Just to clarify, the XO has a hierarchical filesystem that you can access from the shell. The actual filesystem is JFFS (for Journaling Flash Filesystem) which allows you to turn off the laptop by holding the power button without losing information or waiting through an fsck.

XO activities store files in a keyed datastore hosted on the filesystem, so for the most part you are protected from the filesystem, but it is still there if you need it e.g. for development.

I think the big break through on the whole mirco vs. large payments will occur when the publishers stop looking to milk the consumers. $50/yr is way too much to pay for site content. Considering that a lot/most of these sites are reusing paper published works to begin with. It makes sense to me that a magazine subscription costs what it does, however, when the content is delivered electronically, the cost MUST go down. Now, throw in USEFUL services, etc etc, and the price is justified.

Perhaps the biggest roadblock to this whole scheme is that people have trouble with the idea of paying of virtually nothing... Eh, but then again, who ever said that the net HAD to be free??

Crazy topic... =))

--rpr