Linspire Archive

In his latest Michael's Minute, Lindows.com founder and president Michael Robertson announced the forthcoming LindowsOS MP3.com Edition, which appears to be the Membership Edition bundled with 12 complete CDs. A collaboration between Robertson's previous effort and his current project, it's the first mainstream Linux distribution to focus on audio as a major component. Though it doesn't appear to be as complete as the Red Hat and Debian multimedia editions currently in beta, once again, Lindows.com is directly addressing the needs of a standard desktop user.

"Robertson isn't the only one hoping to cash in. Software companies like Red Hat, Mandrake, and Suse all offer Linux products that compete with Windows. But Lindows has a few things those companies don't: It has Robertson's bombastic personality to sell it, and it has a better pitch--that it is easier to install and use. Wal-Mart, which began selling Lindows-ready PCs on its website in September, has had such success with the offering that by Christmas it was having trouble meeting demand." Read the two-page interview with Lindows' CEO at Fortune. Robertson also appeared on TV.

ZDNet UK reports: "With Christmas just around the corner, the consumer-friendly Linux distribution is readying its high street invasion". LindowsOS 3.0, a Linux-based operating system designed to attract the less Geeky and thus more general computer user, was reviewed by OSNews earlier this month.

"Well the Lindows.com folks haven't been idle between now and then. The latest version of Lindows was just released and we were surprised to find that Lindows has jumped all the way from version 2.0 to version 3.0. That's quite a leap in so short a time." Read the review at ExtremeTech. Recently, OSNews also posted a review of LindowsOS 3.0.

Fred Langa test-drives the latest version of LindowsOS 3.0, this Linux-based Windows work-alike operating system to see if it's ready for prime time.

A lot has been said about Lindows. We will talk about some of these issues here and debunk them. Update: Read more and scroll down for the update of the article!

IDC analyst Al Gillen questioned the effectiveness of Lindows' Wal-Mart distribution strategy: "I don't understand why the Linux buyer is going to be ... at Wal-Mart," he said. Hmm, maybe because Lindows does not market itself as a Linux distribution, but simply as a cheap home computer solution (which fits perfectly to Wal-Mart)? Anyways, you can read the article at NewsFactor.

Lindows on Monday unveiled the latest version of its low-cost operating system aimed at bringing Linux to the masses, LindowsOS 3.0. Press release here.

LindowsOS has announced it is currently working on a tablet computer running its GNU/Linux-based operating system and expects it to be ready early next year. According to the article, Lindows does not plan to use handwriting recognition as Microsoft's TabletPCs support.

"I would highly recommend Lindows-OS to anyone considering moving away from using Windows. If you play a lot of Windows games, I would suggest you dual boot. If you are a hard-core Linux geek, who enjoys squeezing every last nanosecond of performance out of their machines, maybe this is not for you." Read the review at PCTechForums.

"This review will dispel some of the myths you've heard about the $200 Lindows PC available at Walmart.com." Read the review at NewsForge.

Lindows.com has announced plans to release the LindowsOS 3.0 Membership Edition in the middle of November. This release is intended for consumers.

"Yes, after two anti-trust violations you're obligated to offer equitable pricing to the largest computer builders for the Microsoft Windows XP software, but what Microsoft does now is use MDF (market development funds) to pressure the behavior you want from many OEMs. You give computer companies a price break on Microsoft software in the form of a rebate for every computer they've sold. This program is disguised as a "marketing" program but OEMs only qualify if they agree to terms such as not working with competitor's products." Read Lindows' Michael Robertson open letter to Steve Ballmer.

"My point is that Lindows as been the target of a lot of criticism over the past year, include a fair amount from NewsForge and Linux.com. And most of that criticism comes from Robertson promising fantastic new breakthroughs and then not delivering. Lindows has been a victim of its own hype. So why do I feel sorry for the company? Because Robertson has been following an extremely effective practice, especially in the tech business last five years or so: over-hype, under-deliver." Read the editorial.