Lindows - What do Linux Users Really Think?

Harry asks: "Last week I had a laps in judgement and subscribed to the Lindows Insider program. After playing with Lindows for a few days, I decided that Lindows was not worth my trouble and un-subscribed from the program. When I did so, I mentioned my disappointments and requested that they take a survey on Slashdot to see what Linux users really thought of their product. They stated they did and received 'great results and mostly positive feedback.' After having a chance to play with Lindows, I can not believe this to be true. So, my question is: What do Linux users really think of Lindows and will they support it?" I'm not aware of any such poll (maybe I missed it) and I don't remember many glowing reviews from our previous stories on Lindows. So maybe it's time to get the answer straight from the horses' mouth. Do you think Lindows is worth it?

Comments

root

[Per Wigren]

Running your whole system as root is a BAD thing! I don't know if this has changed since the first preview-release, but to have no choice but to run as root is a crazy desicion!
Lindows will be/is a security nightmare!

IMHO, the only good thing that can come out of Lindows is if they contribute some of their patches to WINE or Rewind...

A poll? Of course there's a poll

[alnapp]

Look here and the winner is "Apathy" not strong "pro" or strong "hate", just plain, boring apathy.

What are they thinking...

[arrow]

If 'Michael's Minutes' plopping into my inbox every other day wasn't annoying enough...

They come out with the meraculous feature of installing software in one click. No, not one click in the installer... one click in your web browser and the RPM of your choice is downloaded and installed automagicly. Does that scare the hell out of anyone else?

Great. Now it will be so much simpler to rootkit the machines on demo at Wal-Mart.
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..at least Lindows is looking at the desktops

[Lewis Mettler, Esq.]

You can be as critical as you wish about the Lindows version of linux.

But, at least they are trying very hard to put linux on the desktop. Most other linux distros only pay it lip service (if that).

RedHat has pretty much said it is just not interested. And, their product shows it. Lindows on the other hand is focused upon the desktop and if you want a server OS they are glad to refer you to RedHat or others.

Xandros is another company that is focused upon linux for the desktop. (Actually, Lindows is based upon Xandros but it is not clear just how much of the Xandros distribution will be included in Lindows.)

Xandros, taken from the Corel Linux 3rd distro (not publicly released) at least tries very hard to make networking with windows systems easy. RedHat ignores the problem. Even Mandrake only offers a rather sickly ability to network. Oh sure, they all use Samba. But, Samba is similar to the old DOS based server/redirector crap that is all but impossible for regular people to use.

Xandros offers networking equivilent to Windows Explorer. Just right-click and pick "sharing". Mandrake hides how to accomplish the same.

How will Lindows do it?

Not sure. The version currently being included with some Wal-mart systems (SPX) is a bit of a pre-release. Even so it is better than many versions sold in the millions by Microsoft only a few years ago. And, for many it is easier to install than the Micorosoft crap is today.

The ability to run applications written for the Microsoft systems is important for many users. At least for those who already have such applications but may want to try out linux. And, getting consumers into thinking of alternatives can do wonders. Why don't they just pick up Mandrake or RedHat and grap OpenOffice, etc.? Some will.

And, when Xandros can release their distro a very easy to use distro will also network right along side the Microsoft boxes. Sorry, but Corel Linux 1st was easier to network than any other linux distro since then. And, that is 3-4 years ago.

Linux on the desktop will take off once the distro companies actually focus upon the desktop user instead of the back room. And, that requires that it is easier than Microsoft. Focusing upon servers is not going to do it.