Red Hat Moves Away, Xandros Steps In

In the wake of Red Hat’s recent announcement about abandoning the desktop market in favor of the enterprise, several companies have quickly stepped in to proclaim support for Linux on the desktop. Most recently, Xandros not only proclaimed support for Linux on the desktop, but also released Xandros Desktop 2.0, a new Linux-based distribution with a graphical interface that the company has stressed is easy to use and simple to install.

Based on the “Sarge” version of Debian GNU/Linux and a Xandros-enhanced KDE 3.1.4, Xandros Desktop 2.0 offers compatibility with Microsoft Windows applications, including Microsoft’s office and networking environments.

“Let’s face it, most users are fed up with viruses, worms and the installation of patches,” commented Andy Typaldos, CEO of Xandros. “For the first time there is a real alternative, a new desktop for the masses. You work with Xandros just like the other desktop, only better.”

Whether you’re at home, school or work, said Typaldos, “you’ll find that Xandros Desktop OS is just what you need to share files, write a report, surf the Internet, listen to music, play games or do almost anything else.”

Key Features

Key features of the new software package include a four-click install with automatic disk partitioning and drag-and-drop CD burning through the Xandros File Manager. Users of the Deluxe Edition also have the ability to run Microsoft Office and other key Windows applications — directly within the Xandros operating system.

Both Standard and Deluxe editions can share files and resources on Windows networks, and both offer single-click access to a huge inventory of free Linux software. Xandros Desktop 2.0 also comes with a range of expected applications, including a Web browser and an e-mail client — with pop-up blocker and spam filter. The built-in instant messaging application will let users chat with others on MSN, Yahoo, AOL, ICQ and IRC.

In addition to this, Xandros Desktop 2.0 comes preconfigured to connect to hundreds of digital cameras and to record sounds from any microphone or stereo. The ability to play MPEG movies, Macromedia Flash movies and streaming video, streaming audio, MP3, WAV, MIDI and other audio files rounds out the multimedia capabilities of the new platform.

In Stores Soon

Xandros Desktop 2.0 will be available directly from Xandros on December 9th as well as from software retailers. The retail price for the Standard Edition, which comes with 30 days of e-mail support, is US$39.

The Deluxe Edition of Xandros Desktop OS carries a suggested retail price of $89. It includes a special Xandros version of CrossOver Office 2.1 that lets users actually run Microsoft Office and other Windows software. The software also provides the ability to allocate install space from a Windows XP (NTFS) partition. The Deluxe Edition comes with 60 days of e-mail support.

Current registered users of the Standard Edition of Xandros Desktop OS can upgrade to the 2.0 Standard Edition for $24.99 or to the 2.0 Deluxe Edition for $69. Current registered users of the Deluxe Edition of Xandros Desktop OS can upgrade to the 2.0 Standard Edition for $24.99 or to the 2.0 Deluxe Edition for $45.