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The problem isn't that the project lost sight of its original goals. It sounds more like the goal of this project wasn't clear between groups. Stallman stated

The problem isn't that the project lost sight of its original goals. It sounds more like the goal of this project wasn't clear between groups. Stallman stated that "the plans aimed for low cost, enabling many children to use the machines, and free software, so they would have freedom while using them." From what I understood, the goal of the project was to get computers into the hands of children in third-world countries, so they could simply get experience with computers -- period. It was my belief that the fact that free software was used was simply out of convenience; since free software was also free (as in beer), it was another step in cutting the costs of the laptop. When Microsoft stepped in and "offered up" its OS at the extremely cut costs, Negroponte decided that would be a more useful option; I don't think his intention is to force-feed proprietary software to children. Either he believes Windows is a better option, or he is an economically self-serving individual. Regardless, I sense that the ultimate purpose of this project was unclear to certain people. On a less direct note, I can't stand Stallman's zealotry. It's great that he is able to stand so firm on one particular point, but it is also a terrible trait, considering that he isn't willing to even give a moments consideration to alternative options on a scope/level _outside_ his "cause."

arebop 18y ago
It obviously is true that there is confusion about the project's goals, but the confusion is not a simple matter of Stallman's passion coloring his perception. Even today, vestiges of an ambition and commitment far beyond delivering machines to children remain on the OLPC site. "XO embodies the theories of constructionism first developed by MIT Media Lab Professor Seymour Papert in the 1960s, and later elaborated upon by Alan Kay, complemented by the principles articulated by Nicholas Negroponte in his book, Being Digital." --- http://laptop.org/vision/mission/ http://laptop.org/vision/mission/ If you read more about constructionism at http://www.papert.org/articles/SituatingConstructionism.html http://www.papert.org/articles/SituatingConstructionism.html, you will see that it is consonant with the freedom "to improve the program" and all the rest of the Free Software freedoms. "Our commitment to software freedom gives children the opportunity to use their laptops on their own terms. [...] we do not want any ceiling imposed on those children who choose to modify their machines." --- http://www.laptop.org/en/laptop/software/ http://www.laptop.org/en/laptop/software/

arebop 18y ago

It obviously is true that there is confusion about the project's goals, but the confusion is not a simple matter of Stallman's passion coloring his perception. Even today, vestiges of an ambition and commitment far beyond delivering machines to children remain on the OLPC site. "XO embodies the theories of constructionism first developed by MIT Media Lab Professor Seymour Papert in the 1960s, and later elaborated upon by Alan Kay, complemented by the principles articulated by Nicholas Negroponte in his book, Being Digital." --- http://laptop.org/vision/mission/ http://laptop.org/vision/mission/ If you read more about constructionism at http://www.papert.org/articles/SituatingConstructionism.html http://www.papert.org/articles/SituatingConstructionism.html, you will see that it is consonant with the freedom "to improve the program" and all the rest of the Free Software freedoms. "Our commitment to software freedom gives children the opportunity to use their laptops on their own terms. [...] we do not want any ceiling imposed on those children who choose to modify their machines." --- http://www.laptop.org/en/laptop/software/ http://www.laptop.org/en/laptop/software/