Review System
XANDROS 4.1: Linux is open to everyone

While the release of the new commercial operating system by Microsoft, Windows Vista, has been taking up a lot of news space since the start of the year, a number of other anticipated solutions like MAC OS Leopard are planned for release between now and June. Today we will therefore be looking at an interesting operating system – XANDROS. Based on the Debian distribution, Xandros posses some functions that will worry Windows Vista which we will see in this article.

Tags : xandros, linux, operating system

XANDROS 4.1: Linux is open to everyone

April 03rd, 2007 - 06:00 pm ET by Manuel D. C.
  1. 1 - Presentation
  2. 2 - Setup - part one
  3. 3 - Setup - part two
  4. 4 - Xandros Network: easy installation for applications
  5. 5 - K Desktop Environment
  6. 6 - 3D effects: an alternative to Vista's Aero interface
  7. 7 - Xandros Multimédia
  8. 8 - CrossOver: Windows emulation
  9. 9 - Xandros 4.1: the perfect Linux system?
Founded in May 2001, Xandros is based in Ottawa, Canada, and is attached to the Corel Linux division offering an operating system based on the Debian Sarge distribution.

The purpose of this distribution is of course to offer a ready to use work environment, while also allowing any Windows user to be able to migrate slowly to the world of Linux which has had problems trying to seduce normal users. At the same time, the professional world has crossed to the dark side without issue for a long time now.


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Selling for 79.99 dollars, Xandros comes in both a Home Premium and Professional version. The home edition is cheaper, coming in at 39.99 dollars, but it is more limited for the user in terms of functionality.

In this distribution you will have the possibility of:
  • Allowing Windows programs to function with the help of CrossOver Office. Programs like the Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Photoshop, World of Warcraft, Steam, Dreamweaver, Flash MX, iTunes, Quicktime and other will all work here.
  • Browsing the web with Mozilla Firefox 2.0
  • Using the Mozilla Thunderbird email client (Evolution with the Pro version)
  • Using the OpenOffice.org 2 suite
  • Managing your photos with Xandros Photo Manager (versions Premium and Pro)
  • Touching up pictures with The Gimp
  • Having online conversations with you contacts via Yahoo, Live Messenger (MSN), AOL and AIM
  • Managing your IP telephony (Internet Protocol): Skype is preinstalled with 30 minutes of free talk time
  • Managing wireless networks with Xandros Networks
  • using iPod MP3 players (Premium and Pro versions)
  • Writing CD and DVD’s with Xandros File Manager
  • Managing security with Xandros Security Suite – firewall (home edition), antivirus, and data encryption (premium and pro versions)
  • Creating MP3 files (Premium and Pro versions)
  • Managing your music playlists (Premium and pro versions)
  • Displaying 3D effects on your desktop (Premium and Pro versions)
  • Reading and writing Windows NTFS partitions (premium and pro versions)
  • Supporting 3G/GSM mobile phones (Pro version)


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