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

Seth Woodworth seth at isforinsects.com
Tue May 27 21:25:27 EDT 2008


Nan,

I'm really sorry that you want to run windows and can't.  You're
planning on doing something incredibly awesome with your machines this
summer and I really want to do everything we can to help you.  I'm
sorry that the tone of your response wasn't as respectful as it should
have been, or as informative.  Your response was a form letter from
our volunteer help staff the Support-gang (of which I have also been a
member).

What the email should have told you, especially for your non-typical
case is that while windows is *going* to be deployed and Microsoft has
a few machine that work now.  It's not an easy process or one that
OLPC can do right now.  It would involve some hardware hacking on the
machine, reflashing, etc etc.  And a lot of that custom software isn't
available to me or anyone at OLPC yet.

Also a concern is the special version of windows for the XO is only
being sold in developing nations.  Presumably it will be sold
individually (they're only $3), and not just in large bulk purchases.
But I'm not sure if or when that's going to happen.  Even getting
ahold of a pirate version of their scaled down version of XP isn't
something I would know how to do yet.

For the future, I'm not sure if Microsoft is going to be willing to
provide the support to let individuals hack their machines to run
windows.  But if/when this does happen I would be more than happy to
help you out with your machines in Kyrgystan with whatever
documentation I have available to me if that is what you really want.
I'm not convinced that Windows is going to run on the XO very well or
that it is going to be as good as the current Sugar.

Really, again I'm sorry if OLPC's response offended you.  That wasn't
it's intention at all.  I hope plans for your trip to Kyrgystan are
going well, and feel free to drop me a line anytime if you have any
more questions like this.  I'll be happy to find things out for you.

All the best,
Seth Woodworth

On Sun, May 25, 2008 at 6:47 PM, Nan A. Canter <nana_canter at yahoo.com> 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
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Grassroots mailing list
> Grassroots at lists.laptop.org
> http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/grassroots
>


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