“In an effort to expand its global reach in computing, Microsoft plans to offer a stripped-down version of Windows, Office and other software for $3 to people in developing nations,” Steve Lohr reports for The New York Times. “The program is being announced in Beijing today by Microsoft chairman, Bill Gates.”
“The Microsoft push comes as a nonprofit project, One Laptop per Child, plans this year to start producing machines priced at about $150 — with a goal of reaching $100 — that will run a version of Linux. Several countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Nigeria, have made tentative commitments to distribute the laptops to millions of schoolchildren,” Lohr reports.
“Microsoft has offered discounted versions of Windows selectively in the past, to a few developing nations like Malaysia and Thailand, priced at $30 or less. But the new program, called Microsoft Unlimited Potential, goes further with more software and deeper price cuts and extends to all developing nations, said Microsoft’s senior vice president for emerging markets, Orlando Ayala,” Lohr reports.
“Under the program, Microsoft would make its discounted software available for installation on computers that would typically be sold to national, state or local governments, which would then distribute the PCs to individuals. The price of the machines, Microsoft said, would depend on PC makers and what hardware features were included. Industry analysts said basic machines with the $3 Microsoft bundle of programs could be priced at $300 or less. The standard retail price of the software in the $3 bundle, including Windows XP Starter Edition and Office Home and Office 2007, would be about $150,” Lohr reports.
“There are about a billion PC users worldwide, mainly in developed nations. The initial goal of the Microsoft program, working with many industry partners, would be to add another billion PC users by 2015, Mr. Ayala said,” Lohr reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The poor always get crapped on. Microsoft continues its quest to keep the world mired in the Dark Ages of Personal Computing for as long as possible. While the misguided ignoramuses of the world will probably fall all over themselves heaping praise upon dealer Gates, the fact is what he’s really saying is, “The first one’s free, kid.”
“One Laptop Per Child” really blew it when they failed to accept Steve Jobs’ generous offer of Mac OS X for no cost, but at least they were smart enough to steer clear of Windows.
Related articles:
‘One Laptop Per Child’ project announces 4 million pre-orders – August 01, 2006
Apple’s Jobs offered Mac OS X free to $100 laptop developers, declined because it’s not open source – November 14, 2005
It amazes me how Microsoft not only makes bloated and buggy software but also chooses the worst possible names, sometimes meaning exactly the oposite:
Windows Longhorn – a long wait indeed. So long that it changed names.
Windows Vista- “Hasta la vista baby” that is what the CPU cicles will say
Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool – Advantage for whom? Not for the customer for sure.
And now “Microsoft Unlimited Potential” for the most limited version of Windows yet. What remains is just the potential for Viruses and spyware.
I hope Brazil will not fall for the trick.
“Cause that’s what kids need, laptops.”
Hopefully, the cases are edible.
The Microsoft Unlimited Potential & Pervasive Education Technology, also known as the MUPPET campaign.
As Bill says, It’s not easy having so much green.
So, does MS expect that these low-end $100 computers will run Vista?
Can you take antibiotics for what they are ‘giving’ away?
I needed them the last time I paid only three bucks for a Microsoft Orfice
@Gandalf
Spot on! Were it not an OS but a physical commodity like wheat, videos or jeans, someone somewhere would be screaming about a large player ‘dumping’ to their respective government and then on to the European Commission, WTO or other organisation. I bet that since this is linked this to an “act of charity” there will be no complaints. The ultimate beneficiaries are of course not in any position to say anything since overall, to the best of their young innocent minds, they’re getting a computer and it’s the best thing to happen for a while.
On a different point, just what is the royalty MS make on each copy of their OS and bloatware?
“computers that would typically be sold”
Meaning they will require electricity which is scarce or non-existent in many poor countries.
So, they end up as toxic landfill or sold on the black market.
Idiots.
oh my
now that’s what I call ‘puppy love’…
@ Nosquirt –
The laptops are powered by a hand-crank which is said to give an hour or so of power before it needs to be recranked. They do not require access to an electrical grid.
The reason they turned down OS X (and will turn down Windows) is that they required open-source operating system and apps on the laptop so it could be easily adapted for use in local countries.
There’s a lot of info about this project on the web. Just google “Nicholas Negroponte” or “One Laptop Per Child”
To MikeK:
I wasn’t referring to the OLPC.
FTA above:
“Under the program, Microsoft would make its discounted software available for installation on computers that would typically be sold to national, state or local governments, which would then distribute the PCs to individuals.”
Also, I read that a foot pedal was also being considered for the OLPC.
P.S. And I have read their wiki.
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Home
I thought Kermit dropped the “Microsoft chairman” title in favor of “Sith Lord.”
Microsoft™ Memo
From: Bill Gates
To: All the World’s Starving (except in the United States)
Re: Your Passion, Our Commitment
My fellow starving sub-Saharans and war-torn refugees there and everywhere else, don’t despair. Soon you’ll know how to run Office.
Bill Gates
Meanwhile, MS has sold 244 legitimate copies of Vista in China so far. There are several thousand Chinese people using Vista. Pirated copies sell for a buck each on the streets.
Advertising money well spent?
http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/the_biggest_windows_vista_ad.php
Microshaft should be paying these people to use their software.
Such garbage!
Then you get the “unlimited potential” for viurs/spyware infiltrations on your computer. YAAAAAAY!! Then you have to pay for your anti-virus/firewall software (if you are smart, windows firewall sux). YAAAAAAY!!
Wow – such a deal. Only $3. Wait a second. From whence hath the ‘3’ come? Are these the M$ version of the “Holy Hand-Grenade of Antioch?”
But I wonder: With an 80%+ profit margin on Windows and Office, why can’t they just give it away for free? (If you don’t believe that figure, just check out their financials — it’s how they’ve been able to sell Xboxes at a loss since their inception – nearing $6 billion total loss for M$’s H&E division and still counting!)
The $3 bundle includes XP instead of Vista. At least these users will not have to deal with Vista. And this may be the only way to get XP instead of Vista with a new PC.
This is about like the tactics of the big tobacco companies going into third world countries and giving free cigarettes to little kids. Such humanitarians.
What a great way for the poor masses to make money. Consider: They get a $3. copy of MS Windows and Office, and then sell it to us for $153. We get a great deal, and they get a great profit. Doesn’t anyone else see this happening?
MW Consider