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Xandros Recruiting Beta Testers

Posted by samzenpus on from the try-it-out dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Looks like the folks at Xandros are getting ready for a new release of their Linux desktop. They're recruiting beta testers so those of you who like to try something new, you can sign up from here. No details about when or what to expect in the new release. Xandros always lets the other distros get the bugs out of the latest bleeding edge software before they do a new release so this should be another solid release with updated KDE, kernel, X, drivers, etc. Can't wait. Gotta get me on that beta list."

11 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. pointless by Coneasfast · · Score: 5, Interesting

    why would i want to give my phone/address/etc information, to do a beta test, for a linux distribution that isn't even free!

    --
    Marge, get me your address book, 4 beers, and my conversation hat.
    1. Re:pointless by ezHiker · · Score: 5, Informative

      Xandros Business Edition offers a greater level of integration in Windows environments (particularly Active Directory environments) than any other distribution that I know of. It has Windows AD domain logon out of the box. It has a file manager which makes sharing files, changing domain permissions, and sharing files as easy as in Windows (if not easier). It also ships with Crossover Office. There a lot of other KDE customizations and enhancements that make migrating from Windows much easier.

      These things might not be important to you, but for businesses looking to migrate form Windows to Linux, Xandros offers the best option out there right now that I'm aware of.

      I wish the features in Xandros were available in the free distributions, but it doesn't seem that Windows interoperabilty is as great a priority with the other distros.

    2. Re:pointless by spagetti_code · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Because finally someone really *gets* what the problem is with linux - the damn thing is uninstallable by the rest of us. Sure - propeller heads can twist linux every which way, but if we really want to create a broadly acceptible, viable alternative to Windows, we need a distribution like Xandros.

      If I had a $1 for every time a linux-head answered a question with "thats easy, you just... " and then typed a sequence of line noise... well, I'd be doing ok.

      Xandros provides a simple way to get a user up and running with all the *main* needs met - word processor, browser, a well laid out control panel etc. Sure, down the track I'll figure out how to install that weird app I really want, but I'm up and running without so much as a mod-probe or apt-get.

      Go Xandros!

    3. Re:pointless by wrook · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm going to have to go with the parent poster on this. I've met a couple of the developers that work on Xandros (both past and present). Generally they are smart bunch of guys. I also used to work at Corel where this thing started, so I know the management as well. I will repeat the same question I asked back then...

      Why on earth would I switch from a Proprietary Windows world to a Proprietary Linux world? It makes no sense. Perhaps you get a brief respite from viruses, etc. But without the benefit of a free (as in speech) distribution, what is the point?

      Here's a Linux distro that's geared to look just like Windows. And it's proprietary to boot. Plus it's backed by a small company from Ottawa who could go under at any minute (although last I heard they were actually doing OK).

      My point is, if I wanted a desktop solution that looked like windows and I was willing to put up with the assinine licensing that comes with it, why the hell wouldn't I choose the defacto standard in the desktop computing world and *choose windows*????

  2. Xandros Motto by capz+loc · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the Xandros website: Xandros: Making Linux work for you So apparently Xandros uses the Soviet Russia PR Firm.

  3. vs. Ubuntu? by LittLe3Lue · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A friend of mine almost got a coop job working for Xandros. Would have been interesting to know from the inside what it is that they are doing over there.

    As it stands, I havent used the distro, but I have heard that it would be very comparable to Ubuntu in terms of target audience. And both debian based too. With the VERY quickly growing Ubuntu community, and what seems to be bleeding edge software that is incorporated with it, does Xandros even stand a chance?

    Sure, the article sais that they wait for other distros to make it bugfree.. but Ubuntu might get there soon, and it would seem to me, that no one uses such a distro for mission critial tasks, only as desktops. Most tasks/users of these two distros are likely already stable enough.

    Anyone know what Xandros could offer that Ubuntu cant?

    1. Re:vs. Ubuntu? by child_of_mercy · · Score: 5, Informative

      Xandros has been around a while, and they really iron bugs out and make life simple for the user.

      they have a completely free (as in beer) open release which doesn't include things like codeweavers wine gear.

      I use vanilla debian on my servers but for the desktop xandros is what gets the job done, for the work I need to do anyway.

      (just my 2c)

      --
      'There is a Light that never goes out.'
    2. Re:vs. Ubuntu? by pr0c · · Score: 5, Informative

      Well I'd say

      1.) Xandros has crossover office, very important for many businesses (whether you like it or not), it also has StarOffice (deluxe version)
      2.) Xandros has more than just community support
      3.) Xandros has more liability than Ubuntu for how the product behaves
      4.) Xandros, when purchased, comes with a VERY nice manual.
      5.) Xandros has a very nice installer, much easier to use than Anaconda, debian, suse, etc IMO.

      Having said all that, I dislike Xandros, I dont' like KDE among other reasons...

  4. Re:Bah by hendridm · · Score: 5, Informative
    Ugh they even have an IE icon on the desktop of one of their screenshots, as far as I know it's not even legal to run IE on Gnu/Linux! & why would you want to?

    IIRC, they have CrossOver Office installed. You can go into the wizard thing and have it install Internet Explorer for you. Before it does, it will ask you to provide a legal copy of Windows to get the files from. It's a pretty slick setup. Might be nice in an office setting, which is what it's marketed towards anyway.

  5. Xandros, your mothers distro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As an avid Debian user I wanted to move my parents from XP hell to a linux distro. But not having used (daily) any other distro in a long time I went looking for a polished debian based distro. After a quick trial of Knoppix I tried Xandros.

    Basically I was amazed at how simply the install went. Four clicks, amazing. Way better than any other distro or OS for that matter. They love it. No problems.

    So while Xandros may not get a thumbs up from hardcore linux users it's definately the most polished and the easiest (IMHO) distro to switch a windows user to.

    btw, hint for ppl trying to install Firefox on Xandros, 'xhost +' ;-)

  6. No. We need people that can... by Man+in+Spandex · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That is not the problem with Linux and Xandros haven't even pinpointed the problem.

    There are various problems on why Linux is "hard" for new users. The simple one that I can say is "UI". Everybody sees computer, that computer better have an interface like explorer or they are doomed! Let me go into detail with some points.

    - no unified DE.
    The silly "competition" of kde and gnome isn't helping too much. Having distributions lately taking preferences of a DE over another makes a user think that distro "A" sucks because distro "B" does not use what "A" use. In the end, they don't understand that it's all linux no matter what you choose.

    - No universal "format"
    This I'm afraid will take a long friggin time. Having rpm's for some, deb's for others, tgz for slack does not solve the main problem. Companies/organizations taking preference of a format/package over another. Look at ATI who take in favor of RPM-Based distros to provide their drivers (I am aware that they suck. This was simply an example). It's great to see that some provide .deb's and specific rpm's but it's not enough.

    A bit out of context but just to tell people that, yes Xandros may seem easy for some people but it's still Linux. You will have to face a challenge sooner or later. Linux isn't windoze where you don't need to understand what a certain action does in the background or how we can improve it. It's still an enthusiast "Operating System" (or Kernel. call it whatever you want) if you ask me which requires nonstop tweaking and you won't manage to do all of that from exclusively clicking your mice.

    Until we find a perfect "format" (??), different people will always take a preference over another.

    - package managers
    We need a way to track down what we install, modify or remove. In other words, something like apt but more global. This again I'm refering to the last point I made. Maybe if we had a universal format, maybe then we'd see various package managers available to almost all distributions to make the user's life easier. YES COMPILING "MIGHT" BE FUN FOR SOME But in a world like today, does every user care bout gaining those extra secondes on optimization which they aren't even aware of? Why should they care. They want to know how to install/upgrade/uninstall programs. This is why I show people new to linux the Debian distribution. They don't regret it.

    If I made mistakes of I need correction, please go ahead :p. I'm sure there are other reasons why it's hard to meet the needs of a migrating end-user and it would be interesting to know other people's point of views for me and you and YOU.