, OLPC wants to offer a dual-boot option on XO-2 where users can choose to load either Linux or a complete Windows OS. While Arm processors can run Windows Mobile operating systems,
Office 2010 Sale, they can;t run a complete Windows OS.“‘Like many,
Office 2007 Professional Plus Key, we are urging Microsoft to make Windows — not Windows Mobile — available on the Arm. This is a complex question for them,; Negroponte said.”According to the article, the OLPC is in talks with Microsoft to make a full version of Windows available for the XO-2s, which are still 18 months or so away from release.I asked Microsoft about the report and received the following statement from a spokesperson:“At this point in time, Microsoft;s plan is to offer a quality Windows experience about the current XO device and have no further information. Microsoft is not commenting on any future plans with regard to OLPC,
Windows 7 Home Premium, nor does it comment on speculation.”I also asked if Negroponte;s characterization of discussions with Microsoft was accurate. No word back on that 1.In the past, deciphering Microsoft;s intentions regarding OLPC has been a complex task. Typically,one. OLPC chief Nicolas Negroponte publicly announces what Microsoft will or won;t do
2. Microsoft declines to comment
3. Microsoft subsequently decides to comment and often contradicts Negroponte;s claims
4. Microsoft ends up doing, to a large extent, what Negroponte said it wouldWhat do you think will happen with the XO-2,
Microsoft Office 2010 Home And Business, given MIcrosoft;s growing interest in making WIndows available in developing countries? Will Microsoft find a way to port some edition of Windows to Arm? Will the Softies make Windows Mobile its default on Arm-based laptops? Other thoughts?