We could embrace Linux in the XO laptop and promote the democratic exposure to various Operating Systems.. You start with Linux when you're young, skimping and pinching pennies, then to Apple when you're in school and trying to appear cool, and finally to Windows, when you've arrived, are working, and ready to take on the real world.

Quoted: Microsoft Corp has made progress in getting its Windows software to work on a low-cost laptop computer for poor children that currently runs on rival Linux software, an executive said on Thursday.

Quoted: <Microsoft is> working to adapt a basic version of Windows XP so it is compatible with the nonprofit One Laptop per Child Foundation's small green-and-white XO laptop.

Sad, and True

Quoted: Another large threat to the software maker is the fact that it rarely carries through on its promises, with many of its products—from the media center to Origami and Zune—falling short of the company's hype about the products' potential...

Quoted: In general, Microsoft never seems able to complete the end-to-end user experience. They also seem to have an inability to do demand-generation marketing. They primarily do brand work, but don't drive demand, which is exactly the opposite of Apple, which generally does demand generation and not much pure brand work...

I'm surprised there is no mention of Apple development...

Quoted: The arrival of Windows Vista likely only kept the numbers from being even worse. "I think Vista probably offset some of the decline," Andrews said. The share for Windows is expected to drop another 2 percent, to about 63 percent, in the next year, Andrews said.

Quoted: The targeting of Linux by developers increased by 34 percent to 11.8 percent. It had been 8.8 a year ago, according to the survey. Linux targeting is expected to reach 16 percent over the next year.

Heheh. Finally, a decent OEM Linux offering...

Quoted: CHOICE is what consumers want on their new PCs, not annoying surprise circus-ware (the typical smattering of confusing 3rd party popup-infested software found on most new Dell PCs). Quality free and open source software is well behaved, and may be legally pre-installed on PCs, and legally shared with friends and family, sharing is encouraged!