Intel, Microsoft Despised the XO Laptop

gregsim writes "The Wall Street Journal today reports that the new XO laptop, centerpiece of the One Laptop Per Child project, is stimulating an active response from both Intel and Microsoft. The companies evidently feel threatened by the little upstart, intended to help third-world children. (The XO runs Linux and uses AMD chips.) Microsoft has cut their software to $3 each and Intel has designed their own laptop called the Classmate to sell between $230 and $300, nearly double the XO's price. Rather than defend the relative merits of his creation, professor Negroponte is crying foul and (if the article is to be believed) not even arguing the technical merits. The initial demand for the XO has fallen well below Mr. Negroponte's projections as Intel and Microsoft have successfully argued that their entries are superior. 45,000 have been ordered through the Give One, Get One campaign. I am happy that I ordered mine — it will be a landmark model in any case."

Amiga

[Anonymous Coward]

"I am happy that I ordered mine -- it will be a landmark model in any case."

Re:Negroponte's Dumb Idea

[Baron von Pilsner]

You are probably correct, but can you order 5,000 of them for your country..?

Re:That's great

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, but that doesn't give you a chance to rage against the evils of... crap. I forgot what was evil this week.

Re:Waste of time

[okmijnuhb]

Who needs agriculture? They can just order food online after making some quick cash with some online scams.

When they discover they're worth $200 on eBay

[Colin Smith]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=OLPC&category0= [ebay.com]

You'll find the OLPC is basically just a financial subsidy to the poor in the developing world...

What's the average annual wage in Bangladesh?

 

Re:Competition is good

[vtcodger]

***$3 for Windows? come on.***

I agree that's a bit more than Vista is really worth, but maybe they'll give up another 20-40% on volume orders.

Finally, a price point I can appreciate

[Dachannien]

Hmm..... I suppose I'd pay $3 for Vista.

Congratulations!

[_KiTA_]

Microsoft has cut their software to $3 each and Intel has designed their own laptop called the Classmate to sell between $230 and $300, nearly double the XO's price.

The initial demand for the XO has fallen well below Mr. Negroponte's projections as Intel and Microsoft have successfully argued that their entries are superior. 45,000 have been ordered through the Give One, Get One campaign.

Congratulations! Now that Mr. Negroponte's been publicly screwed by Microsoft and Intel, he can officially call himself a computer manufacturer.

Way to go!

Re:Competition is good

[QuietLagoon]

f it's more expensive and inferior then it'll be unsuccessful.

Then explain windows' success.