Microsoft tries to block Linux on low cost PCs
For developing countries and even in the US, there have recently been a number of low-cost PCs being offered. Because it is free, some version of Linux was initially the operating system being used. Microsoft reacted by first doing its best to throw cold water on the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project and is now trying to kill off Linux by offering much reduced prices for Windows as an incentive to manufacturers like Asus. Teacher Christopher Dawson writes:
Obviously, Microsoft has a significant interest in making sure that users of the new breed of netbooks and MIDs hitting the market don’t get too comfortable using Linux. Many manufacturers have taken to installing various flavors of Linux on these devices to minimize footprint, improve performance, and reduce costs on low-power, low-margin hardware. Similarly, most modern Linux distributions provide features that are tough to find on Windows XP (especially XP Home); Vista clearly isn’t an option on these little guys.
ULPCs come up a lot in Ed Tech, partly because the OLPC XO, largely credited with creating this market, is an educational tool and also because ULPCs have the potential to make 1:1 computing realistic (or even to simply make any sort of computing realistic in developing markets). The OS of choice for students today will be the OS of choice in business tomorrow; hence, Microsoft’s concern over the use of Linux.
Microsoft’s penchant for bare-knuckle tactics is at work again. Its only interest is maintaining the Windows monopoly without any apparent concern about whether poor kids get a chance at having a PC. ComputerworldUK reports:
Microsoft is launching a program to promote the use of its Windows OS in ultra low-cost PCs, one effect of which will be to limit the hardware capabilities of this type of device, IDG News Service has learned.
Microsoft plans to offer PC makers steep discounts on Windows XP Home Edition to encourage them to use that OS instead of Linux on ultra low-cost PCs (ULPCs). To be eligible, however, the PC vendors that make ULPCs must limit screen sizes to 10.2 inches and hard drives to 80G bytes, and they cannot offer touch-screen PCs.
The programme is outlined in confidential documents that Microsoft sent to PC makers last month, and which were obtained by IDG News Service.
The goal apparently is to limit the hardware capabilities of ULPCs so that they don’t eat into the market for mainstream PCs running Windows Vista, something both Microsoft and the PC vendors would want to avoid.
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