Xandros

[pjpeter]

Just out of interest; what makes Xandros different from Ubuntu that we have to pay for it??

[whitefang5412]

I've often wondered the same thing. Maybe someone will have some input on this.

[jrusso2]

Nothing really if anything its worse. Xandros is still running KDE 3.3. It does come with and old version of flash and java and nvidia/ATI drivers. It has a pretty nice file manager with samba and nfs integration. It can login to Windows domains.

All the software is old and their repository doesn't keep up with upgrades. All in all its not worth buying. Too bad though because they have some good ideas, but poor implementation. Just like Linspire.

[smoker]

xandros and linspire did deals with microsoft, so maybe that has something to do with it(?)

both seem to be shuffling their way rapidly down the distrowatch charts though, so there are plenty of free distros to try that are far more popular, ubuntu, for one :-)

[Antman]

There is a rumor that Xandros is working (slowly) on the next version. But their main focus is on creating easy to use utilities and apps for the Linux server market. So who knows if that rumor is true or not.

[whitefang5412]

I want an asus EEE, but I'm worried about xandros, because I've heard it's so outdated. I would just run xubuntu on my EEE, but my wireless drivers are something I fear. Oh well. We will see when I get mine.

[dca]

A lot has to do w/ patents. Both Linspire and Xandros release Linux-based operating systems that include all the necessary tidbits to play DVDs, MP3 CDs, etc, etc (patent encumbered technology that pretty much affects US, Europe, Japan, et al) out of the box. Some of that money you spend on the OS gets sent over to the Germans who hold the licenses/patents for MP3/4 technology, the consortium who handles the libdvdcss stuff, etc, etc.

Not to mention, they both try hitting on the enterprise desktop end which lets face it, Novell/SLED pretty much has that covered.

[dca]

I want an asus EEE, but I'm worried about xandros, because I've heard it's so outdated. I would just run xubuntu on my EEE, but my wireless drivers are something I fear. Oh well. We will see when I get mine.

The Xandros running on EEEEEEEE is a lot different than the KDE-based outdated vers avail on their website. It's scaled down w/ a different UI. If I remember correctly I believe Mandriva also offers an EEEEEEEEEEEEPC-based vers of their distro. In fact I'm almost positive because their port of Madwifi is what allows my Ambit AR5006/7/5212 (whatever the heck it is) in my Acer laptop to work w/o any patches...

[jrusso2]

I want an asus EEE, but I'm worried about xandros, because I've heard it's so outdated. I would just run xubuntu on my EEE, but my wireless drivers are something I fear. Oh well. We will see when I get mine.

The version of Xandros for the EEEPC was customized for that hardware so if you do change it you need to use on tailored for EEEPC. That way the wireless and webcam will work.

I think its probably best to leave the OS it came with on it and read the forums to find software that will run on it you can get from the debian repos.

[cavrep]

Just out of interest; what makes Xandros different from Ubuntu that we have to pay for it??

1. Xandros is the largest selling Linux OS thanx to the Eeepc
2. Xandros includes Wine
3. The Eeepc uses Xandros 4.5

[C!oud]

1. Xandros is the largest selling Linux OS thanx to the Eeepc
2. Xandros includes Wine
3. The Eeepc uses Xandros 4.5

and they just bought out Linspire