We have taken every possibility into account
by schwim on Jun.24, 2009, under Software
Sugarlabs, a fork of the huge failure that was the OLPC released an OS intended for USB installation so every aging and decrepit computer can have the ability to run an operating system and educational software.
It seems that Sugarlabs brought along some of the huge resources of FAIL at OLPC. It’s the only way I can explain how they missed the most obvious fact of obsolete hardware; If a decrepit computer even has a USB port, chances are huge that it’s bios is not going to allow you to boot from it.
At least they forked the development. You know how I love that.
June 24th, 2009 on 3:47 pm
Well you’re right. Since USB didn’t hit the streets until the late 90’s and BIOS boot from USB is fairly recent we CAN probably contain our excitement about this, Maybe they’ll make a floppy available to kick-start the boot.
But when those guys talk about aging machines they’re not talking about the 486 I took out of service a few months ago or even, I expect, PII’s.
I’ll avoid getting into the OLPC project itself or Sugarlabs. That could get ugly.
June 24th, 2009 on 4:50 pm
Maybe, when they use the word “decrepit”, they mean “sluggish, but still completely serviceable”.
I love the OLPC project. They serve the purpose of showing the whole world how a bureaucratic enterprise can first water down, then completely obliterate what started out as a fantastic and completely feasible idea.