Comments on: Windows XP and Linux bootable OLPC laptop a mockery of open source? http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2008/01/09/windows-xp-and-linux-bootable-olpc-laptop-a-mockery-of-open-source/ Technology news Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:15:02 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ben Feldman http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:/2008/01/09/windows-xp-and-linux-bootable-olpc-laptop-a-mockery-of-open-source/comment-page-1/#comment-67431 Ben Feldman Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:38:05 +0000 http://tech.blorge.com/Structure: /2008/01/09/windows-xp-and-linux-bootable-olpc-laptop-a-mockery-of-open-source/#comment-67431 One of the major factors in deciding whether or not to participate in the G1G1 (other than the awesome fact that these laptops are going to kids that need them) was the fact that OLPC supported Linux and open source as a philosophy, and until recently has acted as though it will take a backseat to no one in making all software on the laptop (from the BIOS down to the software) free and open source. I did participate. Philosophies aside, I'm glad I did - it's an unquestionably great cause. Bringing those philosophies back, I'm totally outraged. Yes, I see it as a mockery of open source. But, my device won't be running the ported XP anytime soon, and since my gift to the third world has already been manufactured and will be shipping soon, it doesn't look like it will be running the ported XP either. Either way, it's still very upsetting. It's been a bad week or three for OLPC. One of the major factors in deciding whether or not to participate in the G1G1 (other than the awesome fact that these laptops are going to kids that need them) was the fact that OLPC supported Linux and open source as a philosophy, and until recently has acted as though it will take a backseat to no one in making all software on the laptop (from the BIOS down to the software) free and open source.

I did participate. Philosophies aside, I’m glad I did – it’s an unquestionably great cause.

Bringing those philosophies back, I’m totally outraged. Yes, I see it as a mockery of open source. But, my device won’t be running the ported XP anytime soon, and since my gift to the third world has already been manufactured and will be shipping soon, it doesn’t look like it will be running the ported XP either.

Either way, it’s still very upsetting. It’s been a bad week or three for OLPC.

]]>