OLPC to use ARM processors on the XO-2?

[Addis]

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The OLPC foundation has hinted that it might be dropping x86 processors in their next generation XO-2 laptops in favor of an ARM based solution. Apparently the move is aimed at improving battery life while cutting costs, using a system-on-chip design, but this could also come at the expense of losing compatibility with Microsoft Windows operating systems.

"The current XO-1 shows an average consumption of 5 Watts. Many people believe that it is incredibly low, but we believe it is our main problem, "said Ed McNierney, technical manager of the project, the magazine PC World.

All those ARM chip providers should announce their support of the OLPC XO-2 project and they could start right away showing whatever prototypes that they have ready running experimentally builds of different types of embedded Linux be it the upcoming Ubuntu for ARM, Angstrom Linux or even best running adapted Android Linux implementations.

Then current market leaders in the Netbook segment can one after the other announce that they too will be ready to be part of the ARM paradigm change. Whoever of an interchangeable mix among Asus, MSI, Acer, Gigabyte, Hasee, Quanta and the other giants need to come forward and confirm that yes, they do have working prototypes of the ARM laptops using some of the different available options and that they will be interested to use XO-2 technologies as soon as possible.


The current XO model already uses an average of only 5 watts but the company claims power draw is still their biggest problem. A typical ARM processor, on the other hand, uses significantly less than a watt. Microsoft has traditionally declined to make a full-blown Windows OS for ARM, but then again, as Nicholas Negroponte states, the XO-2 is still 18 months away from release and a lot can change in that time frame.

[vishodhan]

ARM does not manufacture or sell its processors. They are distributed in the form of license and it is the integrator of the manufacture. However, consumption is related to processor technology, but also how they are manufactured, not to mention the software side (these are RISC processors).
To give you an idea, know that many mobile phones (Apple, Nokia) are equipped.

[Dhyanesh]

They should rather learn by growing / raising / fish by themselves.Otherwise, this is a problem if the computers to 'emerging countries' running linux and not Windows? Is been a linux distribution would be more appropriate for this kind of processor, right?