Microsoft to Put Windows on OLPC Laptops
After months of dilly-dallying, Microsoft has finally given the green signal to offering its Windows operating system (OS) on One Laptop Per Child's (OLPC) XO laptops for children in developing countries. So far, XO laptops have been using the Linux operating system.

Buyers of XO laptops will now have the option to choose the OS that is best suited to their requirements. The intention is to eventually create a dual-boot version of the XO laptop that has the ability to host both Windows and Linux operating systems. The XO laptops are being sold mainly to education ministries and governments familiar with Windows-based computing, hence the reluctance to buy machines that do not run Windows that could also be the reason for slow initial sales. The general belief among buyers is that Windows-based machines will open doors for students and educators to access Windows-based educational software and tools as also a broad ecosystem providing relevant content.

Trials of Windows-based XO laptops are slated to begin next month in key markets with general availability expected by September. The OLPC Project is also planning on getting a Windows version of its 'Sugar' educational software hitherto workable only with Linux.

But as is the case with everything much else, putting windows on the XO machines will increase their price by $10:$3 in terms of licensing fees Microsoft charges in some developing nations under a program called 'Unlimited Potential' plus the cost of extra hardware required. Which means the XO laptops will now cost more than the existing price of $200 each. The OLPC claims it will eventually bring down prices to $100 as preordained at the time of launch (we sincerely hope so!).