Lindows has aimed to become the GNU/Linux distribution for anyone coming from Windows to Linux (hence the name). They have, without a doubt, pushed the envelope for marketing and pushed the Linux operating system into the mainstream media and retailers. Still, does LindowsOS have what it takes to be the victor of the Penguin Shootout? Find out at OfB.biz.
Lindows at the Showdown
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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Very good article, very good points. The author brings up many issues that plague Lindows and Michael Robertson would be doing himself a favor if he would listen to the points this article makes.
It is hard to fathom what sort of mentality is behind renaming a KDE program, KWord, to WritePro and then telling people it is worth $299. That’s a testament to the greedy little tyrant at the helm of Lindows.com.
I like Robertson’s anti-Microsoft attitude, but not the way he acts so much like a Microsoft hardliner himself. His arrogance and amorality are a discredit to the Linux community. It’s actually funny at times to see the micro-ruler of Lindowsia put on his fancy furs and march around with his little sceptre.
On the other hand, it’s great that Lindows is paving the way to get Linux on more OEM PC’s. Robertson deserves credit for this accomplishment. I hope Lindows paves the way and Xandros, Mandrake, Lycoris, and others follow.
–ms
It’s expensive, but with competition from other user-friendly distros, such as Ark Linux, hopefully that will change (although with Robertson, who knows).
Nevertheless, it’s nice to see people switch to Linux, regardless of which distro they use.
I guess if it gets a few more folks on board then it’s good, but I really don’t see why they don’t just use Debian. The Debian installer is a fairly simple menu-based program. I can’t imagine that any halfway literate person would have trouble with it if they actually tried it rather than saying “oooo…. Debian install…that’s scarrrrrry”.
Anyway, I hope Lindows succeeds, but I am a little leery of them. Their distribution seems over-hyped, and it runs the risk of drawing in a lot of folks who will walk away saying “linux sucks” as soon as anything goes wrong. I would have to say that I just don’t “get” LindowOS. Home users don’t install new operating systems, and those that do are certainly able to use something that is really free. Plus, the Click-n-Run thing really sounds like little more than a scam. The KWord/WritePro thing makes my blood boil. As for business, I would hope that they have someone in the organization who can just stick Debian or the equivalent on the machines without a lot of hand-holding.
[i]The Debian installer is a fairly simple menu-based program.<i/>
Excuse me, but that smells of troll. You want a simple menu-based installer? Try *BSD. The initial installation tasks aren’t bad, but the post-install stuff is hideous. Just because you say it isn’t doesn’t make it so. If that were the case, would folks really be investing time into making a new one (Debian, not Lindows).
Not to say Debian is a bad distro. Once you’ve managed to tweak everything accordingly, it’s quite decent. But to claim that the same market segment that Lindows is aimed at would be capable of handling Debian’s “fairly simple menu-based program” is a crock.
-fp
“They have, without a doubt, pushed the envelope for marketing and pushed the Linux operating system into the mainstream media and retailers”
interesting theory. i have doubts. who exactly has witnessed these amazing deeds? nobody?
more self-aggrandizing bs that no one really believes.
silly penguins, *nix are for kids
get used to it.
You’re the one who sounds like a troll. He did not even mention post-install.
I recently built myself a PC. Since I didn’t already have one I went to my local store to purchase an OS. The choice was easy. Windows XP for a couple of hundred pounds with no bundled software? or SuSE Linux Personal 8.1 with loads of software for 31 pounds? Of course, I went for SuSE and I couldn’t be happier. DVD’s, WP, Internet, Coding, it’s all there.
…for example, KWord was renamed “WritePro” and listed as a $299 value for Click-n-Run members…
Where the hell did they get that information? I am a Lindows Insider, have been since april of 02, and never have I seen this claim made by Lindows anywhere! I’d like to see this one pointed out.
I had the same problem too with trying to install Xandros. It went ahead fine when I plugged out all my USB devices (eg. webcam). The were re-detected after installation, on reboot.
Xandros is THE best right now among Debian distros, and you can pick up a copy for 40 bucks and free access to Xandros Networks (one-click install as well).
All Xandros needs is fancy marketing and a cool UI.
It is true – they ahve changerd that now, obviously because there were too many complaints, but i remember in the early days browsing through the categories of the click’n’run warehause were they had great big pictures of applications like Korganizer (in warehouse “Time Organizer”) and Kword (in Warehouse Write Pro), pretending these were products that you normally had to buy for $ 199-. $299.-, but the screenshots revealed that these were normal Koffice components which as everybody knows ships free with KDE. So you might be an insider, but I also know what I saw and as I said they probably changed that noe due to complaints or justr because users are not as stupid as he thought they would be !
Lindows has done no different than any other Distro that has taken free source code and developed their own *Name Brand*. Maybe they should all have to change their Distro names to match the source code they used. They have just done it successfully and now all the wannabees are crying, “Why didn’t it work for me?”.
Lindows is a great Distro and it installs and runs excellent.
I have tried Lindows for several months, culminating in the official 3.0 release. It is maddening. For one thing, i am surprised at the install problems the reviewers had. Both Xandros and lindows have really good hardware detection. But, of course, you can’t cover everything. But, the basic install itself (because of the lack of software :-), is so fast, it’s almost unbelievable.
In order to understand Lindows, a person has to get into Joe User’s mind. Joe wants no apt-get, no matter how easy it is for us. The front end, the C&R Warehouse, is a great thing for ordinary users. It is the price that is the problems. The UI, again for ordinary users, is very good. When you download something, it goes right into the menu category where it belongs.
So, it is maddening. Lindows has large chunks of elements that are necessary for a successful Joe User distro. But, I think, for one thing, the price is way too high. If I were Joe User, I would not mind paying something for C&R Warehouse, but not what Lindows is charging.
The saddest part of all is that, in the end, i think Robertson will destroy it. He has made some bold moves that has gotten attention for Lindows, but he has made just as many stpid bold moves that turn people away. This Linux Desktop Summit is one of those. He’s completely blown that. And, of course, he made many early mistakes. I fear he will continue to blunder and ruin any chance Lindows has.
It is a shame as lindows does have some very strong elements to it. I have had to give up on it myself at this time. Their fees and Robertson’s behavior have simply turned me off completely.
Lindows is anything but great. And no other distro has tried underhanded tactics, price gouging and false representation either, and what I would like to know is just how many Lindows users are out there, sure Lindows is being preloaded on Machines from Tiger Direct and Walmart and I actually bought one. I needed a gaming computer for my neice and nephew when they come over. And no I dont use the Lindows OS, I wiped the HD and installed Windows. How many people actually do this? Quite a few probably I would think. And how much have they actually sold from their Website? Not many. Where are their success stories? Everybody else has success stories even Microsoft, But I have yet to read in the news anybody adopting LindowsOS. Your zealotry while understood, seems very misplaced. Lindows is not the cure all, save all, and Michael Robertson is not a knight in shining armor. If anything he is his own worst enemy.
I’m not an employee of Lindows, don’t own any of their stock, or know anyone that has anything to do with the company or even know anyone that actually uses Lindows, except for me with a little tinkering. And I don’t really care if Lindows or Xandros or whoever ends up succeeding. Just as long as SOMEONE/some company does and gets people off of Windows. As far as I’m concerned. I don’t even care if people use Linux. ANYTHING except MS products is fine with me. OK?
Now that that is clear.
Lindows is for made for, marketed to, and ONLY for Windows users. Lindows has little interest in current Linux users because they KNOW that their product is not for you. So get over it OK!?
Lindows computers are for Windows users that are sick of the high costs and pains of Windows and want another choice. Something that is easy to use and they don’t give a f*** what the names of programs are. All they want is something that is very easy to use, easy to figure out (better naming than the typical cryptic names of Linux programs), and needs very little maintenance. Actually they want it to require no maintenance.
Typical Windows users (remember, this is the market Lindows is aimed at) don’t want to use command line based programs. They don’t want supposedly easy “get-apt” programs. They want REALLY fall down easy with someone else helping them back up easy programs that takes an IQ of 40 to use. THAT is the market of Lindows.
As for the $299 value? They are comparing this to what you would have to pay for a “comparable” WINDOWS program not what it would supposedly cost for the LINUX program. Haven’t you been paying attention to the Lindows hype at all? I don’t mean two seconds of paying attention. Look at the over all theme. They are talking and preaching to Windows uses. Not you.
I like your attitude man!!
Very well said!
Kreek out!
Good Im glad you dont care if its Lindows or Xandros, Lindows will die. its going to go into its death throes soon.
It is hard to fathom what sort of mentality is behind renaming a KDE program, KWord, to WritePro and then telling people it is worth $299. That’s a testament to the greedy little tyrant at the helm of Lindows.com.
I think the idea was to say “Hey MS Windows users, stop paying $300 for a Word Processor, when you can get one for free by switching to LindowsOS”. But the Linux geeks decided it was some sort of evil plot to claim that KOffice noramlly costs $300.
If you looked carefully at the pages they said “Compare to” not “Normally $300” — meaning “Compared to other office suites”. Obviously, this ad campaign went seriously wrong.
I think the main issue here is it just didn’t make sense. Quite frankly, I like KWord, but it just isn’t worth $299 now, much less last year. As an example, if I wanted to compete with Ford, I wouldn’t build a Focus-like car and then compare my price tag to that of the Ford Explorer or Taurus.
I wouldn’t do it, because my car has less “features” and is smaller. That doesn’t make it bad, but it just isn’t going to look right if I show my Focus-like car and say “Compare to $35,000.”
Likewise, Lindows taking KWord — not even OpenOffice, mind you — and suggest that “Compare to $299” makes them look a bit suspecious. Again, I really like KWord, but it just isn’t “there” yet for that kind of comparison.
-Tim
As for the boot issues: With Lindows, when it got to the License Agreement screen, couldn’t recognize the keyboard or mouse, even though Xandros worked fine.
On the other hand, Xandros (on a P233 with AT Keyboard, serial mouse and CD ROM), would get to the very first setup screen, then display the screen that said to remove the CD ROM and reboot the computer like the installation was done.
Moral of the story? One is about as good as the other, I guess
I can’t imagine that any halfway literate person would have trouble with it if they actually tried it rather than saying “oooo…. Debian install…that’s scarrrrrry”.
THen again, Joe User isn’t even halfway literate .. that’s why Lindows was created.
Xandros is THE best right now among Debian distros, and you can pick up a copy for 40 bucks and free access to Xandros Networks (one-click install as well).
I would say that – it has a few advantages like XFM and Crossover, but apt doesn’t work very well out of the box, an d some of the fonts (especially in Open Office) are terrible.
Jay: I fear he will continue to blunder and ruin any chance Lindows has.
Don’t fear: it is inevitable. Lindows.com would fail, unless Robertson takes a huge move in business model and marketing.
my blog (scroll down a bit at http://rajanr.blogspot.com), I gave my reasons why I think Lindows.com would fail. Ultimately for me, is because of their dependance on CNR as their money source and the fact that they would be forever seen as a cheap altenative to Windows, and would be hard to shrug that off later on with a name like Lindows.
If Lindows.com reaches a IPO, don’t buy Lindows.com shares. Or live to regret it.
Sabon: Lindows computers are for Windows users that are sick of the high costs and pains of Windows and want another choice.
Somehow, Windows is only slightly more expensive than Lindows.com, plus the lack of the hassle in actually switching OS.
Sabon: Something that is easy to use and they don’t give a f*** what the names of programs are.
Most people don’t care about the “WritePro”, but the fact several times in that download, it is called KWord (esp in the documentation, opening itself for potential confusion. Plus, saying the product is worth $299 is pushing it – how can a product with so little features be so expensive? Esp. since StarOffice is worth $75..
Sabon: easy to figure out (better naming than the typical cryptic names of Linux programs
What’s so cryptic about KWord?
Sabon: They are comparing this to what you would have to pay for a “comparable” WINDOWS program not what it would supposedly cost for the LINUX program.
Please, tell me a Windows product that is comparable with KWord and cost $299….
Darius: I would say that – it has a few advantages like XFM and Crossover, but apt doesn’t work very well out of the box, an d some of the fonts (especially in Open Office) are terrible.
apt on Xandros is pretty much similar to CNR, only that it contains less products. Of course, most of the stuff on CNR is bundles with Xandros in the first place. As for the fonts – OOo on Lindows is also ugly…