[Grassroots-l] [laptop.org #12584] Fwd: New $100 Laptop Design

[Mel Chua]

Nana,

The XOs you and I have weren't designed, hardware-wise (or, to my 
knowledge, anything-else-wise) with Windows in mind - they were made 
running an open-source, Linux-based software stack, and that's how we 
got them.

Microsoft also got a bunch of XOs (presumably likewise initially running 
that open-source software stack) and spent its own time and money and 
developer resources porting Windows to the machine. Should OLPC support 
Microsoft's "hack"? I think it's entirely reasonable for OLPC to point 
to Microsoft to support the modifications they made.

To draw an example - it's as if a friend and I purchased identical 
scooters, and then my friend decided she was going to hack around on the 
weekend, bolt an engine onto her scooter, and make it into a motorized 
scooter. Great for her! If I wanted a motorized scooter, I wouldn't go 
to the scooter shop and say "You sold me this scooter, and then I saw 
someone else with a motorized version they'd made - you need to motorize 
my scooter and give me motorized-scooter support!" I wouldn't expect 
them to support someone else's hack. I would go to my friend and say 
"hey, you motorized your scooter. Can you help me motorize mine, and 
help me fix my motorized scooter when it breaks down?"

In effect, OLPC is saying "We made a scooter. Microsoft bolted this 
engine-thingy on the back of theirs. If you ask us where you can get 
this engine-thingy, we're going to say 'Microsoft,' and it's between you 
and them to figure out whether they're going to help you get an 
engine-thingy. We ourselves make scooters."

-Mel

Nan A. Canter wrote:
> How typical a response!!!!!
>
> This organization continues to treat those of us who
> supported the G1G1 program early on with distain, to
> say the least..... 
>
> My three OLPCs will go not to my children but to
> elementary students in a distant and isolated farming
> community in eastern kyrgyzsan....
>
> I feel duped, used, and almost "taken".... not a great
> way for an organization like yours to treat your most
> ardent supporters.... Sorry i can't afford to donate
> 100!!!!! 
>
> nana canter
>
>
> --- Support at rt.laptop.org wrote:
>
>   
>> On Sun May 25 16:54:16 2008, nana_canter at yahoo.com
>> wrote:
>>     
>>> Note: forwarded message attached.
>>>
>>>
>>> will the laptop we got be able to get the
>>>       
>> mocrosoft
>>     
>>> program installed?
>>>       
>> OLPC has no plans to sell XO laptops to US
>> customers. The Windows on XO
>> program was developed by Microsoft for use on
>> country sized deployments
>> in developing countries.
>>
>> -- 
>> Alan - OLPC Support Volunteer
>> XO user guide: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/User_Guide
>>
>>     
>
>
>                
>   Nan A. Canter 
> Phone: (001) 212 666-5494 
>  nana_canter at yahoo.com
>
> http://www.playpumps.org
>
>
>       
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