Xandros
The Xandros Desktop 3.02 OCE, using the Microsoft Windows theme |
| Website: |
xandros.com |
Company/
developer: |
Xandros Incorporated |
| OS family: |
GNU/Linux |
| Source model: |
Mix of free and proprietary
software |
| Latest stable release: |
4.1 / November 28, 2006 |
| Kernel type: |
Monolithic kernel (Linux) |
| Default user interface: |
KDE |
| License: |
GPL and other licenses |
| Working state: |
Current |
|
Xandros is both the name of a line of Linux distributions and Xandros
Corporation, the company which creates them. Xandros Desktop is a distribution known for its focus on business and
mainstream users, as well as its visual similarities to Windows XP. The name Xandros is
derived from the X Window System and the Greek island of
Andros.[1]
Founded in May of 2001, the company is headquartered in New York City. Their distributions are based on Corel Linux, a
Debian-based distribution which was acquired along with the development team behind the product
from Corel Corporation in August 2001 after Corel decided to leave the Linux
distribution market.[2] Xandros is also a founding member of the Desktop Linux Consortium.
In July 2007, Xandros bought Scalix, a Linux-based email and collaboration product, based on
HP OpenMail.[3]
Products
Xandros makes products for both the consumer and business markets. While the distributions include much free and open-source software, Xandros is criticized for
inclusion of proprietary software developed in-house by the Xandros
Corporation.[4]
For more information on specific editions of Xandros, see the Xandros Desktop Matrix.
Commercial editions
- Xandros Desktop Home Edition
- This edition comes with full-speed CD/DVD burning and a 30-day trial of Crossover Office. It also includes an "Applications
CD" which includes extra programs which can be installed via Xandros Networks. As opposed to Home Edition Premium, the Home
Edition does not include the photo manager, music manager, security suite, wireless profiles, or the ability to write to
NTFS partitions.
- Xandros Desktop Home Edition Premium
- This edition comes with full-speed CD/DVD burning, a full version of Crossover Office Standard Edition, and a second CD (the
"Applications CD") which comes with extra applications which can be installed via Xandros Networks. Contrary to its name, Xandros
Desktop Home Edition Premium does not include a Xandros Networks Premium Membership. Xandros Desktop Home Edition Premium
includes a photo manager (powered by DigiKam), an iPod-compatible
music manager (powered by Amarok), wireless profiles, an integrated security suite,
and the ability to write to NTFS partitions.
- Xandros offers a 30-day trial version of Xandros Home Edition Premium as a free download for evaluation purposes.
- Xandros Desktop Professional
- Formerly known as Xandros Desktop Business Edition, this edition is basically the same as Xandros Desktop Home Edition
Premium, but it includes the ability to authenticate to Windows PDC and Active Directory Domains, connect to wired and wireless
networks, use PPTP VPN to connect remotely to the office, and use broadband wireless connectivity with 3G, GSM and UMTS support.
Xandros Desktop Professional was officially released on November 28, 2006.
- As with Home Edition Premium, Xandros also offers a 30-day trial version of Xandros Professional.
Xandros 4.0 was criticized for the addition of a product activation feature similar to the one found in Windows XP. However,
unlike the Windows XP product activation code, which is required in order to use Windows XP after 30 days, the Xandros product
activation code was used to authorize a copy of Xandros to download programs and updates from Xandros Networks, Xandros'
proprietary apt-based download tool similar to Linspire's CNR. When the OS is first installed, Xandros Networks is disabled; it has to be enabled by using the
product activation code. Users must contact Xandros Support for further activation codes after they pass a 10 activation limit.
After much criticism over the product activation feature, Xandros released the Service Pack 1 update to Xandros 4.0 which did
away with it; Version 4.1 of Xandros, which has the Service Pack 1 update integrated into the OS, does not have product
activation.[5]
Discontinued Editions
- Xandros Open Circulation Edition (OCE)
- This edition was a freely redistributable edition for non-commercial use, with a limited set of additional software. Soon
after the 4.0 version was released as a DVD shrinkwrapped with Linux magazines, the torrent was pulled from Xandros' servers and
all references to OCE removed from the Xandros website without explanation (possibly due to the "collaboration agreement" signed
with Microsoft). Previous version of Xandros OCE were generally released about 4 months after the release of the commercial
versions. [6]
- Xandros Desktop OS Standard Edition
- This edition was basically the same as the Open Circulation Edition, but it included full-speed CD/DVD burning. This product
has been replaced by Home Edition.
- Xandros Desktop OS Deluxe Edition
- This edition included an "applications CD" which included extra programs which could be installed via Xandros Networks. This
product has been replaced by Home Edition Premium.
- Xandros Desktop OS Surfside Edition
- This edition was basically the same as Xandros Desktop OS Standard Edition, however the Surfside Edition also included a
Plantronics USB headset and 120 minutes of SkypeOut service.
Server OSs
Xandros Server 1.0 has been released in April 2006.
Xandros Server 2.0 has been released in May 2007.[1]
Xandros Desktop Management Server (xDMS) is already available. It easily sets up repositories as it deploys customized Xandros
Desktop configurations across a large organization.
Look and feel
Xandros 3.02 Open Circulation Edition, using the GNOME desktop environment, and running
Apple
iTunes 4.9,
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, and
Mozilla Firefox
The Xandros GUI uses a modified version of KDE,
which includes replacing Konqueror with its own proprietary file manager called XFM. It also
uses a package manager known as Xandros Networks, which handles installation of software. Installation of Xandros is done
by a wizard that asks questions about partitioning and the administrator (root) password.
The KDE interface has been modified to resemble Microsoft Windows, with a rectangular "launch" button similar to the Windows
Start button, modified context menus, and a file
manager with a Windows 98 appearance.
The package includes several other themes including KDE, Mac OS 9, and Unix.
It is possible to install and use the GNOME and XFCE desktop
environments on Xandros.
Collaboration with Microsoft
On 2007-06-04, a "broad collaboration agreement" between Xandros and Microsoft was
announced.[7] The agreement included "patent covenants [to
not sue] Xandros customers", similar to the agreement that Microsoft reached with Novell which
has been widely criticized within the free software community. To date, there
has been no real evidence that any patent infringement has occurred. Microsoft appears unwilling to specify which patents have
been infringed. Because this deal was signed after March 28, 2007, Xandros will apparently be unable to distribute software licensed under version 3 of the GNU General Public License while party to the patent arrangement.[8]
- See also: Software patents and free
software
Awards
Xandros has won awards for their products, including the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo's Best Front Office Solution,
various editor's choice awards in several magazines, and the CNET Editor's Choice award.
See also
Notes
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
