Microsoft denies dual-boot Linux/Windows XO laptops are on its agenda

It looks like the head of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Chief Nicholas Negroponte is not only alienating Intel, but Microsoft, too.

A day after published reports quoting Negroponte as saying OLPC XO laptops would dual boot Linux and Windows, Microsoft is denying that the company is pursuing such a plan. According to a statement from a Microsoft spokesman:

"While we have investigated the possibility in the past, Microsoft is not developing dual-boot Windows XP support for One Laptop Per Child's XO laptop. As we announced in December, Microsoft plans to publish formal design guidelines early this year that will assist flash-based device manufacturers in designing machines that enable a high-quality Windows experience. Our current goal remains to provide a high-quality Windows experience on the XO device.

"In addition, there will be limited field trials in January 2008 of Windows XP for One Laptop per Child's XO laptop. Microsoft recommends contacting the company directly for any further updates."

This wasn't the first time that Negroponte took it upon himself to preannounce Microsoft's OLPC plans. Late last year, following statements by Negroponte regarding Microsoft and its OLPC strategy, Microsoft officials issued a statement to counteract Negroponte's "rhetoric" about Microsoft' OLPC status and plans.

Intel recently withdrew its financial and technological backing from the OLPC initiative, allegedly because of pressure by the OLPC on the company to drop its own Classmate PC systems, which, like OLPC's XO, are targeted at children in emerging nations.

While Negroponte's goals are admirable, his tactics increasingly seem to be at risk of getting in the way of their realization.