The San Diego-based company said Thursday that its new product, LindowsCD, is targeted at people who want to try Linux without altering or removing other operating systems running on their computers. The Linux OS CD is free for those who purchase or already own LindowsOS 4.0, the full-featured version of the company's software. The CD can also be purchased separately for US$29.95 (AU$45.59).
The compressed version of LindowsOS 4.0 offers many of the standard features for the OS, including Microsoft-compatible business applications, multimedia support for MP3, Real Audio and Flash. It also allows people to access Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel files without additional software, according to Lindows.
"Computer users don't always have a spare computer to try (Linux) out," Lindows chief executive Michael Robertson said in a statement. "When (LindowsCD users) are done, they simply remove the CD, restart their computer and will find it in its original state."
The company is also aiming LindowsCD at training laboratories where Linux is needed only part of the time.
However, industry analysts remain unconvinced that Linux is ready for consumption by the masses. Ted Schadler, principal analyst at Forrester Research, said a recent survey of 65,000 households in the US indicated that significantly less than 1 percent had deployed Linux.
"Maybe something like (LindowsCD) would appeal to a hobbyist or Linux enthusiast," Schadler said. "But consumers won't embrace Linux until they see games and popular applications widely available on the OS."
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This is a message to everybody who wants to try linux. I tried to install linux several times few years ago on a dual boot and never successful. I purchased Mandrake Linux 9.1 this time. It is so easy to install on Win XP. Insert the CD 1 and answer the prompts. It does everything for you. It is as easy as to install windows. It does partition the disk, restores the data, install linux and also install the bootloader program. It is user-friendly, runs some of the office programs etc. Eventhough, I personally feel that Linux still has a long way to go to beat Windows. I can't get away from Windows. My linux system also hung up and crashed quite a few times in the last one month. Word in Linux is not as good as word 97 etc. It is a good try installing Linux once.