Microsoft still keen to push XP onto OLPC XO low cost laptop

Microsoft is still pushing ahead with its plans to squeeze heavy weight OS XP onto the light and nimble OLPC XO laptop that’s designed for the developing world. The results? Well, it’s not as sluggish as it could be but it’s no match for the Linux based Sugar OS when it comes to speed.

We’ve already seen one booting Windows, but now Laptop Mag has managed to get its mitts on one of the XP running XOs to properly put it through its paces. It runs a slightly stripped down version of XP and everything boots from SD card. The 4GB card in the machine had around 1.97GB free after XP had gobbled up what it needed.

The hardware is pretty light - 256MB RAM and AMD Geode LX-700 processor. As a result, it takes XP around a minute and a half to start up - three times longer than Sugar takes to get up and running. Then there’s the cost aspect - Windows XP Starter Edition (only available in developing countries) may only cost $3, but when the whole machine is meant to sell for $100 that’s a fair chunk.

If you want to see how it performs in use, click on over to Laptop Mag for a video run down.

OLPC (via Laptop Mag)

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