OLPC can run Windows, may show up in U.S. schools

All along, it has seemed like two things were sure with the OLPC Project's XO laptop: it would only run Linux and it would only show up in schools in developing nations. So it comes as quite a shock to hear that both of those points might be in question, especially when it comes straight from the horse's mouth. Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the OLPC project, told the Associated Press that "XO's developers have been working with Microsoft so a version of Windows can run on the machines." That's interesting news considering Microsoft's recent announcement that it will offer a $3 software package for educational use in developing nations. Additionally, the governors of 19 U.S. states have expressed interest in the device and instead of flat out rejecting the idea, Negroponte was quoted as saying that the U.S. "couldn't be ignored." Finally, the former MIT Media Lab director revealed that the laptop's final price would be $176--not exactly the $100 laptop originally envisioned but not quite expensive either.

For more on the XO:
- see this Engadget article