Microsoft to trial XP on OLPC's $100 laptops

But dual-boot version will not involve Redmond

Microsoft will begin trials of its Windows XP operating system on the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) XO laptop this month.

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Microsoft is one of a number of companies involved in the OLPC project to develop a $100 laptop to allow children in developing countries to have access to computing.

But Microsoft has denied being involved in developing a dual-boot version - capable of running two operating systems - of the XO laptop using Windows XP.

A statement from Microsoft said: "Our current goal remains to provide a high-quality Windows experience on the XO device."

The news comes despite OLPC chairman, Nicholas Negroponte, saying OLPC was working with Microsoft to put both Windows and Linux onto the laptops.

Last week Intel pulled out of the $100 laptop project.

Negroponte hit out, saying the chipmaker had "contributed nothing" to OLPC.