OLPC to mimic Apple's Boot Camp
updated 01:55 pm EST, Wed January 9, 2008
OLPC Dual-Boot
The One Laptop Per Child project is developing an update to its XO notebook that will let users run two operating systems on one of the computers, group chair Nicholas Negroponte says in an interview. Though multi-boot setups are not unique to the Mac, the OLPC head says the portable for developing-world schools will soon have a multi-OS system "like on an Apple" that lets users quickly flip between the OLPC's custom Sugar Linux-based interface and Windows XP. Although concerns have been raised about the Microsoft software's performance on the $200 system, the OLPC group notes that the XO's version is not the same as on most computers.
"The version that's up and running of Windows on the XO is very fast, it's very, very successful," Negroponte says. "We're working very hard to do both [well]."
The development represents the first fruit of a deal struck in December that would have Microsoft experiment with Windows to ensure it runs well on the low-power system. The move has been largely regarded as unconventional for Microsoft, which has historically opposed open-source projects such as Linux. Microsoft's project is the result of a relatively softened approach, according to Negroponte.
"[Microsoft]'s become a little bit less religious than it was a few years ago and that's really good," he says.
No pricing has been discussed for any versions that might come with dual-boot pre-installed, though the XO may be integrated into some of Microsoft's existing programs to help develop a foundation for computing in developing regions.
wow...
01/09, 02:35pm reply
what has it come to where people are acting like dual-booting is a mac thing?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
simply makes sense
01/09, 02:53pm reply
Because the Apple way makes sense: hold the option key upon boot to select boot disk (which is named by the user and easy to differentiate).
No need to go into BIOS which has no mouse support, and find and change the boot drive to the particular device (which one was it? D or E drive?), then repeat to switch back to the original device.
It's the time when people realize the 10 step way (MS's way) is the wrong way.
dliup
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Joined: Jan 2006
Dual booting is not an
01/09, 03:01pm reply
Apple invention, but they did make it elegant and seamless. And that is definitely the Apple way.
mgpalma
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Joined: Sep 2000
Microsoft
01/09, 03:03pm reply
This situation is a perfect one for Apple to jump in with a subnotebook OS based on OS X (much like the iPhone or iPod touch interface)...which runs on a 400MHz processor in those devices. Apple still needs to build their marketshare with personal computers worldwide, and getting young people on their platform at that age is the best way to retain customers for life. Usually (as I have seen it), people are exposed to a platform (Mac or PC) when they are a kid, and they are more likely to stay close to the platform they are comfortable with. Likewise for Microsoft, this is an easy win for them if they decide to ship XP on this device, they will expose a whole generation of 3rd world kids to the Windows platform. I think the XO project is a vital platform for software companies to jump into quickly, the long term payoffs could be tremendous.
wardc
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Joined: Jan 2008
re: simply makes sense
01/09, 03:31pm reply
Sorry, but I've never gone into a bios to switch a boot drive around (and since the bios isn't a Microsoft invention or product, I'm not sure how you can call it the "MS Way"). Not on PCs. Not on my old 7100 which I dual booted Linux on.
Hit the F8 key on a Windows box, that usually does it.
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
dual bootings
01/09, 03:54pm reply
dual booting has nothing to do with Apple.
Dual booting into WINDOWS has everything to do with Apple.
Windows machines already run Windows. Linux desktop users are too few.
Apple is the main platform, that needs to dual boot into Windows...by far.
Of course, its an apple thing.
You have to think like an end user.
Jonathan-Tanya
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Joined: Oct 2004