Submitted by “Xandros is based, like Ubuntu, on Debian GNU/Linux, the ultimate community distribution of Linux, but lives by a very different ethos. Xandros has moved at its own pace, offering solutions from desktop to server, with the objective of ‘selling Linux into a Windows world’. The latest release of the Xandros Linux desktop edition was in June 2006, which is several lifetimes in the history of Linux. Is this the end of the line for the Xandros desktop?” Hey, we even have a Xandros database category. Darn, we’re awesome.
I recall the days when Xandros was seen as one of the better desktops.
As a matter of perception, they DID have one one the popular Desktop Linux versions with v1.1 and v2.0. Many were startled by the capabilities of the and flexibility of Xandros.
One of the best features was the Xandros File Manager (XFM). It was one of the best File Managers back in the day (2004-2005).
Probably the worst aspect of Xandros was the poor updates to products available in their repositories. For non-computer users who used Xandros, it turned into, ‘computer Hell,’ for them. Many actually switched to Lidows/Linspire out of total frustration.
It’s unfortunate to see that the Xandros Desktop is a such stagnating distro.
However, I do wish them well.
Xandros were simply hopeless and didn’t understand what they were getting into. They didn’t commit to improving the open source software they were using and I’m afraid you’re going to get nowhere with a proprietary file manager that you’ve hacked up behind closed doors.
The Asus deal should have been a real shot in the arm for them but it became obvious very quickly that they had no plan and no clue how tim improve that platform and carry it forward. It’s likely to be quickly replaced by Meego or other platforms.
Too much leeching, not enough contribution and not enough work, basically.
Xandros?
I wouldn’t even waste my time, there was nothing there in the OS that sought to impress me compared to Ubuntu or Debian.
I’m not sure what Xandros does anymore, (looked at website)
Not much happening there that isn’t happening elsewhere in the Open Source world.
Xandros and its ilk were little more than just a ‘skin’ around Linux, which wasn’t bad in concept, but as soon as you wanted to do something the developers hadn’t thought you might want to do, then you were back to dealing with Linux. Granted, this isn’t as big of a problem now than it was 5-6 years ago, so I dunno if an updated version would really catch on, now that we have more ‘newbie friendly’ distros like Ubuntu, and all the progress Linux has made over the years to be more user friendly.
I guess the strong point for Xandros was the easy transition from windows. They used drive letters and had a very good integration of CrossOffice.
Why this does not work today:
– Both OS X and Ubuntu (and Win 7) proved that users understand that switching away from windows means change, they just want something easy to use not a 1:1 copy. They are willing to adapt to new environments as long as you provide an intuitive and easy to use interface. We are not talking any more about users who just remember the name and positions of buttons and menu items.
– CrossOffice will never be good enough. For so many years wine tried to build a copy of windows api and there are always some details that make it hard to support all programs (even for MS between different versions of Windows).
Visualization might be an answer but why switch from windows if you still need to pay for the license. And have a speed penalty. Most linux programs run natively on windows.
There are users who want to switch to linux for stability, modularity… and still run windows programs from time to time, but this are technical users who CAN and DO use Ubuntu or other distros. Average Joe does not care so much about stability and modularity (and Win 7 is stable enough now).
And run the tools he knows because OpenOffice does not provide perfect compatibility with MS Office and Adobe suite is hard to replace both because of functionality, compatibility with printing shops and complicated user interface.
I know the last is Adobe’s problem but it is very difficult to create such complex tools that have an easy to use interface, but I guess the answer here is the same like for the OS UI: don’t copy create something specific for average user.
I went a little outside the main subject so I’ll stop here.
Why pay for something if you can get something else better and for free?
I’d heard of Xandros before I bought my eeePC and figured it must be ok.
Three days later I scrubbed it.
Then I installed Arch.