Xandros Launched and Newsforge Review

[Counterspy]

http://linuxtoday.com/

 

Xandros Desktop Is Launched

Oct 22, 2002, 14 :30 UTC (42 Talkback) (6479 reads)

 

In weak economic times costly software and hardware upgrades can directly impact a corporation's bottom line. Xandros today announced the availability of the premiere version of Xandros Desktop--the industry's first true alternative to Windows--which can potentially save corporations millions of dollars as well as lengthen the lifecycle of their current computers.

 

This innovative new operating system offers all the benefits of Windows--including ease-of-use and full compatibility with the most popular Microsoft applications--without the expensive and frequent hardware and software upgrades, system crashes and susceptibility to viruses for which Windows other operating systems havehas become known. Xandros Desktop also features CodeWeavers' ground breaking CrossOver technology, which allows users to run both Windows and Linux applications simultaneously without the need for the Windows operating system.

 

In 2001, Xandros acquired the Corel Linux Business Division's award-winning software development team with the objective of developing Xandros Desktop. This new operating system is a fraction of the size of Windows; extremely lean requirements provide Xandros Desktop users with dramatically better stability and reduced operating costs. This feature alone stands to prolong the life of an average computer from under 24 months to more than six years, and offers corporations millions of dollars in potential savings on expensive hardware upgrades.

 

According to a recent report by the Gartner Group, Microsoft's new licensing program will cost an average-sized company with 500 to 2,500 desktop computers an additional $900,000 to $1.6 million dollars respectively in software costs alone. In contrast, Xandros Desktop is significantly less costly: It is conservatively priced at $99 per user, with corporate and OEM discounts available.

 

"The Xandros Desktop will change the way people think about desktop computing on a global basis," said Frederick Berenstein, Co-Chairman of Xandros. "We are proud to bring to market a complete solution that will allow businesses, governments, and schools all over the world access to affordable computers and software."

 

Additional benefits of Xandros Desktop include:

 

Compatibility: Xandros Desktop offers seamless interoperability with existing Windows, Unix, and Linux network environments, allowing for easy commercial deployment. Xandros' powerful new file manager allows file sharing between local Linux and Windows computers, networked Windows clients, and a wide range of peripherals.

 

Ease of Use: Xandros Desktop installs in just five mouse clicks and offers dual boot functionality with Windows. Users already familiar with Windows applications have virtually nothing new to learn; Xandros applications look, feel and operate much like Windows.

 

Better Security: Based on Linux, Xandros Desktop provides better security than Windows because its fundamentally superior code structure makes it less susceptible to viruses. In addition, the open source nature of the code allows for constant testing and improvement by an international team of elite programmers.

 

Network Updates: Xandros Networks provides users with system upgrades, security patches as well as new applications, games and utilities.

 

While Linux-based operating systems have long been the standard for servers and large scale applications, desktop Linux-based operating systems have been difficult to install, cumbersome to use and incompatible with Windows--until now. Startling research by the Gartner Group predicts Linux desktop operating systems will grow from five percent of worldwide PC users to about 30% over the next four years, due in part to innovative solutions such as Xandros Desktop.

 

http://www.newsforge.com

 

Xandros Linux: "It just works," even with Windows stuff

Tuesday October 22, 2002 - [ 08:01 AM GMT ] Print this Article

Topic - GNU/Linux

 

- by Tina Gasperson -

The "premier release" of Xandros, formerly known as Corel Linux, is being released today at the Xandros.com Web site. Individual users can pick up a copy for $99, and corporate/enterprise users will see a discount price for multiple licenses. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Xandros to play around with. This distribution is Linux through and through, but it could just be the Linux that will truly snag a market that is looking to escape from the confines of Windows.

 

Xandros came in a real box, with a real 220-pages long user guide, and a single installation CD. As Roblimo would say, I popped the CD into the beverage tray. The first thing that came up was the Xandros Installation Wizard. "The wizard will help you to install Xandros Desktop."

 

Next was the license agreement. It was one of those (quickly-becoming typical) EULAS that mention the GPL stuff and then the proprietary stuff. Interesting about this license: There was no license to read BEFORE I opened the box, no shrink wrap or seal on the package, and yet the final paragraph of the EULA states that if I don't agree with the license and haven't broken the seal on the software I can return it for a refund. Oops! Too late. Of course, this is a review copy -- perhaps yours will be shrink-wrapped with a copy of the agreement on the outside.

 

The next screen presented a choice between an express install and a custom install. I chose the custom just to see what I could fiddle with. This brought up a screen that lists all software available, with check marks next to the defaults. These include Crossover Office and Plugin, plus all the usual included-with-your-distro software, including OpenOffice, games, Palm utilities, editors, and Adobe Acrobat reader. I simply left the defaults in place.

 

Next I could choose whether to use the free space, take over the disk, resize a Windows partition (including NTFS and FAT 32), or "manage disks and partitions," something Xandros recommended for experts only. I ultimately told it to take over the disk, but peeked into the expert mode and found a disk druid like utility that would allow me to resize current partitions, delete them, reassign them, and choose to either format them or leave them as is.

 

Next I was asked to choose the root password, or administrator account, as Xandros calls it. There are also options to "enforce strong passwords" and "make user home folders private," all things that should make most security-conscious Linux people happy.

 

Then, just as in most Linux graphical installs, I was given the option of creating user accounts. Xandros recommends creating at least one user account. Even without strong passwords enforced, it still required a six-character password for a user account.

 

Next was the installation summary, and because I had opted to "take over disk," Xandros gave me a blinking red warning that all my data would be destroyed. I noticed that Xandros thought I had no network interfaces, though my PCMCIA NIC was firmly in place and plugged into my network. I clicked on "Finish," and Xandros went to work installing the files needed.

 

After 16 minutes, Xandros said it was done and I restarted the computer. While it is booting up, the messages look just like the Lindows start up messages, an eery reminder of the history between Xandros and Lindows and Crossover, a current partner with Xandros.

 

Then came the login screen. I typed my name and password, and the KDE desktop, with a Xandros logo substituted, booted. The desktop is familiar graphical Linux stuff. A "First Run Wizard" greeted me and led me through most all the options you'd normally fiddle with when installing Linux, such as setting which hand I would use the mouse with, setting the time and time zone, and setting up a network connection. Now, my network card was recognized, and connecting was ever so simple. I just accepted all the defaults and was online in about two seconds.

 

Then I could set up my printers, tell the desktop which Operating System to simulate: UNIX, Windows, Apple MacOS, or KDE (which isn't an operating system, but it was an option nonetheless).

 

UNIX looked just like a standard KDE desktop to me; Windows didn't look much different; Apple MacOS was cool. I flipped it back to the default for the purposes of this review, but would probably go with the Apple look if I decide to keep running this distribution.

 

Conspicuously and happily missing was the X configuration stuff, which is almost always a pain in the rear, especially on laptops. Xandros just detected the hardware and employed what it considered to be the best settings. Works for me.

 

Next was the registration screen. You'll have a choice to register online or skip it. That was it for the "First Run Wizard."

 

One really, really interesting feature of Xandros is the ability to switch users mid-stream, or to have two users logged on to the same computer simultaneously, simply by selecting "Switch User" from the launch menu.

 

This option can be set so that you have to re-enter your password when switching back to your desktop, or you can leave it so that no password is necessary. For family groups using the same computer, this will be a very convenient option for a quick email check -- no need to log out, just switch users.

 

And being that Xandros is based on Debian, you're still able to run apt-get from the console to pull down any applications you want or need.

 

Of course, with Crossover Office and CrossOver Plugin installed by default, you'll also be able to install your Windows programs. Let me tell you: Internet Explorer 5.5 runs beautifully in Xandros. I've used Crossover to install Explorer on Mandrake and SuSE, with only partial success. But everything about Explorer is right this time: the fonts, the javascript, the layouts, the speed -- everything.

 

In fact, everything that Crossover has said is solid in its products is also solid in Xandros. You won't have any problems installing MS Office, or Quicken or Lotus, or any of the myriad plugins Crossover normally supports.

 

Having said that, you need to know that Crossover is not supporting the version that comes with Xandros. For support, you'll have to pay extra. The nice thing is, you probably won't need any support. "It just works," is what Xandros CEO Michael Begos told me. Now that I've had the chance to install Xandros and run it, I have to agree.

 

Xandros is touting the control center, which looks just like the control center in Windows, including the display setting options, and the fact that users can access Windows files and share printers with Windows on a network.

 

The menus are grouped logically; there's a "Launch" button where the "start" button usually is in Windows; the default taskbar icons are helpful: switch user, volume, the typical Windows-like connected computers icon for when you're online, the Mozilla browser, logout and lock screen buttons, the file manager, and mail. Everything that is installed works.

 

The only problem for Windows users I would foresee is the lack of a major graphics manipulation application like The Gimp. They're probably not going to know how to get a copy of that and install it; and CrossOver Office doesn't support any graphics apps like that yet.

 

Xandros seems to be what Lindows could have been if it had stayed true to its Linux roots, both product-wise and philosophically. I like Xandros; I like the ease of use combined with common-sense security options and configurability; I like that it reaches out to Windows users without alienating the Linux community; it may just end up becoming the main distribution in my house.

 

End of Review

 

Counterspy

[DragonMage]

If it doesn't cost 99 dollars to buy, I would've recommend it to people. Because of that, I always recommend mandrake to new linux users.

 

Is there a cheaper version or GPL version of Xandros that you can download somewhere? The screenshots and impressions looks cool for a desktop linux (instead of all in one distro like mandrake).

[ral]

I am not to keen on Xandros and Lindows type distributions. Distribtuions which are geared to allow you to keep your MS applications on Linux. See, its a lot cheaper to buy WinXP Home than it is to buy MSOffice XP with Word, Excel and Powerpoint. I am not saying that costs is the only consideration in migrating to Linux. Stability and security are Linux's other strong points.

 

Now it someone got OpenOffice.org and put serious money behind it to create a commerical version, now that would be worth $99. Mandrake Office anybody?

[DragonMage]

Now it someone got OpenOffice.org and put serious money behind it to create a commerical version, now that would be worth $99. Mandrake Office anybody?

 

Someone already has, it's called Sun Microsystems.. You know.. the guys that puts out StarOffice 6.0? :)

 

Incidentally, I tried StarOffice 6.0 linux version (got a friend who works at sun). With exception of some fonts, adabas, and a better spellchecker system, it is basically the same as OpenOffice. I didn't even bother installing it when I upgraded my computer to 9.0

[ral]

Actually I was eagerly awaiting StarOffice 6, but was dissapointed by comments about it upon release.

 

It looks like all they did was take StarOffice 5.2, and update it with all the imporvements made by OO.o

[thayne]

Doesn't look like they are planning on making it freely available:

 

Source Code

Much of the software that comprises Xandros Desktop is Free or Open Source software. Many of the licenses that govern the redistribution this software require Xandros to make the source code for these components available to anyone who receives a copy of the product. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the source code for the Free and Open Source software components in Xandros Desktop, contact: feedback@xandros.com.

[Counterspy]

Many of the licenses that govern the redistribution this software require Xandros to make the source code for these components available to anyone who receives a copy of the product.

 

This makes it sound like you don't get the full source code but only the GPL material they have used.

 

Counterspy

[Glitz]

Now it someone got OpenOffice.org and put serious money behind it to create a commerical version, now that would be worth $99. Mandrake Office anybody?

 

Can you say StarOffice?

 

Glitz.

[ral]

I don't think SunMicro really put any muscle behind StarOffice. They just relied on the work of OpenOffice.org.

[Glitz]

Actually I was eagerly awaiting StarOffice 6, but was dissapointed by comments about it upon release.

 

It looks like all they did was take StarOffice 5.2, and update it with all the imporvements made by OO.o

 

You're right on that point. Except for the breaking up of the office suit into individual components and the move to XML as the native file format, it is identical to 5.2 (right down to some of the 5.2 bugs). I probably wouldn't have bought it if I'd have known that.

 

Both versions are now giving me trouble with my thesis. I have a total of 384MB or ram and now my 150 page document causes the system to run out of memory and crash under windows. I can still (just) manage to load the document under linux but the print quality is so poor that it will not be accepted by the university (using Laserjet III).

 

I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it.

 

Glitz.

[DragonMage]

150 page document?! Sheesh.... what did you type in there? Isn't it easier to break up that document into smaller ones? And what's wrong with Laserjet III? I know its maximum resolution is 300x300 dpi but it seems to be good enough for most people, especially compared to inkjets.

[Guest frew]

Well, I like and dislike some of the things about Xandros. Ease of use is good but it sounds like it isn't as cusomizable (tool aren't as cabable that is), so that isn't cool. And I really don't care for a version specifically for switching from windows as I don't even dual (duel) boot. But the thing that does interest me is the fact that it is based on debian. I always thought it would be nice to have a more user-friendly debian. But alas, it has proprietary software (note: not graphics) in it, so I shan't even try it out.

[johnnyv]

I am very happy with mandrake so i won't be moving to something thats less configurable.

also the mandrake tools being gpl are a good thing, if i use other distro's it will be (broken record) gentoo or debian probably not debian though cause it's just not bleeding edge enough.

[Glitz]

150 page document?! Sheesh.... what did you type in there? Isn't it easier to break up that document into smaller ones? And what's wrong with Laserjet III? I know its maximum resolution is 300x300 dpi but it seems to be good enough for most people, especially compared to inkjets.

 

It's an engineering thesis so there are lots of graphs and diagrams. I am using the master document feature so each chapter is in its own file but it all has to be loaded to generate the table of contents, list of tables, list of figures, references, and references from one chapter in another. Chapter 7 is really giving me trouble. It's over 1MB in size.

 

The Laserjet III prints out fine in windows because the windows driver uses the resolution enhancement technology (effectively up to 600x600dpi resolution for text) but the linux drivers don't seem to support this. The output looks more like a superhigh resolution dot matrix printer than a laserprinter output.

 

I'm currently looking for a postscript plus cartridge that I can buy. Maybe if I bypass the ghostview PS interpreter the enhanced resolution stuff will work. I could also use more memory (it only has 1MB).

 

I know that windows is set to download TTfonts to the printer itself.

 

Glitz.