Microsoft will develop Windows for ARM architecture

The head of the OLPC (One Laptop per Child) project, Nicholas Negroponte, is expecting Microsoft to develop Windows version for ARM-based architecture in next 18 months. The first version XO of the OLPC educational laptop, was built with x86-based AMD chipset. OLPC is now switching over from x-86 architecture in order to build more power-efficient next generation low-price laptops.

ARM-based architecture, having established its dominance in mobile-phone chipsets, is making way into the next generation netbooks. Currently, Windows Mobile is the lone Windows version that runs on ARM architecture. Nicholas announced that next version of XO would be based on ARM architecture, and the first XO 2.0 will be out in 12-18 month’s time. He said he was confident that Microsoft will develop Windows version on ARM by that time.

The existing dual-boot XO laptop gives user options of using either Linux-based or Windows XP operating system. Negroponte in his email mentioned that OLPC has to decide its funding model out of 3 options, including single sponsor approach, consortium approach and ‘Give One, Get One’ approach, which is extensively availed by the people in developed countries, where they keep one for themselves and lend one to a child.

He declared that more details about XO laptops will be released in next 3 weeks.

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