Xandros and Lindows Linux

[Zepper]

. If you have been wanting to try Linux but the price and/or perceived complexity of a good commercial version was keeping you from it, then now might be the time for you to reconsider. Lindows and Xandros are among the easiest Linux distributions to install (far from the usual Debian indifference to newbies) and now the prices are within the reach of many more potential users.

Xandros and Lindows are Debian based versions of Linux.

. Xandros is the first product from a company that includes many of the team that created Corel Linux. They bought the Corel Linux code base from Corel and hammered on it for a year or so to make Xandros. Up to now, only the Deluxe edition was available for $100., but they recently released a Standard Edition* and are selling it for $40. +s/h. See the reviews on Distrowatch and ExtremeTech. For more reviews, google on: "xandros review" .
. *The Standard Edition does not include the ability to resize NTFS partitions and the Windows compatibility software from Codeweavers.

. Lindows has been around for awhile and it is now up to v.3.0. Lindows has also gotten some good reviews on ExtremeTech (click on the link above) and elsewhere - google on "lindows review" .
It has also only been available in the full "Membership" version which was selling for $100., but now they have also come out with a Basic edition for a more reasonable $50. (dowload version) or $60. for a boxed version. This is the same version that is installed OEM by several system integrators around the country and it has some limitations relative to the "full" . The Lindows site will point these out.
.-->> Be aware that the download version is only for those with high speed internet connections as Lindows is one or two full CDs worth of data.

Take a look!
.bh.

 

[sirjay]

hrmm did I miss the deal?

 

[magnux]

This whole "buying" Linux approach leaves a poor taste in my mouth. Rather defeats some of the point. *shrug*

 

[TheOmegaCode]

Originally posted by: magnux
This whole "buying" Linux approach leaves a poor taste in my mouth. Rather defeats some of the point. *shrug*

Companies do need financial support. However, I much prefer downloading the OS for free, and if I like it giving 'em some money and getting a t-shirt or poster in return

 

[cmetz]

Red Hat - http://www.redhat.com
Mandrake - http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/

Both are 100% free to download ISOs. Burn, and enjoy.

Not to dissuade folks from the other distributions, but look: if you're trying to convince someone to give it a try and you're trying to overcome some skepticism, IMO you're going to be more successful if the amount of money they have to shell out for the experiment is a few cents in CDs as opposed to $40-$50 for a pay distribution. Yes, the pay distributions might be easier, but that's one more reason that folks can come up with not to even try. Especially folks like us in this forum who are cheap!

 

[Zepper]

There are all types of people in the world. There are tech geeks like most of us here. And there are others who just want stuff that installs easily and works right-away so they can get on with whatever it is they want to do with their confusers. And perhaps be able to talk with someone who is actually being paid to help him with problems he may have, instead of depending on the good will of strangers on the web. Those are some reasons why someone might want to pay for Linux.
I am a Mensan with over 20 years of tech-level experience with PCs and software, and even I have had problems installing and using some commercial and downloaded versions of Linux at times. IMO, these two have smoothed Linux out for newbies better than any others so far.
. Granted, this isn't a HOT deal, but the "deal" is that you can get all the Linux functionality and ease-of-use of the $100. versions for a better price. Unless one spends a lot of time surfing the Linux distro sites or has signed up for their newsletters, one may never hear of these versions.
. Maybe some few who browse the Hot Deals section will find the info useful. The rest of you have already made up your minds and can just slide on by...
.bh.

 

[Scyber]

If you just want to "try" linux, download yourself a copy of Knoppix. It runs completely from CD so you don't have to alter your windows box at all to run it.

 

[huesmann]

I thought you weren't allowed to charge for Linux, and could only charge for "tech support?"

 

[LordThing]

Don't forget, there is a Free version of a really nice desktop Linux called Lycoris. The full supported version is only 29.95.

Hit them up. Very nice distro.

 

[drof]

I'd have the second the vote for Knoppix. it works great, debian based and detected all my hardware. there's 2GB of software compressed onto that 700mb CD, office productivity software (Open office), network diagnostic tools, gimp etc.
It's a great way to try out linux without an install. to install you'll need 2.2GB of space.

 

[danzig]

Lycoris is cool . Very XPish

 

[GreenGhost]

I tried one of the first releases of Lycoris. Very nice, no problems at all. Good option if you need Linux for a desktop, or you are just curious about it. It detected all hardware correctly and everything worked fine. No such luck with W 2000 Pro on the same hardware.

 

[Hi8]

Third Vote for Knoppix. It even detected SCSI hardware. Was able to boot from 2940UW scsi CDROM. Works great.

 

[DurocShark]

I agree with Zepper. While not a mensen, I'm no newbie to Linux either, yet still occasionally stumble on installs. Xandros made it much easier (walk-away install).

 

[GermyBoy]

KNOPPIX is good if you don't even WANT to install. It runs completely off the CD.

 

[ingenue007]

Whoo Hoo Knoppix is cool. It detected all my hardware except my highpoint RAID which was expected. BTW, is there a way to save word files from open office onto a HD (I have one HD that is not on RAID). Thanks.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: GreenGhost
I tried one of the first releases of Lycoris. Very nice, no problems at all. Good option if you need Linux for a desktop, or you are just curious about it. It detected all hardware correctly and everything worked fine. No such luck with W 2000 Pro on the same hardware.

I tried mandrake and hated it. It was fugly, but the main problem is it wouldnt work with half of my hardware, including my vortex 2 card. Plus the network was sketchy. sometimes the cards would activate, sometimes they wouldnt.

 

[Kirsten]

I'm going to try linux for the first time since I just built a new machine and I want to try it out on my old machine. So which distro is the most friendly for a former Windows person?

Lindows,
Lycoris
Xandros

Thanks...

 

[pspada]

Um, if you want to try a new OS, and you'd prefer linux over one of the BSDs - then try a real Linux, not some Windows-like piece of crap. IMNSHO you'd be much better off, and you might learn something useful. Feel free to PM with any questions or problems you might have, I'd be glad to help you out.

 

[aperry]

For those who are just curious about Linux, and want a simple, non-intrusive way to check it out, you can try Knoppix. You download the ISO image from their site, burn it to a CD, then boot off that CD, and you are up and running. I believe they also have it set up so you can save configurational stuff to a floppy.

Click here for more details.

 

[Wolverine27]

Thanks for the info Zepper. Knoppix sound very kewl also.

 

[Kirsten]

I just downloaded and installed Xandros. All I can say is you Linux people must like very slooooooo operating systems. Clicking on the XFM file mangager took 3 or 4 seconds whereas my WinXP installation on the same puter is instantaneous. Maybe I''m doing something wrong but everything I did took at least 5 times longer than my XP system...

That's my experience anyway...

Kirsten

 

[pspada]

Originally posted by: Kirsten
I just downloaded and installed Xandros. All I can say is you Linux people must like very slooooooo operating systems. Clicking on the XFM file mangager took 3 or 4 seconds whereas my WinXP installation on the same puter is instantaneous. Maybe I''m doing something wrong but everything I did took at least 5 times longer than my XP system...

That's my experience anyway...

Kirsten

Try Red Hat or some other real Linux if you want real performance.

 

[slycat]

nope i won't pay for linux
yes its slow, even if u pay for it.

 

[Johnbear007]

Originally posted by: pspada

Originally posted by: Kirsten
I just downloaded and installed Xandros. All I can say is you Linux people must like very slooooooo operating systems. Clicking on the XFM file mangager took 3 or 4 seconds whereas my WinXP installation on the same puter is instantaneous. Maybe I''m doing something wrong but everything I did took at least 5 times longer than my XP system...

That's my experience anyway...

Kirsten

wahts the point of linux anyway? its not user friendly enough for most people.

If your into all sorts of features that almost no one needs or understands how to use, then use linux.

Linux is not ready for mainstream, its not polished, its not user friendly, etc. when it is, maybe people will use it.

Until then, the rest of those who want to spend the time to learn it can go on feeling l337
Try Red Hat or some other real Linux if you want real performance.