Lindows update... You should read this!

CSFM

Senior member
Oct 16, 2001
518
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0
I am on the mailing list for Lindows, I got this sent to me this morning. Interesting read, and as a lot of you already know who this guy is I will leave the judgements up to you. ;)

Why Lindows.com?

Many of you have taken the time to write me about my new venture Lindows.com, and I've tried my best to personally respond. The most common question asked is, "Why are you doing Lindows.com ?" The answer is straightforward -- the world needs it, the technology industry needs it, computer owners need it. What is 'it' you ask? Choice. Putting another choice on the shelf for consumers is the ultimate tonic for high prices, restrictive licenses and intrusive security measures. The power to choose means consumers will be in the drivers seat and not beholden to the policies of one company.


Where there isn't choice consumers are treated to a mix of high prices, poor service and a lack of innovation. Imagine if there were only one company that produced gasoline and they had just one gas station in your town. How much do you think the gasoline would cost? Under what hours would the station operate? That's exactly the situation we have today with computer operating software. New OS pricing structures mean consumers are paying much more for their OS software while prices for virtually every other piece of PC hardware and software drops.

In times like this, it's important to think back on what an operating system does. It is the software that allows you to interface with your computer. This means primarily creating and managing files and folders and installing and running software. In spite of the rhetoric you might have heard, it's not something that radically changes every two years. This is not to say that it's not a complex undertaking. When Lindows.com ships LindowsOSTM, the product will have more than 10 million lines of code. When you divide the costs over a large number of customers the price should be reasonable and become more affordable as the sales numbers reach the millions.

Our goal at Lindows.com is to build an affordable, easy-to-use, highly compatible operating system. We're not the first to attempt such an undertaking, but a few features make our approach unique and compelling. The first is our Windows Compatibility Module, which means that software written for Windows® computers will run on LindowsOSTM, which is a LinuxR-based operating system. To understand the importance of this, it's essential to understand that because of the way most software is written, it will function only on one operating system. For example, Windows® software will not run on a Linux® operating system and vice versa.

Up until the advent of LindowsOS, making the decision to switch operating systems meant abandoning all of your software and repurchasing new software. Not only is this expensive, it's virtually impossible for many people. Sometimes there isn't equivalent software and even if there is, learning a new piece of software takes time and effort which is better spent on productive work. Moreover, there's almost always an issue with the inability to read historic documents or swap files with others who may not have made the switch. These problems vanish with LindowsOS because popular Windows software can be installed and run in the familiar fashion people expect without any speed degradation. LindowsOS owners get the best of both worlds because they can install and run both Linux and Windows software.

Another emphasis with LindowsOS is making it easy to install and maintain. Setting up a LindowsOS computer takes just a couple of mouse clicks with no need to install a new drive, reformat or partition a hard drive, backup data or other technical tasks which require valuable time and computer expertise.

Adding software takes just a couple of mouse clicks. Hundreds of software titles can be purchased (if required), downloaded and installed with just a few clicks, making the entire process completely digital. The end result is a quick and efficient method of software delivery. (When you think about it - isn't it crazy that we're still selling and delivering software in cardboard boxes?)

These unique features, along with a budget-friendly license, per person rather than per computer, ensures that LindowsOS will be a great value for anyone looking for a modern, compatible choice for their computer. No doubt, we have a big job ahead to deliver on these promises. We are truly thankful for those of you that have offered to help Lindows.com succeed. We'll be sending email to those on our mailing list telling you how you can lend us a hand and get the first look at LindowsOS. Don't hesitate to send me your comments and feedback.

Michael Robertson



CEO of Lindows.com

michaelr@lindows.com

To comment on Michael's Minutes, email comments@lindows.com

Lindows.com will be launching an innovative program called "Insiders" next week.
Add Lindows.com to your favorites list and stay tuned to find out more.

LindowsOS is a trademark of Lindows.com, Inc. Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Microsoft® Windows® operating system is a registered trademark or service mark of the Microsoft Corporation.
 

StuckMojo

Golden Member
Oct 28, 1999
1,069
1
76

oh boy! linux with wine installed.....except you have to pay them $99 for it.
i don't get what the big deal is.
 

StuckMojo

Golden Member
Oct 28, 1999
1,069
1
76

it also sounds like he's basically stealing linux and wine, and then charging for them.
these things are free. if you add to them, you're supposed to release your changes
for free. keeping it proprietary and selling it is at the very least a violation of the
spirit of the GPL.
 

CSFM

Senior member
Oct 16, 2001
518
0
0
I though you guys would say this. I think your right... I suppose I just wanted to provoke a reaction. I still think it would be interesting if he is successfully in competing with Microsoft. Although it is not very likely. :disgust:
 

StuckMojo

Golden Member
Oct 28, 1999
1,069
1
76

dont get me wrong, i think the best thing that could happen to linux is a wine
that really worked...i just think this guy is sh*t for taking the code and charging for it.
i think it violates the GPL, and its wrong. takes advantage of all those people who
did all that work for free.
 

CSFM

Senior member
Oct 16, 2001
518
0
0
don't get me wrong, I think the best thing that could happen to Linux is a wine that really worked...I just think this guy is sh*t for taking the code and charging for it.
I think it violates the GPL, and its wrong. takes advantage of all those people who did all that work for free.


I couldn't agree with you more. If you read my other post in this forum about REDHAT and the statement made at the MS anti-trust case you would understand that I am just as passionate about opening the OS market so the average home user and schools aren't locked into MS products as a result of the latest proposal from the US courts.
I don't think the answer lies in "Lindows" as most of the people who use this first are going to be people like you good self and I... and if it falls down in front of me I am never going to let my clients or anyone else for that matter, use this product on their systems.

I like the fact that this guy is giving something a go.

And as for him stealing work that was already done for him.... he is really only doing what MS have been doing since the day MS Win95 was created and maybe even earlier. They never came up with the ideas first... they stole them and put a patent on them and said "look what we did"...
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
1
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<< dont get me wrong, i think the best thing that could happen to linux is a wine
that really worked...i just think this guy is sh*t for taking the code and charging for it.
i think it violates the GPL, and its wrong. takes advantage of all those people who
did all that work for free.
>>



If that is all it is, and they made no changes, it does not violate the GPL.
 

xaigi

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,235
0
0
Hey stuckmojo!

There is absolutely nothing in the GPL that says that you cannot charge for software. In fact, the license actively supports it. The GPL simply states that, when you distribute software that is based on something GPLed, you must offer to give everyone who you distribute it to a copy of the source and license it under the GPL.

He doesnt have to make his source downloadable, he needs only to give a copy of the source to anyone who pays the $99 for the software. Of course, once he gives them the source, they are free to distribute it as they wish.
 

StuckMojo

Golden Member
Oct 28, 1999
1,069
1
76

according to his website, he's making the additions proprietary and closed source.

i might be reading it wrong....it may say that this business model will be like
redhat...you can download it for free, or order the cd and pay.
 

BlvdKing

Golden Member
Jun 7, 2000
1,173
0
0
I got this email as well. I am looking forward to Lindows release. I would love to run Office 2000 or XP on Linux, there is no match for them. I also would like Windows games to run on Lindows as well. I don't know why Lindows would be a bad thing - Linux OS running Linux and Windows apps sounds like a dream to me!