One Laptop Per Child developing dual-boot XO

 

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Posted on 10 Jan 2008 at 11:43

The One Laptop Per Child Foundation and Microsoft are working together to create a dual-boot machine running Linux and Windows.

Microsoft has already confirmed that it's working on a version of XP for the low cost laptop, and the early assumption was that should it succeed OLPC would offer two different models of the XO, one Linux-based and one Windows-based.

However, it now appears the companies are trying for a more elegant dual-boot solution, potentially expanding the appeal of the laptop which is struggling to find traction with developing nations.

"We are working with them very closely to make a dual-boot system so that, like on an Apple, you can boot either one up," says said Nicholas Negroponte, chairman of OLPC, speaking to ComputerWorld. "The version that's up and running of Windows on the XO is very fast, it's very, very successful. We're working very hard to do both."

Negroponte goes on to say that the partnership has only come about due to Microsoft's friendlier stance toward the open-source community, which has seen it sign lucrative deals with vendors such as Novell. Though Red Hat may disagree with this assessment.

The ability to dual-boot would also remove the need to have two competing versions of the same product on the market, something Negroponte has never been keen on, and which recently led to OLPC severing ties with Intel which refused to abandon its Classmate PC.

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Author: Stuart Turton