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Review of LindowsOS/Linspire version 4.5 on linux.com http://desktops.linux.com/article.pl?sid=04/01/06/2224232&mode=thread&tid=45&tid=92&pagenum=2

NEWS UPDATE: (April 14, 2004) Lindows has adolpted a new name. They still have the old name, but on the internet, the company and OS software are now "Linspire." If I understand Michael Robertson's explanation correctly, then even though both Lindows and Microsoft are American companies, Microsoft has chosen to sue Lindows IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE OUR AMERICAN LAWS AND LEGAL SYSTEM DO NOT EXIST. Click the link to read the story in "Michael's Minutes". http://www.linspire.com/lindows_michaelsminutes_archives.php?id=112 On April 6, CEO Michael Robertson wrote, "To assure that we can do business globally, we are in the process of selecting a different name for our web presence and product name." Due to Microsoft suits against Lindows IN OTHER COUNTRIES, Lindows cannot use the name, "Lindows," on the internet. You see, anything that is on the internet can potentially be viewed in any country. Therefore, you can be fully legal in your own country and still be sued in other countries. Sounds pretty scary to me!

LindowsOS is based on Debian, KDE, Samba, CUPS and other software familiar to Linux users. Samba provides networking compatibility with MS Windows. (Samba Note: To get the most out of Samba you need to be logged in to Linux, not Windows. Your Linux system can read several MS filesystems, but your Windows computer cannot read any of the UNIX/Linux file systems.) Lindows's main strengths include it's "Click'n Run" program installer (package manager) and the "Click'n Run Warehouse" where numerous Linux applications can be downloaded and installed online. There is also a CD version called "Click'n Run Express" which can be downloaded and burned to a CD(no fee) or ordered for home delivery for a small CD charge. I recommend burning a CD so that you have a backup, but using the online "warehouse" when possible. Should Lindows ever be gobbled up by a mega corporation (the evil empire?), you would still be able to install/replace your applications from the "Click'nRun Express" CD. New applications are being continually added to the online "warehouse."

LindowsOS is proprietary to the point that they can charge for the OS and for access to the "Click'n Run Warehouse." Lindows charges for membership, but it is very convenient to have a single place to get a warehouse full of Linux applications and OS enhancements. Also they make it easy to keep up with your installed software via your "My Products" and "Aisles" once you log in to the web page. There is no added charge for downloading most of the software in the online "Click'n Run Warehouse" once you are a registered member, but some applications do cost extra. For example, "Win4Lin" is available at a discounted price.

• Innovation:

• Enhancements in LindowsOS v.4

• Concern #1: PRINTING I have had little joy trying to print from Linux, and this has been the one thing that has made me keep my dual boot [MS & Linux] configuration. I insist on using my new Panasonic KX-P7100 duplex lazer printer and my (very cheap) Canon BJC-2100 color inkjet rather than shelling out more dough for a printer from the Linux HCL. I did have the Canon inkjet working via CUPS at one time, but somehow, it quit working. Besides, it printed text and eveything in graphics mode, which is intolerably slow. I am still using Win98 for printing, so I am not getting much use out of LindowsOS. (Ron Duncan)

• Concern #2: DOCUMENTATION for LindowsOS. Mandrake, SuSE, Debian and many other modern DESKTOP distros provide fully graphical system configuration, however, until today, I had never seen or heard of a book that would help configure LindowsOS [or Debian or KDE] that would help me configure my OS. Lindows has been very modern in not providing written training materials. Instead, they provide some electronic documentation and audio tutorials via a life vest icon on the task bar. Just tonight, though, I found a 350 page book called "Lindows Fast and Easy" from Premier Press. ISBN 1592000606 http://www.microcenter.com/bookstore/single_product_results_books.phtml?product_id=156935

• Concern #3: LINUX LEARNING CURVE If you are a UNIX/Linux guru and know command line Linux and scripting, your view may be different from mine. But, since the aforementioned modern desktop distros have graphical configuration tools, there should be good documentation for GUI-style configuration. LindowsOS and other modern distros are intended to be easy to use. Unfortunately, training materials for the graphical tools do not seem to be nearly as readily available as is the OS software, itself. For the most part, each distro has a different set of configutation tools and package managers. SuSE has a configuration tool called "YaST." Debian has a package manager called "apt-get" ). Red Hat has a package manager called "RPM" (Red Hat Package Manager) and there are probably others. UNIX Gurus, don't get me wrong! I loved writing complex batch files and using command line programs in DOS, but that knowledge has not been enough to make it easy for me to set up my print services (CUPS [or lpd, or BSD]) or my Samba (TCP/IP) network.

COMMENTARY -- A couple of notes: 

• Perhaps  (and "apt-get")  should be  (including "apt-get")  -- "apt-get" is the name of a program, "apt" is not. 
  "apt", for advanced package tool, is the name of the suite of programs. 

• I haven't messed w/ printing & CUPS, but my batch file experience has been very useful in setting up SAMBA.  If nothing else, I was used to dealing to dealing w/ ASCII files that required me to express myself precisely.  In other words, configuration files were very comfortable. 
  

  Knoppix.net had (has?) a great SAMBA guide. 

-- RickArchibald - 17 Dec 2003

• Concern #4: COLLEGE COURSES in LINUX & NETWORKING I have taken the first UNIX/LINUX course and the first networking course at Kingwood College. I was disappointed in that the courses are not at all designed to prepare you to use a modern X-window GUI like KDE. The course outlines are state mandated and were designed with the aparent assumption that the students are training to be Linux network/server administrators, not desktop OS users or desktop system administrators.

-- RonDuncan? - 11 Dec 2003