Microsoft Corp. has teamed with a nonprofit organization in Britain that builds low-cost laptops meant for developing countries, organizers said.

By teaming with Microsoft, One Laptop Per Child will be offering Windows XP as a dual operating system for its computers, which sell for $188 apiece.

The computers have been offered with Linux operating systems, the BBC reported Friday. Organizers hope to have Windows XP available by June.

One Laptop Per Child had hoped to sell 1 million lots of the rugged laptops to governments of developing countries but has only sold 600,000 machines to date.

The organization's founder, Nicholas Negroponte, denied the addition of Windows XP was an desperate attempt to boost sales, the BBC reported.

However, there is no question that demand goes up when you offer dual boot, Negroponte said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International


Publication date: 16 May 2008   

Source: UPI-1-20080516-07381000-bc-britain-onelaptop.xml

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