forums.xandros.com

Doctore · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:45 am Post subject:

AND HERE WE GO AGAIN...

"Xandros" was once an bright star amongst easy to use desktop "Linux" distributors.
But now "Debian", "Mandriva", "Novell", "Red Hat" and derivates as "Fedora", "Mepis",
"PCLinuxOS", "Ubuntu" plus their derivates are more interesting. Forum visitors are
aware how this changed over the last year. The questions are: Is "Xandros" abandoning
desktop users? Can "Xandros" survive in the business with only commercial products as
"Server" and "Desktop"? Remember "Mandriva", "Novell" and "Red Hat" are all commercial
companys too, but offers free versions which creates some "Hype" around these companys
and their products. Dont forget "Canonical" and their business model...

Making "Xandros" shining again should be easy. All the important ingredients are allready
created and are ready to use. But "Xandros" seems to backpedaling their desktop iniatives.
First was "OCE" dropped. Then "Home" and "Premium" wanished. Does "Professional"
disappear tomorrow? When dies "Server"? Who will pick up the ashes?

FEW WELLKNOWN TIPS-4-FREE (AGAIN) FOR CREATING AN "LINUX" DESKTOP MONOPOLY
(AND HOW TO SUCESS WITH MINIMAL EFFORTS, BECAUSE NO OTHER MAIN PLAYER IS
DOING THEIR WORK IN THIS TERRITORY).

Some believes that offering the latest "cutting edge" software technology attracts most
of the users. The truth is that only geeks are interested. But does they use it for system
critical purposes? No! Businesses and ordinary users dont have time or want to waste money
on reinstalling their operating systems every half year. They just wants usable software
that works without problems with their hardware...

MOST IMPORTANT: Base the distribution on latest "Debian Stable". Why?:
-Its free and most other distributions are more or less based on it
-Because nearly all developmentwork is already done
-Bugs and security issues are mostly squashed out
-Just follow the "Stable" release cycles all the time
-Use the "Debian Stable" standard repositories
-Also use all the "Debian Security" updates
-Recommend "Debian Stable Backports" repositories for updated applications
-Use latest stable and wellproven standard "KDE" desktop enviroment
-Use an simplified "KDE" program menu similar to old "Windows" classic
-Deliver the most popular applications

Use and follow certifications from "Linux Standard Base":
-Compability has been and is more important than ever

Use latest stable kernel for good hardware support:
-Patch the kernel with commercial drivers also
-Make it also easy to upgrade the kernel when necessary
-Offer drivers as easy to install kernel modules
-Easier to use when everything works

Listen to the products users and the community:
-Establishes automatically good realationships
-Creates good reputation of continuity and quality

There are many other more or less important ingredients.
However above are probably the most important ones.

WHAT AND HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE DESKTOP SOFTWARE:

NUMBER ONE: An totally free "Live/InstallCD" (similar to other distributions) as
torrent download aimed at "All-Must-And-Has-To-Be-Free Oriented-Linux-Users":
-Control Panel for system wide adjustments similar to "Mandriva CC", reminding of "Xandros XMC"
-Filemanager similar to "Xandros File Manager"
-CD/DVD burning application similar to "Xandros DVD Burner"
-Hard drive tool similar to "Xandros Storage Manager"
-Easy to use "GUI" installer for application with similar functions as "Xandros Networks"
-Use same "GUI for installing applications and shopping from the distributions repository
-"Synaptic Packet Manager" for installing from "Debian" and other repositories
-The basic "KDE" applications
-Latest "OpenOffice" suite
-Latest "Mozilla Firefox" and "Thunderbird"
-Include "Java", "Flash" and other important plugins
-Universal messaging client and "Skype" internet phone
-"XMMS" Music and "XINE" Video players or similar
-"Firewall" for security
-And som other ingredients

NUMBER TWO: An commercial Live/installCD-SET as payed download or retail package:
-All included in the Free "InstallCD" above
-Plus easy to use "Security Suite" similar to "Xandros" (firewall, antivirus and malware protection)
-Plus easy to use graphical tool for Wine emulator (similar to "Wine Doors" etc)
-Plus "User manual" similar to "Xandros User Guide" and other freely available manuals
-Plus complete "KDE" applications
-Plus enhancements to "OpenOffice" suite similar to "OxygenOffice"
-Plus latest "Acrobat Reader", "Scribus" etc
-Plus latest "GIMP", "Inkscape" and other graphical software
-Plus latest "Opera" and torrent download software
-Plus more music and video players
-Plus latest "wine"
-Plus latest "VirtualBox"
-Plus many popular games
-Plus educational software
-And much more

NUMBER THREE: Use online store similar to "Xandros Networks Shop":
-But, make it usable on other distributions getting more customers
-For marketing commercial software
-Marketing important "hard to get" but free applications
-Sell applications included in the commercial version also for use in other distributions
-And for usable stuff not included in the commercial version
-Offer payed telephone support
-Plus other "things"

Will continue to use "Xandros" for now. But cant recommend the operating system to new
computer buyers when its unusable on latest hardware without necessary kernel updates.
Which is hard to understand when we are talking about an commercial product.

When selling and installing "Windows" and/or "Linux" software on new and old computers,
its preferrable to concentrate on only an handful operating systems which works on most
possible hardware. Also installing the same or similar free software in all operating
systems is both practical and economical, especially when talking about support.

The problem with most "Linux" distributions is the insane architecture changing tempo.
The few with continuity are "Debian Stable", "Red Hat Enterprise", "SUSE Enterprise" and
also "Slackware" (too difficult for ordinary users). "Windows XP" has survived over five years
and still remains usable. But there is no version of any "Linux" distribution that has survived
that long time. And which also easily can be installed on thee latest hardware...

TO ME IT HOPELESS CONTINUING WITH "XANDROS" DESPITE THE PRODUCT
IS EXCELLENT. ITS THE HARDWARE ISSUES, NOT THE MS AGREEMENT THAT
BOTHERS ME. HAD HOPES BEFORE, BUT IT DOESNT LOOK GOOD ANYMORE...
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XandrosAdminAJ · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:43 am Post subject:

In the windows world, i understand most users are not using vista, being satisfied with XP. For many users, you turn on the computer, do your work or play and if it works, they don't care about updates or up-to-date-ness.

I drive a 19 year old car (when I have to). My marriage is close to 30 years vintage and my T shirt today is from 1978 (I'll spare you the underwear details). I see no need to trade any of this in. Very Happy

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sqlpython · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:42 pm Post subject:

Doctore,
The Hardware/Software issues have always been a Xandros weak spot for users. This is nothing new. Are you just now discovering the issue?
In a nutshell Xandros tries for stability and so is v-e-r-y slow to upgrade Kernels and Libraries. In doing so the latest software and hardware has always been out of the mix.. However in doing so Xandros is not on the BUG radar. At least less likely to encounter BUGs.

So when I chose Xandros I knew and Expected to not be able to work with the latest the Linux world had to offer including workability in the world of latest Hardware or software.

However it would be nice if they mastered customer relations. Very Happy

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Doctore · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject:

sqlpython · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject:

I see what you mean.
However in my case I only made two installs without any service packs because I installed Xandros 3 Business Editions and went on to Xandros 4 Professional. These more mature releases required no service packs that I am aware of just the std XN updates..

Your right about MEPIS 7 of which I have 2 installs. GREAT!!
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geekydude · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:52 am Post subject:

I think you said it right....
Xandros has thee absolute worst customer relations I've ever witnessed!
No company can keep its customer base if their customers feel ignored or their issues aren't addressed.

Xandros doesn't even respond! Crying or Very sad

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LMan · Xplorer Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 7

ZUES · Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: In reply to UberOld post

I was a beta tester during the Xandros 4 testing process. I even did enough to score a boxed Professional version, including the manual, which is fairly thick and nice. I did indeed use Xandros for a while. Do I have any complaints? Yes!

I still have the same system as when testing was ongoing. I do however have a slightly newer Nvidia card. It's an MSI N9500GT to be precise. To this day, I have never been able to successfully use, compile, install or configure drivers for my card. Therefore, I have not been able to play my commercial games on it. I prefer to game on the Linux platform but this is very disappointing for me and for many others. I am posting this at such a late date because I have reinstalled a few times a year, checked the repos, hardware lists etc but still have no 3D in Xandros as I still noticed several days ago when I reinstalled once again.

Why is there a lack of development in this area? Is it because I am not paying for something? Look, the reasons I started using Linux in the first place was because of it's model. I needed to be in control, choose what I did not want during the installation or be able to remove it after and basically to have control over my system as I stated in the first place.
Over time, Linux vendors and over zealous users started to take away that control. Hiding applications, removing root logins and root passwords and other various important things from the systems and it is because of this that I don't use as much anymore. I am back to Windows XP as my main system and have noticed a depressed feeling when ever I think about how both Linux vendors and users alike have just blatantly screwed up in the OS arena, just as Microsoft has done but at least I can play my games and have 3D acceleration.

Users are sick of the crap. It's getting to be just as it was when we got sick of Microsoft in the first place but let's think about this. At the very least, they give us the immediate ability to install a proprietary driver for the hardware we purchased and our games work great most of the time. If this continues, we will be back at square one on one hand but on the other hand, Linux vendors will be losing their users and end up folding as many have been doing recently.

We love Linux but if you can't support us with simple 3D drivers and the like, then you will lose the fight in which you have spent so much money, time, and effort.
Think about it please. Thank you.
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russoje · Xplorer Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 59

And your using a Linux thats years outdated because? There are many that have current drivers available

gnuuser · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject: cost

what many people don't understand is that producing a manual and printing it is very expensive so is keeping and paying employees
while i would like to see all linux free many of the distros that you have to pay for are because of the need to cover expenses such as publishing and employees you should be glad that their cost is still much cheaper than micro$#!* and the trash that was written for it.
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