[Olpc-open] Re dual boot XO: Olpc-open Digest, Vol 23, Issue 18

[gnome]

As Steve says, for the laptop crew (of which I'm definitely one) Sugar 
isn't too important.  I do think that's a fun OS and like having it as a 
boot option, but it needlessly complicates my life when I have work to 
do or writing that needs to be sent to people working in Win/Mac/*nix. 

The XO's strength is enabling people to do more than they could have 
before, and one of those things is cooperative, fun learning.  It's been 
said before, but it needs to be said often: the XO has already changed 
the world by goading the industry into noticing a whole new market.  The 
XO will see the widest use and create the most change if people can use 
it however they need to, and that makes me think that enabling as many 
boot options as possible is a good idea.

If Windows is part of the mix, there's no harm done.  When (not if...) 
it doesn't really do the job, people can try other things.  What's a bit 
worrisome to me -- at least on the level of sound and fury -- is that 
Windows is rapidly becoming the whole mix instead of just one choice 
among many.  I *really* hope the XO doesn't let anyone, government or 
otherwise, go down that dead end.

As for Windows being requested by governments, the decision makers in 
many governments strike me as the type to have their secretaries type up 
their emails.  I'd bet they wouldn't know Windows from walls until the 
Microsoft rep talked to them, and probably pointed out the personal 
yacht visible through the Windows.   I think that's nothing but more 
evidence that the XO model of distribution is as flawed as its technical 
execution is brilliant.