Xandros today announced the release of the Xandros Desktop Standard Edition 1.0. Unlike Xandros Desktop Deluxe ($99), Xandros Standard Edition cannot reallocate space from a Windows NTFS during the install, though it still can reallocate space from a FAT, VFAT, or FAT32 partition. By removing such Deluxe features such as CodeWeavers CrossOver Office and Plugin, the printed user guide, and the Technology Preview CD, Xandros Desktop can be made available at $40 USD. Desktop Standard provides one incident of e-mail installation support, as opposed to 30-day support with Desktop Deluxe.
Xandros Announces Release of Xandros Standard Edition for $40
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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I run Xandrox Deluxe Edition. Its a great distribution and has performed flawlessly for me. A “Lite” version is a great move on the part of Xandros and will help to increase their userbase with people who don’t need the extra stuff. Well worth the price. (even at $99)
Where i can buy (online), Xandros in Europe. Yes I don’t want pay the taxes. If anyone know….
From what I’ve seen it’s the best Linux Distro aimed at the desktop. A GUI frontend for apt-get and it’s decent file manager set it apart from others IMO. The only problem I have with it is the lack of Debian apps, some software is only available as RPM and in a lot of cases Debian packages are released months later. I know there are ways of installing RPMs on Debian based distributions, but from what I’ve seen it often doesn’t work properly.
Obviously there are plenty of other problems with Linux as a desktop OS that Xandros doesn’t do anything to solve. For example, I don’t see anything in Xandros to make it easier to add new hardware to the system. Recompiling the kernel when you upgrade a component isn’t acceptable in a desktop OS IMO. But it’s still an impressive distibution compared with most that are supposedly aimed at desktop ease of use.
I wonder about the intelligence of releasing a paid version that doesn’t really incorporate all the things that makes Xandros great.
I had suggested that they release a stripped version similar to this one, but for free. Maybe even make a time limited 30 day trial or something, I dunno. But let me try before I buy!
“The only problem I have with it is the lack of Debian apps”
There is no “lack of Debian” apps in Xandros, its based on Debian. You simply put the lines you need in your sources.list file and off you go.
“I know there are ways of installing RPMs on Debian based distributions, but from what I’ve seen it often doesn’t work properly.”
Alien works fine for converting RPM’s to Debs. I have had only a couple fail to convert and run in Xandros.
“For example, I don’t see anything in Xandros to make it easier to add new hardware to the system.”
Xandros has been the best distribution I have EVER used for detecting hardware…bar none.
“But it’s still an impressive distibution compared with most that are supposedly aimed at desktop ease of use.”
I have to totally agree with that and since you are so obviously uniformed based on your above statements, its even better than what you thought it was!
I agree….without the commercial stuff what really makes it special? How is it better than other distros?
Taking out the NTFS resizing was silly, as that is starting to be a major, major, important thing….
I like Lycoris’ strategy (not that I’m biased…haha) where you get a free download and then charge for add ons that aren’t needed for full basic funtionality. They don’t even have KDE3 installed and tweaked yet….
Good idea for them, but poor implementation IMNSHO.
I and a few others ragged on Xandros for offering only a $99 product when other Linux distributors offered “personal” versions for roughly $50 and “professional” versions for roughly $100, about the price what Xandros was offering. They now got around to doing what other Linux distributors are doing.
Now if they only had a live-eval CD a la SuSE . . .
this is great.
This particular configuration of fearures and price may not please everyone that wanted a lower priced Xandros,but but it shows they are listening and trying stuff.
$40 is in my estimation close to the sweet spot of between
30 -50. This will put a little pressure on Libranet who
are charging 59.00.
I notice however that unlike the full version they don’t say anything about free shipping. I guess I can’t blame them.
I swapped out my old cdrom for a dvd and Xandros picked it up right away. I swapped out my geforce2mx for a geforce4 ti and Xandros also picked that up without any problems. Finally, for good measure, I swapped out my old CRT for a brand spanking new samsung lcd. Not only did Xandros pick up the new hardware, it also automagically reconfigured X to the LCD’s native resolution.
I have *never* seen any other distro do such a fine job of configuring hardware. It’s that impressive.
I was so happy to see that the guys at Xandros decided to release a version without the Crossover Office. I don’t need it and I didn’t want to lay $99 down just to get the OS. I will be placing my order shortly…
THANKS XANDROS!!!
The only reason I was considering Xandros is because of the built-in NTFS resizing. So now Xandros will never have me as a customer becuase I cannot get their resizing utility with the $40 version, and I refuse to pay $99 for it and all the extra stuff I don’t need. They really need to make their product downloadable anyway.
It’s very probable that they had to license closed source software to resize NTFS partitions, and thats probably why it’s not in this version. Linux can only read NTFS, so it’s not based on that ability, and parted cant do it either. The only thing I know of that can do it is Partition Magic. Mandrake can only do FAT I believe, so if you buy it you’re getting unique functionality. If you want a free version, try actual debian. The debian desktop project is coming along, and it’s really never a bad idea to get close to you system anyway.
I also agree this is a good move, but I don’t think the NTFS resize absence is a problem. Look at what they took out and their goal is obvious. This is the cheaper copy for those who are NOT moving over from Windows and don’t need the extra stuff for making the move easier. As far as I can tell, thats about it. Deffinatly a good move though.
This is the distro for those moving from other non-Windows OSes.
I give them one year to burn all the LGP cash and file for…
Xandros interface is disastrous, and they have not really done anything to make a better, competitive and modern Linux ***DESKTOP***, just another server. They have failed to deliver because they are the only Linux company that had the cash to do so. Michael Bego is said to be a kind man, a man who loves and continuously repeats the expression “world-class”, and gives clever answers of this type:
“One clear common theme in feedback to the article is that a lot of people think the icons and some of the look is lacking. That is more than fair and we definitely want to improve the look and feel to make the desktop appearance as sexy as the underlying technology.
We have a world-class team at Xandros, but one that has to date been 95% focused on technology and engineering…”
( http://www.osnews.com/comment.php?news_id=1492&offset=30&rows=45 )
I say this with bitterness, I waited one whole year since Corel announced the deal, I remember too the Consulting Times interview with Xandros CEO, very very clever anwsers ( http://consultingtimes.com/articles/xandros/xandros.html ), and then this ( http://www.consultingtimes.com/articles/xandros/filemanager/xfm05lg… ).
They haven’t changed much what someone, referring to the beta (one month before release), fairly called “the ugliest massacre of the kde interface” ever seen (massacre here —> http://www.linuxorbit.com/graphics/features/xandros/xandros1.png )
Haven’t they learned from Corel Linux, Stormix Linux and Progeny Linux? They haven’t.
“There is no “lack of Debian” apps in Xandros, its based on Debian. You simply put the lines you need in your sources.list file and off you go.”
What I meant is that not all software is available as Deb packages, so the software available for a Debian based distibution is more limited.
“Alien works fine for converting RPM’s to Debs. I have had only a couple fail to convert and run in Xandros.”
I don’t have first hand experience with Alien, but I’ve heard of a lot of problems with it, especially with complex apps.
“Xandros has been the best distribution I have EVER used for detecting hardware…bar none.”
I should have been more clear. I meant installing hardware that isn’t supported by the distribution, that still requires drivers to be installed by the user. But Xandros does seem a lot better than most, as at least it has Nvidia drivers included.
It does not matter to me if the desktop does not look great on first boot. I will take a trip to http://www.kde-look.org and take care of that if needed. I will then open Konsole and type apt-get install gnome and smile, for it is my desktop of choice anyway.
“Recompiling the kernel when you upgrade a component isn’t acceptable in a desktop OS IMO”
Actually, in most distributions, you won’t have to recompile the kernel. Most distros use modules, and when you boot, it autodetects the hardware and loads the correct modules. Of course you will still have to reconfigure whatever it is to the settings you want, but this is the same in windows. (I haven’t used Xandros, but I imagine it has utilities to do this pretty easily)
So it won’t include a printed manual, but will the manual be available on the CD ?
[i]It does not matter to me if the desktop does not look great on first boot. I will take a trip to http://www.kde-look.org and take care of that if needed.[I]
You make a valid point. However, these guys are competing against Redhat, Lindows, Mandrake etc. so they should make sure their default desktop looks better than their competitors’.
Does it contain developer tools, come to think of it does Delux have the Developer tools ?
The Deluxe includes the dev tools, and I’m sure the Standard does too.
Shipping for the standard edition is $9.45. So it comes to $49.40 for the Standard Edition vs. $99 (is shipping still free?) for the Deluxe Edition.
I don’t see how this is any better than Redhat 8 personal edition and you can buy that for less than 40.
“I don’t see how this is any better than Redhat 8 personal edition and you can buy that for less than 40.”
Of course distro choice is a personal decision based on needs. However, if you need excellent windows networking support then Xandros is your choice. It is a complete snap to get directory sharing up and running etc.
Also, do you like plugins automatically configured for you? Even with out codeweavers, Xandros still configures all the linux plugins for you. Redhat 8.0 doesn’t do that.
Finally, of course, some people like access to the debian software and the apt-get command. Most people generally agree that this is a superior and easier to use packaging system.
I have both Redhat 8.0 and Xandros on my computer, and I personally prefer Xandros even without codeweavers.
“I don’t see how this is any better than Redhat 8 personal edition and you can buy that for less than 40.”
Does RH come with nvidia drivers configured and installed? Java? Flash? Realplayer? Acrobat?
Does RH’s XMMS come with the mp3 plugin?
Yeah, didn’t think so.
I’m a linux newb and it took me a day to configure all that. I learned alot doing it, but I guess that doesn’t count in distro choice. What I really liked was the fact that Redhat has up2date, rpms and has a clean, unified feel. Xandros doesn’t have that and quite frankly i don’t see it being around a couple years from now… redhat definately will be.
Redhat’s apt-get sucks until everyone starts using it, and that includes Redhat themselves (see Conectiva Linux, for example). The only good thing I see about Redhat over Xandros is the fonts and bluecurve’s integration, both of which can easily be fixed in Xandros. I hope they’re working on it.
without holy crusades going on in the background
“my daddy is stronger then your daddy”
a whole shit load of you guys just need to mature.
use your distro of choice, enjoy it…show a friend some neat stuff when they come over.
quit fighting with people you will never shake hands with or share a beer with.
goddamn.
idiots
Who is fighting? People are merely explaining their preferences.
“goddamn.
idiots”
Oh very friendly… You set a fine example for others to follow.
What is wrong with saying “I like xyz over zxy because of abc”? Any news on a new disto release will inevitably attract such remarks.
Actually, you can find debs of almost any software, oftentimes, there will be .debs of apps since that is what the developers use.
Remember, that Debian GNU/Linux contains more software than any other distro.
Luckily there are solutions to most of these issues on the horizon being developed by the community:
Linux NTFS write & resize support is in beta currently. It’s still not stable enough for non-experts to use, but I’d guess that in about 6 months or so parted will have NTFS resize ability. Hopefully. There are still some details to sort out first.
The 2.6 kernel will be even more modular than ever – today only a very few drivers need a kernel recompile, in the future hopefully none will. I know I’ve never needed to recompile the kernel.
Packaging is a sore spot. Debian may have more packages than any other distro, but it doesn’t package ALL the software out there, not by any stretch of the imagination. Also of course a lot of the packages are out of date. So, there are several teams working on this one, there’s mine and another over at GNupdate. Alien is really just a big hack, the original poster is right, it doesn’t always work.
I think Xandros should indeed upgrade their artwork too. They clearly have a good “appliance” distro here, one that’s cool if you’re not worried about keeping up with the cutting edge, but still, it needs better artwork and a Live CD demo disk imho.
Strip out the only things that made Xandros special and what have you got?
Mandrake without the variety in packages by the look of it.
You still get the packages as xandros is also debian … I use and like xandros I really do not find it ugly as some have suggested but I have not checked on any other distros either … What I can say is for me and a migration from windows it has been painless from the original install, and I think that is their goal not long time linux power users (and that is not a critisisim of such people but there is already a huge competion in that market) the best comparisons for xandros would more likely be against lindows or Lycoris as they have the same target audience. I have tried neither personally. I chose Xandros over Lindows and Lycoris Marketing seemed to cheesy (geared to complete computer newbies and not just someone trying to make a transition to a new OS). I don’t regret my choice.