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Windows XP for $100 laptop finalised
Microsoft releases tweaked OS

By Mary-Jo Foley

Published: Monday 28 July 2008

Microsoft has internally released to manufacturing the version of Windows XP it has tweaked to run on the One Laptop Per Child XO computer.

James Utzschneider, general manager of marketing and communications for Microsoft's Unlimited Potential Group, said in a blog last week: "Windows on the XO looks like it is on track for availability in these types of national educational PC deals in September. We still have no plans to make Windows available for individuals who bought an XO in the Give 1 Get 1 programme though."

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Microsoft didn't officially acknowledge the company was working on a port of XP for the OLPC laptop until May 2008. Prior to that time, however, OLPC officials had said that such a port was in the works.

On 15 May, Microsoft and the OLPC announced they were going to deliver Windows on XO machines, which previously were slated to run Linux only. That announcement led to complaints by Linux backers and resignations of some OLPC officials.

Back in May, Microsoft and the OLPC said to expect the offering to be released to manufacturing in August or September and to be available initially only in "emerging market countries where governments or non-governmental organisations are subsidising the purchase of a large number of PCs for students."

They added there was the "possibility of making this [XO on OLPC] available for other customers through a broader set of channels at a later point in time".

Mary-Jo Foley writes for ZDNet.com