Michael Robertson Interview about Lindows 384
unclegus writes "I ran across this article talking about Michael Roberston and Lindows. Says a "Sneak Preview" will be available in a few weeks. Release 1.0 will be $100 for single user ..." Dan Gillmor, the author of it, has said that it appears to be the real thing - I'll be interested in getting my hands on it.
Interdev under Linux (Score:2, Interesting)
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Interesting work, from a technical aspect (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, they said they are focusing on only 10 or so applications. They list Work, Excel, etc. But what about future revisions of these programs? I wonder if Ms would purposefully change them to break under Lindows, which Lindows would have to change to accomodate.
So will this become a perpetual 'chasing' game, trying to catch up to Microsoft?
I know where my money's going (Score:3, Interesting)
He ran several Microsoft Office applications on his IBM ThinkPad, though some functions of those programs still aren't working properly under Lindows. They'll come in time, he says.
So, instead of paying $100 for a Windows upgrade that crashes occasionally, but runs everything, we can pay $100 for an OS that crashes occasionally and can't run everything.
missing the point (Score:3, Interesting)
ok, great. it runs windows apps. but the cost? (Score:3, Interesting)
Come on.
Unless it supports things like USB for devices Linux doesn't already support, etc. I really don't see this being a viable competitor.
My main beef w/Linux at this point is that I can't sync my Casiopeia via USB cradle (I have to use the serial keyboard "cradle") which is slow and painful.
My god damn parallel printer (HP 960c) is not very well supported and making a
If Lindows will solve those problems for me I would be less weary... For $100 though? I will suffer w/my serial cradle and using WP8 (which works w/the printer just fine).
Just my worthless
Screenshots (Score:4, Interesting)
http://www.lindows.com/lindows_products_screens
It looks impressive to me (so far).
Think Lindows isn't 'real'? (Score:3, Interesting)
The current WWN [winehq.com] is convering the progress for some new testing tools for Wine..
But what if Lindows.com already HAD those tools? They could have fixed those regressions already, and boom, you have a 'more complete' Wine.
I don't think LindowsOS running Win32 apps is all that impossible. All the parts are already there, they're just not all working at the same time.
Approach reminiscent of Transgaming (Score:3, Interesting)
There may still be a Linux market for Lindows' extensions to WINE or whatever they're building on, though. There are certainly worse ways to burn VC.
Re:Why in gods name (Score:2, Interesting)
That, as they say, is a very good question.
It isnt gooing to be ANYWHERE (Windows isnt stable you say, Ok , whatever but for running Windows apps youre going to tell me a hacked emulator is) near as stable for windows apps as windows,
A key stability issue with Windows is the kernel--if you run under a Linux or BSD/Mach/whatever kernel then a wobbly bit of software isn't going to cream it a la BSOD. And if the basic IP services and whatnot are on top of the thing like in UNIX then you don't have that "now reboot your computer" nonsense.
and the Linux stuff is going to get dragged down by bloating everything to the moon for compatibilty ???
You mean like with Gnome/KDE/Evolution Mozilla? Run mutt and lynx! :)
Trademark problems and pretty ones (Score:2, Interesting)
Comment removed (Score:2, Interesting)
What's the relationship between Lindows and WINE? (Score:3, Interesting)
Is Lindows just a WINE repackinging, and if not, what new code does it add that WINE does not have?
Re:vmware does it (Score:3, Interesting)
Hmm, funny. What is this
Keith Adams
(VMware engineer)
Re:Who's going to switch!? (Score:1, Interesting)
Photoshop IS supported even under the preliminary version of Lindows (0.90). As for other applications - it's important for us to release the initial version with MS Office support - once we get this turket out the door and make it stable - then other applications support will come.. watch us
Choice is a question... (Score:2, Interesting)
That's true, and that makes sense. However, consider Microsoft making another version of Windows. Sure, now we have another Windows we can use.... but there are factors other than the availability of a new product or piece of software that affect the amount of "choice" we really have. Microsoft affects user's choice by brute force. It's not just Microsoft though... it's a common practice in the software industry. So who's to say whether this Lindows company will provide us more "choice"? In the end, they are. Also consider that Microsoft can easily break Lindows compatibility with later versions of Office and what not. They have the upper hand in that battle (bar the U.S. government's hand in the matter). I'm not saying this will not be a good thing.... just stating some thoughts, and I welcome your thoughts/counterthoughts.
Re:Who's going to switch!? (Score:2, Interesting)
I am currently stuck using Windows 2k, I have cygwin, wincvs, litestep to make my life more livable, just so I can run Exchange/Outlook.
That's right. The corporate standard mail is what is generally stopping developers from shifting, and that's where the killer is. I'm eagerly awaiting Lindows and Ximians Exchange Connector, and whoever can get it working first and best will get my money.
Imagine the cost saving on having developers all using Lindows just from the uptime and availability aspects alone.
Caveat: I'm assuming Lindows will be as reliable as *nix, not as Windows.