Windows on XO? Not on your OLPC life!

Stan Beer
Saturday, 27 October 2007 07:22

Opinion and Analysis

The word from Microsoft is that the company is devoting "non trivial" resources to develop a version of Windows XP that will run on the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project's XO computer. Is Microsoft really seeking third world domination at any cost? can OLPC resist the dollar temptations Microsoft is sure to throw its way?

I have never been a fan of the OLPC program because I agree with aid organizations like FAIR that think there are better, more cost effective and more environmentally sound ways to bridge the digital divide with third world countries such as using recycled computers to set up labs in schools. However, if OLPC is to go ahead, it would be a disaster if Microsoft was allowed to get involved.

The way I see it there are a number of sets of problems associated with running Windows on the XO. The first set is technical, the second is social and the third is financial.

Looking at the issue from a technical viewpoint, Windows XP is simply nor made to run on a laptop of the specs and power for the XO. On the surface a machine with an X86 chip running at 433MHz with 256MB RAM and 1GB of Flash storage should be able to run a cut down version of XP.

However, let's be realistic. If you're going to run Windows and go on the Internet, then you also need to run powerful security software. Those of us who use this software on our powerful current generation computers (basically all Windows users) know all too well how slow our systems run because of this security software. We also know how often we have to reboot and tune our systems just to keep everything running. Heck, we have to reboot each month just to update the security patches.

Let's face it, Windows has become so bloated these days that running it on an XO is like trying to fit an elephant into a Volkswagen Beetle.

This brings us to the social aspect of running Windows on an XO. Windows computers are a magnetic for malware purveyors. Experienced Windows users in first world countries have a hard enough time keeping attackers at bay, imagine the chances of a child in the third world running into a concerted vulnerability exploit. We'll get into software piracy in a minute.

Then of course there is the financial issue. Bill Gates may well be one of the world's finest philanthropists. However, there is nothing philanthropic about Microsoft. Like all major corporations, it exists for one purpose - to make money. Microsoft's aim in providing Windows for the XO is to try to hook the third world on Windows, working through the children. Cut down versions of Windows and Office for free now are designed to sell full versions down the track when the users are locked in.

Of course, there will be piracy but initially Microsoft will turn a blind eye until it's time to pay the piper down the track, using collect-or-money-ware such as Windows Genuine Advantage.

So what's the alternative? OLPC, if you want your program to achieve its aims, stick to Linux and don't touch Windows with a 30 foot barge pole.