Since I am always looking for Linux distributions that are suitable as Windows replacements, I decided to give Xandros a try. After spending some time with it, I’ve written up a review (screenshots). Find out if this Windows replacement achieves its lofty goals. Check it out at Tuxme.com.
“I would trust this to my dad to use in place of Windows XP”
That is what I would like to know more about. Can it really be used? Can I run my tax program and load it fairly simply?
surely this version is a little old now?
Anyone knows if Xandros runs on any emulated machines software? (such as Virtual PC or VMWare)
I would like to check it out thx to this review.
Yes, I have run Xandros on VirtualPC 2004. You are limited to some video modes, but it’s perfectly usable.
yeah xandros rocked when it came out, its still very good, just that its kernel 2.4 is kind of getting dated and kde 3.1 which is also slow now! i can’t wait for Xandros 3.0 that is just absolutley gonna rock!!!
any idea’s on when Xandros 3.0 will be out ?
OCE is definately the one to use. I saw no big advantage in the full version. The Crossover software IMHO is rather painful. If you really really really need the windows apps it uses then good luck otherwise use Open Source alternatives. I honestly got MS Office 2000 running better with Wine than Crossover anyway – and more importantly understood where the files were put and how it all worked. The file manager is very nice and would have to be the biggest reason Xandros gets points. BTW, an ftp client “functionality” can be found by either using the browser/file manager/konqueror anyway. Try ftp://ftp.yadayada.com.au in a location bar somewhere – its a kde thing. Also, it facinates me how (no offence intended at all) reviewers write as if each flavour of Linux is like a completely different OS. To me Xandros is a_version_of Debain and KDE with a selection of apps configured in a certain way with some special applications thrown in. Straight to the point i say – Xandros is based on xxxx version of Debian and uses KDE ver xxxx and has these apps preinstalled and differs by being configured like this and has a cool way of doing that and I liked this but not that etc. If this sounds stupid/opinionated just ignore me…
Well I dunno what you’re talking about, but crossover office and the way it’s integrated into Xandros is absolutely spectacular by my experience. I could never get my mom convinced to switch over to Linux until I came across Xandros. With Xandros she just popped in her quicken cd and it was auto detected so the installer started running automatically. The installer did its thing, put some links on the desktop and the menu, and things were good to go. All this on top of the stability of Debian. Things are always exactly the way I left them when I go back and check the thing out, unlike what I’d expect from a Windows machine. So she’s happy, I’m happy, I really can’t ask much more of a Linux Windows clone to be honest.
What kind of comment is that. An operating system does not need to be visible to the user, whats important is the apps. When you browse the web or check your mail or balance your checkbooks, you dont need to think “Man, this OS is great!”. I do the same tasks on Linux that i can do on Windows, with easy to use software, in a debian sarge. Im not really that technical when it comes to Linux, because i shouldent have to care, i install it with a “next->next->next->next->done” attitude – but it replaces my windows just fine.
Its a myth linux has to look like windows to be usable, windows design is terrible and not very userfriendly at all. Look to OSX for UI please, do NOT clone windows, its horrible!
I think this one will fade away silently as many others.
“I think this one will fade away silently as many others.”
While many of the die hard open source folks hate it for not being FREE, it’s a damn site more users friendly than nearly every other distro. There is a lot to be said for what Xandros has done toward ease of use for folks coming from Windows.
This is exactly what is needed for Linux to find it’s way onto more home desktops. The nearly seamless integration of Codeweavers and Samba have done wonders for usability.
xandros is more stable, looks better, and is easier to use. before i can stand xp i have to revert th gui to the win2k look&feel cos the BIG xp icons make me feel like i’m in kindergarden all over again. novices don’t even flinch at xandros and they can’t screw things up thanks to lesser-authority-than-root logons.
but why review an old version, this should have been a xandros v2.5 business edition review.