Slashdot Mirror
LindowsOS Marches On
alphabet26 writes "I just received Lindow's 2001 Wrap-up e-mail, and it looks like they're still forging ahead regardless of the lawsuit Microsoft filed against them. In the update, CEO Michael Robertson included a letter in response addressed to Bill Gates, and also some screenshots of what the new LindowsOS will look like. He predicts the retail version will be available in the early months of 2002."
looks to me like win2k + object desktop.
update comments set karma=-1, reason='offtopic' where sid=26315
update comments set karma=-1, reason='offtopic' where sid=26315
In the event the server is /.'ed, here's what it reads....
Via Fax and U.S. Mail
(425) 936-7329
Mr. Bill Gates
Chairman, Board of Directors
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
Re: Lawsuit Over Our Use of LindowsOS-Proposal for Settlement Discussions
Dear Mr. Gates:
I am writing Chairman to Chairman to discuss the lawsuit your company filed against our use of "LindowsOS" for the LINUX based operating system we are advertising and developing.
I also had the opportunity to read press accounts which state or imply that Microsoft wants to resolve the controversy "voluntarily" and out of court. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss personally a potential informal resolution of this matter. Please call me to discuss this option as soon as possible.
As I understand your lawsuit, you say purchasers will be confused because of our use of "LindowsOS" and Microsoft's use of "WINDOWS" on its "XP PROFESSIONAL" and "XP HOME" operating systems. The corresponding and quite different logos placed next to each other are set out below for your convenience.
[image] [image]
As you can see, the distinct labeling and the differences of our products compel the conclusion that there will be no consumer confusion. We can also create different labeling if necessary or appropriate.
Lindows.com does not yet sell a product-at this point all we are doing is advertising. As you also are undoubtedly aware, when our operating system is ready for distribution, we plan on selling our LINUX based operating systems over the Internet to very sophisticated and discriminating customers who would not be confused that our product was created or sponsored by Microsoft. In contrast, you are selling about 90% of your operating systems to sophisticated OEM purchasers while about 10% are sold as CDs on store shelves. I can assure you that Lindows.com has not done and will do nothing to cause consumer confusion or trade upon Microsoft's goodwill. All we are trying to do is give consumers a distinct choice.
Needless to say, the lawsuit came as a complete surprise. For months, we have been very public with regard to our plans. Detailed descriptions of our operating system have been extensively disclosed and written about in advertising and media. Yet we were given no notice whatsoever of your displeasure with our use of the "LindowsOS" mark or slogan until the lawsuit was filed one business day before Christmas, alleging it was a prohibited use of your mark or slogan "Windows."
We are additionally puzzled because there was never any contact between our companies prior to the lawsuit. I would have thought that a phone call or fax, or even a formal cease and desist letter, would be a more appropriate first step to get to a voluntary resolution. On the other hand, I am glad to read in your court papers and press accounts that you are not trying to stop or prevent our company from launching our LindowsOS product-you just want us to stop using the mark or slogan "LindowsOS". That's good to hear because, like you, we are working hard to innovate and offer consumers a choice of novel and resourceful products.
I look forward to meeting with you to discuss the outcomes which work for both sides. It is my sincere interest to focus on delivering a unique product and not to get dragged into a lengthy court battle, so there is no need for any lawyers to meet with us.
Unfortunately, because you filed your complaint one business day before Christmas and have demanded a response in the shortest possible legal time frame (hearing set for January 11, 2002), we do not have much time to discuss this matter. Therefore, I would like to request that you continue the hearing on the preliminary injunction so that we could resolve this issue before we get bogged down in a quagmire of litigation.
I look forward to speaking with you as soon as possible.
Very truly yours,
Michael Robertson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Lindows.com, Inc.
cc: Steve Ballmer, CEO
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
God, I'm going to get so many 'foes' doing this. I'm simply doing this because I would have found it very useful.
Malike Bamiyi wanted my assistance.
Can't prove it, but the window manager looks very much like the default KDE wm (notice the shading on the min/max/close buttons). And the rest if definitly KDE.
I am in the corporate world. I have no problem getting PHB's to use linux in certain environments.
Right tool for the right job buddy, that's all there is to it. These guys are wasting their time.
Damn it, I forgot the new address after the @home shakout...
Again, here is a mirror of the screenshots.
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
kawai
Registrant:
lindows.com (LINDOWS-DOM)
P.O. Box 620603
Woodside, CA 94062
US
Domain Name: LINDOWS.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Billing Contact:
Center, Network (LU9) noc@LINUS.COM
linus.com
P.O. Box 620603
Woodside, CA 94062
US
(650) 555-1212
Record last updated on 27-Jul-2001.
Record expires on 27-Jul-2009.
Record created on 27-Jul-1998.
Database last updated on 3-Jan-2002 22:19:00 EST.
Domain servers in listed order:
DNS1.HOSTPRO.NET 209.196.128.13
DNS2.HOSTPRO.NET 209.196.128.14
Registrant:
Upson, Linus (LINUS13-DOM)
P.O. Box 620603
Woodside, CA 94062
US
Domain Name: LINUS.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Billing Contact:
Upson, Linus (OISHVRZVKI) noc@linus.com
Upson,Linus
P.O. Box 620603
Woodside, CA 94062
US
(650) 759-8402 123 123 1234
Record last updated on 19-Dec-2001.
Record expires on 15-May-2009.
Record created on 14-May-1995.
Database last updated on 3-Jan-2002 22:19:00 EST.
Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.ELECTRICRAIN.COM 64.71.143.226
NS2.ELECTRICRAIN.COM 63.192.215.189
--It's Pimptastic!--
So can anyone prove that these aren't just screenshots of Windows 2000 with a stardock skin?
I can't prove it to you beyond doubt, but I know KDE when I see it, and this is it. The folder icon on the desktop is a dead giveaway (all the other icons seem to be customised, but this one has been left as the KDE default), as are the handles on the panel applets, which appear to be from Qt's built-in Windows style. Also, the window decorations (close/maximise/minimise buttons) are the KWin 'Redmond' style. Note the gradient on those buttons, Win2k's are flat. Note also the inconsistency between the applet handles on the panel and the toolbar handles in IE and Word - if nothing else this should prove that this isn't a WindowBlinds skin.
I have previously run both IE and Word successfully under WINE, and Notes is also supposed to work - yes, WINE even sets the right icons in the taskbar as the Lindows screenshots show.
So, it's pretty obvious to me that this is indeed Linux, and it's real. All it is is a distro with a slightly customized KDE and WINE setup to launch Windows apps. No great shakes, I can do all this already on my Debian box, and you can do it too on any distro that includes KDE and WINE.
If you still don't believe me, it'd be pretty easy to knock up similar screenshots under any of the major distros. Anyone fancy a go? I won't get a chance until I get home tomorrow...
If you're still not sure after all that, you're going to have to (gasp, shock, horror) actually sit down in front of a Linux box and see it in action yourself.
Does Lindows.com support Open Source? Lindows.com respects all applicable licensing and is proud to be a strong supporter of the Open Source community by helping to advance several Open Source initiatives. Some of the LindowsOS code will be Open Source. Likewise, as a business that plans on being around for a very long time, Lindows.com will at times have some unique and proprietary components.
From what I've heard & seen, Lindows is just Linux + a proprietary version of Wine (which is OK according to Wine's licencing). IMHO those guys are taking credit of other people's work, without giving back anything. And this FAQ is an offense to any Open Source developer. I'd like to have a list of the numerous Open Source projects they so strongly support.
Linux apps? I see kicker, kdesktop, kwin.
Proof that it is real:
kde's winXX style has those gradients in the titlebar buttons. windows does not.
the titlebar stiples in the taskbar are kde-ish.
the CD-ROM and Floppy and Folder icons are standard KDE icons
Now proof that it might be an hoax:
the 5th icon down in second column has no label.
Therefore, I highly doubt that it is a hoax, but it might be.
as another poster said, and probably most people didn t clue into or maybe read, it really *is* kde and wine.
I m running KDE and wine right now. Same KDE icons. Same wine bugs with MS Office. (look at the missing application window button next to "File" in Excel for example). Let s see them open a file in excel. Forget about it. It won t work.
I can t get to their website (slashdotted), maybe they have some explanation, but for me, Lindows is KDE and Wine...
Fot the record..
Xwindows was released MUCH before Windows 1.0 was out - it was on the first graphical workstations far beyond the PC got their graphics from Hercules or CGA graphics..
Hetz (Heunique)