Windows XP Starter Edition--an inexpensive version of Microsoft's flagship operating system that does not contain as many features as the standard version--will begin shipping on PCs in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in October, said Maggie Wilderotter, senior vice president for the worldwide public sector at Microsoft.

The Redmond, Wash.-based software vendor is also working out the details of getting a starter version of Windows XP into two other countries, Wilderotter said. She declined to identify the countries but in a previous interview discussed Microsoft's initiatives in Brazil and Russia as well as in Jordan, which in five years has seen its information technology industry expand from $20 million to $400 million in annual revenue.

Ou seja, não se trata necessariamente de ajudar "países pobres". Brazil e Rússia, particularmente, são países pobres reis da pirataria e apaixonados por Linux. Ponto!
Quer ajudar país pobre começa pela África ... Dá um tempo!

The Starter Edition of Windows XP is tailored to each country and differs in a number of ways from the standard product. Microsoft has, for instance, loaded screen savers that reflect local landscapes, flags and traditional designs in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. It also comes with a helper CD called MySupport. Users can only run three programs on the operating system at once, however. In addition, home networking has been deleted.

Que bonitinho! 3 programas simultaneamente? Diz aí: trava?
Screen-saver com o Cristo Redentor? Quem pediu? Quanto vale? Quanto custa?