Quote Originally Posted by Daveski View Post
Plus it looks like MS are getting in on the act.
Ugh. This threatens to go against one of the OLPC "Core Principles", at least in spirit - free and open source:

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Core_princ...nd_open_source

A world of great software and content is necessary to make this project succeed, both open and proprietary. Children need to be able to choose from all of it. In our context of learning where knowledge must be appropriated in order to be used, it is most appropriate for knowledge to be free. Further, every child has something to contribute; we need a free and open framework that supports and encourages the very basic human need to express.

Give me a free and open environment and I will learn and teach with joy.
This doesn't say that they can't use any proprietary SW, but pre-installing Windows on these boxes would end up limiting the children's choice, just as it does to users in M$'s home markets.

On the other hand, if these laptops are really distributed fairly, then this could end up being the best PR for Linux ever. What happens if a billion 3rd-world kids see both the Sugar UI (on Linux) and Windows - and decide that they like Sugar better?