I am a systems builder who is very familier with windows operating systems (namely xp and 9x). I have kept an eye on the linux environment for a few years now looking for a good place to hop on the wagon so to speak. i recently heard about lindows and was wondering if it, or some other version would be a good place to get into the whole linux thing. Understand that i need to be able to use whatever i go with for ppl other then myself as i deploy systems for customers. I like microsoft products but they are so expensive it hurts every time i buy something.
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Lindows worth a switch from xp
- Thread starter artharjar
- Start date
Haven't used Lindows myself. It's a highly commercialised Linux version and not much used it seems (in part because of the price, you could get XP Home for not much more money and get a more mature OS for your average desktop computer).
Microsoft products in fact are not expensive at all compared to the competition (not counting freeware stuff like Linux).
Most if not all commercial competitors charge similar if not higher prices for usually inferior products (ever tried OS/2, WP Office, etc.?).
Microsoft products in fact are not expensive at all compared to the competition (not counting freeware stuff like Linux).
Most if not all commercial competitors charge similar if not higher prices for usually inferior products (ever tried OS/2, WP Office, etc.?).
- Thread starter
- #3
I realize that lindows is not considered hard core or "true" linux. On the other hand from what i can gather (wich is not much) it appears to be very simple and user friendly. In addition the price is not even close to that of windows. I know how much it costs to get xp and its close to $100 just for the home edition. Don't get me wrong i like XP but with lindows they claim that for $100 a year i can pre load as many systems as i want to. Imagin the cost of doing say 100 or 500 systems over a year with XP. What i want to do is migrate away from windows but only if i can resonably assure my customers that the difference is similar to the difference between say intel and amd chips or something like that. Is there a linux version that can support such a claim.
I don't know squat about Lindows, other than I've been told it runs at a very high security level, leaving it's potential security issues near the same as windows...
I would suggest looking into Mandrake, they've mapped alot of the windows keys over, and it's a snap to put on your average desktop computer. A little watered down the real geeks tell me, but suits my purposes and lets me work in Linux rather than work on Linux.
-Rob
I would suggest looking into Mandrake, they've mapped alot of the windows keys over, and it's a snap to put on your average desktop computer. A little watered down the real geeks tell me, but suits my purposes and lets me work in Linux rather than work on Linux.
-Rob
iSeriesCodePoet
Programmer
The only problem I have with selling Linux to customers is that they may want to buy a program for say Best Buy, and have it work. That isn't possible with Linux, to the best of my knowledge. I would LOVE to have the world you Linux and not Winblows, the reality is, for your average Joe Blow know-nothing user, it just isn't possible. Until 2 things happen, I can't in good consence tell everyone to use it.
1) You have to be able to buy software off the shelf.
2) It has to be "plug-and-play" software. Pop in a disk, hit okay 5 times, and it is installed and working. This doesn't work today in the same manner it does Windows.
Now, I am not saying they have to do it in the same way as Windows, they just have to make it easy.
iSeriesCodePoet
iSeries Programmer/Lawson Software Administrator
![[pc2]](/data/assets/smilies/pc2.gif "[pc2] [pc2]")
See my progress to converting to linux. The Programmer's Knowledge Base ->
1) You have to be able to buy software off the shelf.
2) It has to be "plug-and-play" software. Pop in a disk, hit okay 5 times, and it is installed and working. This doesn't work today in the same manner it does Windows.
Now, I am not saying they have to do it in the same way as Windows, they just have to make it easy.
iSeriesCodePoet
iSeries Programmer/Lawson Software Administrator
See my progress to converting to linux. The Programmer's Knowledge Base ->
sleipnir214
Programmer
That is the reservation I have about Lindows. They have done a very good job getting WINE to run Win32 software. There is still an awful lot of Win32 software that will not run on Lindows.
If you intend to run Lindows in order to do away with Win32 yet still run Win32 software, you should probably read this:
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions: TANSTAAFL!!
If you intend to run Lindows in order to do away with Win32 yet still run Win32 software, you should probably read this:
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions: TANSTAAFL!!
Lindows is okay, but still lacks a lot of things. My friend bought it and set it up- I played around with it and didn't like it that much. I still prefer a proper distribution.
The other downside is if Windows dies, so too does Lindows. If you use a proper Linux distribution installed to it's own paritions then you will have no problems and it will also be cheaper than Lindows.
My opinion: Go for something like RedHat or Mandrake, but Lindows will still be a good start point for learning.
The other downside is if Windows dies, so too does Lindows. If you use a proper Linux distribution installed to it's own paritions then you will have no problems and it will also be cheaper than Lindows.
My opinion: Go for something like RedHat or Mandrake, but Lindows will still be a good start point for learning.
And of course don't shove Linux down your customers' throats.
They won't thank you when they go out to buy the latest game and it won't even autorun the CD because they're not running Windows...
Lindows is meant to make people THINK they run Windows while they're not.
That means that your average non-techie might not even know his PC isn't running Windows and therefore can't run (most, with Wine) Windows software.
And even with Wine it often takes a lot of tweaking to get software to work (especially software needing DirectX, and then especially current versions).
By giving your customers Lindows you're doing them a disservice.
Best offer several options: Windows, Lindows and Debian (or Mandrake). That way they have a choice.
Clearly explain why they have to pay more for Windows and what the benefits are (compatibility with existing software and new hardware) vs Lindows (cheaper, but less compatible) and Debian/Mandrake (more powerful than Lindows but harder to use).
They won't thank you when they go out to buy the latest game and it won't even autorun the CD because they're not running Windows...
Lindows is meant to make people THINK they run Windows while they're not.
That means that your average non-techie might not even know his PC isn't running Windows and therefore can't run (most, with Wine) Windows software.
And even with Wine it often takes a lot of tweaking to get software to work (especially software needing DirectX, and then especially current versions).
By giving your customers Lindows you're doing them a disservice.
Best offer several options: Windows, Lindows and Debian (or Mandrake). That way they have a choice.
Clearly explain why they have to pay more for Windows and what the benefits are (compatibility with existing software and new hardware) vs Lindows (cheaper, but less compatible) and Debian/Mandrake (more powerful than Lindows but harder to use).
The few times I tried Lindows, I was unable to get it to even install the X system. Which I thought was its primary environment. And the thing about Lindows that I noticed was it didn't use its own linux system, it borrowed Debian if I recall. You can download debian or any of the other flavors of Linux for free, install KDE which is very similar to explorer, and it will be much more robust. Lindows might be a great experience for some, but my opinion of it was that it was crap, it cost too much for the little it gave you. I use SuSE which I find to be the best flavor of linux I have tried so far, with KDE 3.1 and wine its basically windows in the gui sense, but its still linux in every other sense and I like that.
John D. Saucier
jsauce@magicguild.com
Certified Technician
Network Administrator
John D. Saucier
jsauce@magicguild.com
Certified Technician
Network Administrator
Yeah i had a major problem with the fact that you can download Debian for free but they give you a crappy dumbed-down version as you've said, and they expect to you pay for it. Stay away from Lindows if you are trying to get the linux experience.
John D. Saucier
jsauce@magicguild.com
Certified Technician
Network Administrator
John D. Saucier
jsauce@magicguild.com
Certified Technician
Network Administrator
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