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http://www.lycoris.org may be the answer (once the next version is released this month.)

Here are the instructions for the most common distros.

Generic
rm -rf /opt/gnome
Debian.
apt-get remove gnome
Mandrake
Menu > Configuration > Packaging > Remove software then search for gnome and tick all instances off
Red hat
Just uninstall red hat altogether, it is closely interwined with Gnome that is better getting a gnome hostile distribution.
Sun Java Desktop.
Get SuSE 8.2, its the same thing but without gnome installed

Gnome free distributions. These distributions dont contain gnome.

Arklinux
Xandros
Lindows
Lycoris
TurboLinux
Knoppix the K in it stands for KDE!

I wouldn't say "better", since they cost about the same (i.e. way overpriced), and as such you could use a tabletPC as a terminal when at home and (this particular model) use it as a laptop/tablet when not at home.

And, just for some Karma, this has been available on lycoris.com/lycoris.org for a long time - months even.

-bZj

4. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void, and will automatically terminate your rights under this License. However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such parties remain in full compliance.

They are not pulling a Robertson and keeping their tools closed-source. Aside from Iris, their easy-install software gallery, they have released source on everything that makes Lycoris Lycoris. I would rather give an absolute beginner Lycoris than, say, Mandrake. You can get lost in Mandrake if you are a newbie.

I worry about the future of Lycoris because of this hideous, screwed-up SCO mess. I worry because what Joseph and his buddies have put together is really, really good, and they had the "it just works" thing down even before Mandrake got the hang of it. Yeah, Lycoris is designed to be Windows-refugee friendly. It doesn't mean what they are doing doesn't have value.

If you want to see the real face of Lycoris, stop in at http://www.lycoris.org/ and check out the community behind it. There's some good people there. And nobody will tell you to "man man" there.

It looks like the OS can be downloaded from http://www.lycoris.org. Has anyone here tried it? They've pretty much taken KDE, reskinned it, added a network browser and packaged it "For the whole family".

You can choose from these mirrors. This is the full version, but with no tech support.

Pile of wank

Lindows kicks ass as a solution for desktop. Click n Run is just what is needed-Windows Update, minus the idiocy.

Red Hat Linux 8.0 is great-it comes with software that would be worth over $1000 if bought commercially. It's brilliant. I use it every day. A computer illiterate relative uses it great. It, also, kicks ass.

Lycoris is a mad combination of Red Hat and Lindows. All the apps you need with an XP interface.

Linux will smash the balls off of everything on the desktop. Just wait and see.

True that - I believe the same thing about Lycoris Desktop/LX. I don't have it installed now, mainly because I like having a distro I can muddle around with and compile new software on, and I couldn't be bothered downloading the additional development ISO for Lycoris. However, when I tried it, I was so impressed.

It just worked.

Mozilla came with plugins installed for Java, Flash, even Adobe Acrobat. Compare and contrast with Mandrake (and most other Linux distros) where Mozilla comes with NO PLUGINS WHAT SO EVER and is therefore about as useful as a bicycle to a fish for any new Linux convert. I have to admit Lycoris's blatent rip of off WinXP was a bit off putting, but it does all look very unified.

So Lycoris decided to step away from holier-than-thou GPL obsessiveness and include some binaries. The result? The first Linux distro I've ever seen that I would honestly install for my aunty, and know that she could use it for every task she would need to. Bye bye Windows for ever. Isn't that the ultimate aim?

but we need one base distrib for the Dells, eMachines, Gateways, IBMs to stick on for the home users.

Hello world.

-bZj

Another bonus about Lycoris over Lindows: a damn fine user community. Oh yeah, and Joseph Cheek isn't an asshole like Michael Robertson is. ;-)

I run ClarkConnect on my firewall. Redhat, Debian, Gentoo, Lunar and Slackware on my *personal* box. Lycoris on my wife's box (no humorous responses please).
While the individual merits of each distro can be argued to no end, I do have to note that only Lycoris and ClarkConnect (Based om RH 7.2) worked perfectly out of the box. (Inasmuch as Windoze does)
Noting that, I would say that if you want to learn the differences between the distros, you should first learn how to multi-boot your machine. The greatest learning experience for me has been to have a working distro available at all times, while I'm trying to get a new (to me) distro working that I'm not familiar with. (Such as linux-from-scratch)
Anyway, I hope I haven't strayed too far from the subject, but I had to add my $.02.
In short, IMHO, if you are a complete newbie, learn how to multi-boot, install Lycoris, Mandrake and Debian. (or go to DistroWatch and pick a couple.) Graduate from one to the next while keeping your working distro intact. Then, Paraphrasing another post I read "apt-get when you finally get it together" - lol.
Happy Thanksgiving!

I run ClarkConnect on my firewall. Redhat, Debian, Gentoo, Lunar and Slackware on my *personal* box. Lycoris on my wife's box (no humorous responses please).
While the individual merits of each distro can be argued to no end, I do have to note that only Lycoris and ClarkConnect (Based om RH 7.2) worked perfectly out of the box. (Inasmuch as Windoze does)
Noting that, I would say that if you want to learn the differences between the distros, you should first learn how to multi-boot your machine. The greatest learning experience for me has been to have a working distro available at all times, while I'm trying to get a new (to me) distro working that I'm not familiar with. (Such as linux-from-scratch)
Anyway, I hope I haven't strayed too far from the subject, but I had to add my $.02.
In short, IMHO, if you are a complete newbie, learn how to multi-boot, install Lycoris, Mandrake and Debian. (or go to DistroWatch and pick a couple.) Graduate from one to the next while keeping your working distro intact. Then, Paraphrasing another post I read "apt-get when you finally get it together" - lol.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Too true. My boss at the ISP I sysadmin at started insisting 6 months ago that we use FreeBSD on every machine instead of Linux. And I recently switched my own web server over to FreeBSD and haven't looked back. While Linux is making in-roads on the desktop with distros like Lycoris, FreeBSD is where it's at if you want a plain, powerful unix server environment. But then, now that software like Opera is available, FreeBSD is becoming more usable on the desktop as well!

Yes, you can download ISOs.

Here's the list of Mirrors they have so far:

Lycoris Mirrors

If Lindows was an infringement upon the Windows name, then Lycoris has to be basically identical to WinXP (based on the screenshots). Look:

here
here
and here

Perhaps MS can sue them for 'theft of look and feel.'

If Lindows was an infringement upon the Windows name, then Lycoris has to be basically identical to WinXP (based on the screenshots). Look:

here
here
and here

Perhaps MS can sue them for 'theft of look and feel.'

If Lindows was an infringement upon the Windows name, then Lycoris has to be basically identical to WinXP (based on the screenshots). Look:

here
here
and here

Perhaps MS can sue them for 'theft of look and feel.'

I'd like to try Lindows, but you have to cough up $99 to join their insiders program, and sign a non-disclosure agreement, so I haven't. Lycoris is another distro aimed at the desktop for people who only know windows, and you can download it free. http://www.lycoris.org/

This is the problem w/ KDE and GNOME, IMO. The people working on both are working towards a goal alright, but not one which will bring them anything significant. Both camps are working to bring something down (and I really hate to mention what that something is.. most people should understand what I mean if they have been around on /. and mailing lists long enough).

The idea of developing _for_ end-users is merely a bunch of hotair. The developers are still writing things for themselves--but indirectly. They want what they perceive comes with a desktop--power and control.

The reality is these same people who help GNOME/KDE truely _despise_ neophytes. I have seen countless times where developers on either side become frustrated with newbie questions and complaints. The developers can also be very mocking of the same people they target. Take Lycoris (aka Redmond Linux). There is a subtle (and sometimes not) condescending attitude present. "Linux is for everyone" is their motto. Are they saying that the pre-Lycoris Linux was not for everyone? Are they saying that end-user Joe is too stupid to use regular Linux, therefore he must use dumbed-down Linux?

There are no intended users of KDE and GNOME. There very much is an expected gain--power and control. Stereotypical Linux users (read: nerd) are very controlling. They must be able to control every aspect of their computer, their network, their house, etc. They enjoy this, but they crave more. Who is perceived to have a power on this thing called "desktop" which these nerds might enjoy having (and often times claim a god-given right to)?

This article isn't about usability at all. There are countless usability studies and thesis papers available, but the "Linux for the desktop" developers never seem to take notice. This is merely developer propaganda to tell others (and themselves) that they are doing this for the "end-users" and take focus off of their true intentions. Perhaps their true intentions are hidden even from themselves? Which I think is the case for many of them.

Good point -- the designers at Microsoft who created those icons have gotta be pretty pissed. "copyrighting our icons helps us create a brand" -Lycoris

I remember that Lindows OS has everyone run as root to make WINE work better (at least in the demo discussed in the linked /. article). This is probably what you remember.

If you look on the FAQ page for configuring Lycoris, there are several instances where the answer involves "su to root" or "edit as root." To me that says that they do NOT have everyone running as root, which I agree is a terrible idea.