Preserved Topic: Lindows? (Page 1 of 1)

Has anyone gotten their hands on a copy of Lindows?

I haven't heard anything too good about the OS so far. Seems a bit silly though. A lot of time and money was invested in the venture and it just seems like an idea that wasn't completely thought out. People in the Linux community don't seem to be too willing to shell out money for an OS they can get for free. For the price of it I can buy Windows XP and then dual boot it with any distro I want.

-Jestah
Cell 277

Neva heard of it...


Gotta link?

LindowsOS is really a piece of crap. Those people are selling software that can be obtained for free...
http://www.lindows.com/

Lindows is a Linux offshoot that's supposed to allow you to run Windows native applications such as Office 2000 I can't find the list of supported software and from looking at the site it looks like they may be downplaying this angle a bit.

I'd be interested if it worked since I have to use a couple of Windows apps at work but would prefer a Linux environment. But screw it I'm trying to talk into getting me an OSX mac that does all Lindows wants to do but with much better software support.





.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

Heh, looks like a company that wants to take everyone elses ideas and make money from them. Hell, even the site's nav bar is a blantant copy of the Mac website. What are they trying to say with this? We don't have any ideas of our our so we'll just copy everyone else.

That doesn't really fill me with confidence about their products.

I just don't understand exactly who the OS is directed out. I don't imagine too many Linux users are going to willingly pay for an OS when they're used to downloading the ISO's online. I don't imagine too many Windows users are going to be switching over either. I've also heard that they force you to log in as root so it's one big security but also.

It sounds like a good idea that went sour. It probably would have been better if they took an established distro and edited it so Window native aps can run without using wine or a different emulator.

-Jestah
Cell 277

It was really intended for use on the desktop, particularly the corporate desktop. And to have a Linux that runs Windows applications would defnately be something most Linux users would love.

Should they get this working properly it would actually find many interested folks particularly in the Corporate world where Windows Liscensing costs can easily be in the millions. Like I said I'd be interested since I currenly have to use 2 machines (1 windows 1 Linux) to be able to do what this would allow me to do in one. I could dual boot but that's really a hassle.

The cost is not necessarily prohibative, I know many hard core Unix users switching to Mac's despite the cost because it's essentially a BSD box but with the ability to run things like Word, Lotus Notes or even Photoshop.



.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

LindowsOS uses WINE for running Windows applications. And since WINE is free (GPL) and can be installed on any *nix distro, there's no need for buying LindowsOS...

Yeah it's supposed to use parts of WINE but the supposed difference was that they were going to add some additional "compatibility" layer to make it work better, this layer was basically what Lindows was selling (Since they can't really sell Linux). I have no idea where they got with this so it may well be just a repackaged version of Debian with WINE running realtively transparently.

It's still pretty much Linux with some sort of tricky package manager where you can instally aps straight from their website though



.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

Personally, I doubt that they changed anything in WINE. It's too complex for them (WINE consists of more than 1 million lines of C code). LindowsOS is just another Linux distro with WINE pre-installed and configured to emulate Windows...

actrually... I think Lindows is a PR game... some sort of ploy to get corporate interest in Linux...

the rush of shipping computer with Gnome-a popular gimick during the MSvsDOJ fiasco- installed has all but died out...


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I've been using Linux for quite some time now and I haven't had any problem running Windows applications through WINE. At least msot of the programs I have tried worked without any problems. So I can't really see the reason for Lindows, especially when it isn't free. And if you really need to use a Windows program that doesn't work under Linux it isn't very hard to set up a duel boot system.



_________________________
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The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
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nah it's debian based.

Interesting letter from one of the main debian developers to the Lindows guys

IT kinda sucks these guys kinda had something to get excited about but have pissed off almost all of the folks that would be their core users.





.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

IF (like mrMax said) lindows uses WINE, which is GPLd, it too has to be GPLd so if they sell a copy it can be distributed free of charge )
how do they intend to make money? (again, if they build on GPLd code)
just a thought...