XO Laptops' Dual-Boot Plans Confirmed! Microsoft Joins OLPC

The closure that everyone anticipated at the end of April, between One Laptop Per Child Project and Microsoft Corp., is now a known fact, as the two unveiled an agreement to make the Windows operating system available on low-cost XO laptops in emerging markets starting this June. We’re not talking about an exclusive deal here, as it has been rumored at some point, but about a “dual-boot” option OLPC President Nicholas Negroponte talked about less than a month ago.

Both Microsoft and OLPC promised to work with governments and nongovernmental organizations to ensure that the pilot program will be a success, and furthermore, they announced their intention to give users the possibility to run either Windows or Linux operating systems on their XO laptop.

Chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft Craig Mundie said in a prepared statement that by taking part in this project, Microsoft aims at supporting computing solutions for education by making technology relevant, accessible and affordable for students. This step is also part of Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential project, which sustains social and economic opportunities for people who can’t afford to enjoy the benefits of technology, Mundie continued.

Just last month, after the resignation of his no.2 Walter Bender, Nicholas Negroponte told the Associated Press that a closure with Microsoft is desired due to the fact that many governments are reluctant to any PC that doesn’t run Microsoft Windows.

The OLPC founder also said in April that they needed more efficiency in order to reach as many children as possible, adding that there is a possibility to eventually use Microsoft Windows XP as the only operating system. However, the agreement unveiled this Thursday confirmed no such thing, and moreover, many reject the idea, saying OLPC should have gone against Microsoft’s dominance on the market, instead of embracing it.

Microsoft has been working for over a year with several partners to develop customized drivers able to run Windows operating system on XO laptops, the company said, adding that Windows supports the laptop’s e-book reading mode, standard Wi-Fi networking, camera, writing pad and custom keys, as well as power-saving and other features.