By Jo Best, 15 November 2005 12:25
NEWS
The organisation behind the creation of a $100 laptop for the developing world has refused an offer of free software from Apple.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Apple boss Steve Jobs offered to equip each of the machines with a gratis copy of Mac OS X.
Seymour Papert, a professor emeritus at MIT and one of the project's founders, said the scheme had refused Jobs' offer on the grounds that Mac OS X is a proprietary system.
Papert told the WSJ: "We declined because it's not open source," adding the $100 laptop creators will only choose an operating system where the source code is open and can be altered.
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Software behemoth Microsoft has also yet to determine its involvement in the $100 laptop scheme, although at present the use of open source software will preclude it from contributing a Windows operating system.
However, Bill Gates met with Nicholas Negroponte, founder of MIT's Media Lab, who is involved with the $100 laptop project, to discuss Microsoft's participation in the scheme, the WSJ reported.
A Microsoft spokeswoman said: "While we can confirm that we are currently in discussions with Mr Negroponte regarding OLPC [one laptop per child], we cannot comment on the specifics of these discussions."
She added: "Negroponte's effort is ambitious and will take collaboration with hardware, software, government and NGO partners to achieve it. We've been engaged with him and his people to help overcome some of the technology challenges they face."Negroponte will demonstrate a working prototype of the wind-up laptop at the World Summit on the Information Society on Tuesday.
Comments
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1. chan keng yik
not only cheap ,it also has to be withstand long working hrs at least can use for 5 yrs for average using
100 dollar means a lot for poor ppl,good security , stable os and user friendly or easy to use and is a good way to spead english or culture i think haha
2. anonymous
Unbelievable. They turn down the best OS in the world - the foundation of which, for the record, is open source BSD unix - and then court Microsoft, whose contribution to open source can be counted on the fingers of one foot !
3. thomas Barta
These guys are just LINUX bigots. Or they are unaware that Apple's OS is mostly Open Source. The OSX kernel, or "Darwin" has been open sourced for years.
4. Ben Ames
Well, how long before they throw those things into the trash because they can't figure out how to fix simple problems because linux is too complex for beginners.
The Mac OS may not be open source, but it's a lot easier to use, and that's the whole point of this program is to get underdeveloped countries up to speed on technology, so the first thing you shouldn't do is shoot them in the foot.
5. Finder
A laptop and an OS is a great idea....
but what will you do with just an OS? Program the next great Linux shareware?
OS X has first rate apps that are accessible to and usable by kids to actually do things. But maybe with the system capabilities, low RAM, etc., will only support file navigation and other simple OS tasks....
6. David van Deinse
It is all politics.
You will see the 100 dollar computer running a windows lite version. And MIT will biuld a new wing with the money they got from Bill.
7. Jason
So I guess every child in the world is destined to learn LINUX, What a great world we live in.
8. poorkid
Yes! that is B coz they don't want to rob the kids from the opportunity to learn. Kidz R not supposed 2 B immediatly productive-:)
9. Duncan Latimer
Didn't Apple ought to offer a few dollars per machine as well, after all this would pretty much open the door for Apple to licence OS X to carefully chosen third parties. The open source thing is probably a red herring because any OS will have to be homogeneous (I expect Bill has already pointed that out).
I am an Apple fan, but this is a world changer, let us bear in mind that most kids in UK schools don't have laptops because they are too expensive, i.e. there is a need for a lower priced laptop package accross the globe, whatever ends up on those 100 dollar machines will be the os/application suite of choice for multi millions of up and coming future workers, if anyone wants to paint the world their favourite colour they need to supply some painters as well as the brushes and paint, don't they?
10. anonymous
The potential of millions of these things being distributed worldwide isn't lost on Apple or Microsoft apparently. It's huge and could actually put some competition back into the OS market. Imagine a billion asian youngster brought up on Mac OS ? I be they have.
But it shouldn't be about that. I'm not even a regular linux user but I can see the attraction of the operating system for this sort of project. I think the Mac bigots underestimate the abilities of the kids to learn a complex system like linux. Moreover they are more likely to be able to get their hands on the Linux shareware that the other comments deride than expensive Microsoft and Apple bloatware, that will cost a fortune as soon as either get their foot in the door.
11. Dave Edwards
Idiot.
MacOSX is built on top of the open source Darwin.
12. Water Aid
Worthy though this endeavour might be, I can't help but feel that a ready supply of fresh uncontaminated drinking water, medicines and doctors, and a rounded education would be higher up the list of priorities of most potential recipients
13. John Browning
This is from the MIT MEDIA LAB @
http://laptop.media.mit.edu/
"Please note that the $100 laptops—not yet in production—will not be available for sale. The laptops will only be distributed to schools directly through large government initiatives."
Considering what we pay for a laptop, why do you think we cannot buy one of these ?
John.browning@e911.org
14. anonymous
Don't fret do something about it. Sign a petition to Apple to offer OS X to developing countries at http://www.petitiononline.com/m1a2c/petition.html.
15. anonymous
For those who want to see Macs in the hands of children in the developing world, check out this petition to Apple at www.petitiononline.com/m1a2c/petition.html.
16. Linux USer
So what are they supposed to do Install Windows or Mac OS, yeah great Idea that way they can create another generation of Brainless computer end users nothing but “appliance users” Most users of Widows and Max OS are brainless end users who have no idea how a computer works let alone what an OS is, at least if they install Linux these young kids will be getting a good start, they will actually learn how to use and maintain a computer. Not just click icons to start programs that do all there thinking for them.
17. anonymous
So it's not for sale - only another NGO handout. Here comes the next you-beaut black market! Pick one up on your next visit to a third-world tourist trap.
18. Sam
In responce to Thomas Barta --
"Mostly" opensource is not what they are looking for. Sure, most of apple's OS is opensource, but the most importanty components of it aren't.
I.e. the windowing system. And for your information, the *newest* kernel ISN'T opensource, due to DRM issues with the new intel chips.
And furthermore, OS X relies heavily on the graphics card's ability with shaders in order to render the UI smoothly. Trying to use OS X on a system without a nice graphics card (well beyond what the $100 laptop project is aiming for) would be excruciatingly slow.