adminfoo.net

Amidst the OS wars* out there, one thing many agree on is that linux needs a better desktop experience to be taken seriously. Folks often point to their grandma or Aunt Sally or whomever, and say 'when she can install and use it out of the box, linux will be ready for the masses'. But I'm going to sidestep any accusations of ageism or sexism by using nonexistent 'Uncle Bob' as my example user.

So today I installed the free Xandros Open Circulation Edition (Xandros sells more-functional versions of their customized linux at prices from $40-$130). I am very impressed; this is is the linux for Uncle Bob. Installation is a breeze. The desktop is simple and usable; if you can find your way around Windows XP, you can find your way around Xandros. Installed apps all have a familiar and consistent look-and-feel. The software installer (package system) is a breeze to navigate. Yet the system is built on the stable and well-known Debian base, so there's a good deal of existing knowledge out there if you need to go deeper than the excellent Xandros desktop and apps. And you admins should take note of the upcoming Xandros Desktop Management Server, designed to provide the enterprise-level management services linux has been sorely lacking.

My only real complaint? Firefox should have been the included browser, rather than Opera. But this small matter of preference is easily remedied by putting 'Xandros Networks' (the software installer, or package manager as the penguinistas say) into Expert mode, seraching for Firefox, and clicking the 'install' link. Uncle Bob coulda done that, you bet.

Want to know more? Check out these reviews: unixreview.com, Mad Penguin, Linux Journal, OSNews, PC Magazine.

To sum up: if you've been looking for a good linux experience, get Xandros, and Bob's yer uncle!

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*OS advocacy is something I'll be trying to avoid here at adminfoo. That said, I should make it clear that I spend most of my day working with MS servers. During various phases of my geek history there's been at least one period when it was mostly Apple OS's I diddled with; during another period I spent my days at a Slackware linux console. For whatever reason my career has lately been about MS operating systems. I make no apology for this; I'd rather get the job done than argue about the tools. I could use some more *nix-oriented authors around here though!