While looking on Downloads.com, I saw an ad for an unusual-looking Linux flavor--Xandros. Has anyone heard of this one? I know it costs $90, and I did not see a free-beer-free version of it. I'm wondering if it's any good or is just a copycat of Linspire. (I hated Linspire, was very sorely let down by my try at it.) I know I've seen Linuxes (especially stuff like RedHat Pro or MS-Linux, yes Microsoft has a Linux too!) for over $300 for use with large businesses. While I don't mind paying the $90, should I decide to nab it, I"m wondering what's so good about it that it costs so much, especially when other flavors, such as Debian or SuSE can be secured for only a third of the price, or if your connection is quick, you can get a variant free of charge.

www.xandros.com

Looks like it's $90 for the deluxe version.

My wife is not a computer person and I have had Xandros Open Cirulation edition (free) on her laptop for months now and it's great. It's a 100% pain free install. It has a great package management. I downloaded Tux Racer for the kids, Opera and Gaim.

I think the difference between the free and pay versions is mainly Crossover Office (lets you use MS Office on Linux)

I very new to Linux so it was a great starter for me. Now Im trying to get some of the more involved distros on my computer.

Crossover Office, would that run Unreal (the game) or just M$ Office? (If just Office, OpenOffice makes a fine replacement for me.)

I know I was just buzzing through to see what Xandros was about.

I am sure someone will correct me if Im wrong but I don't think I am...

Crossover office is only for MS Office on Linux.

You can get WineX or Cedega (both cost money... subscription) to run Windows games or you can run Wine (not WineX) free of charge but it isn't as easy as the pay services.

edit... I just reread your post.

What I said above is correct but you should also know that Unreal works in Linux natively as does Americas Army, DooM, Castle Wolfenstein and a bunch of others.

you can download the xandros oce of the net for free or buy it for about 5 bucks. linuxcd.org and so on

You can download the "Xandros Desktop OS Version 3 - Open Circulation Edition" for free via http or torrent.
http://www.xandros.com/products/shopping_home.html

"While looking on Downloads.com, I saw an ad for an unusual-looking Linux flavor--Xandros. Has anyone heard of this one?"

Xandros has a lot of users. 2/3 paying customer and 1/3 free.

There's a cheap pay version called premium support membership which gives several advantages without sending a box with a manual and Crossover&StarOffice as the full price versions.

Xandros is the one of several who has had the most things working in regards to the difficult multimedia.

They also have som home made user interfaces like drag and drop cd burning, application updates and file manager.

Xandros gets my full support specially suited for new linux users.

It is also a very very fast and painless install with no real room for making mistakes.

Did I forget to mention there is a free version called 'Open Circulation' which downloads via bittorrent? It's a little slow. When I uploaded the same it was extremely busy at all times, so you can see there is a lot of users streaming to.

I haved used for several months now without a single problem.

I found Xandros 3.0 Standard Edition on Buy.com for $35.00 with $35.00 reabate= FREE. I have ordered it and will give it a try. Cannot beat the price, if it is dud, I can always ebay it, i guess.