Xandros Desktop Professional

by CSDC

Product Features

• Xandros runs important Windows applications including MS Office
• Create, open and edit MS Office files with Openoffice.org
• Powerful Security - Included firewall, anti-virus, file-system protector and Xandros Networks update alert
• Authenticate to Windows PDC and Active Directory Domains
• Connect to wired and wireless networks; use PPTP VPN to connect remotely to the office

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000NLFR0E
• Item model number: DSKB400NAEN-M
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,667 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #80 in Software > Operating Systems > Linux & Unix
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Xandros Desktop - Professional is a complete Linux desktop operating system and applications suite that today's business needs to securely work, communicate, network and remain competitive. Discover how easily your business can benefit from Linux and bring security, stability and manageability to your PCs. Manageability, productivity, security, connectivity and value... Xandros Desktop - Professional has it all. Broadband wireless connectivity with 3G, GSM and UMTS support

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ideal and stable Linux distribution for the business user!, May 16, 2007

By 

nagappa (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xandros Desktop Professional (CD-ROM)

Xandros Desktop is a Debian based Linux distribution which is intended for business users. As such, it is stripped off the usual "geek-ware" found in most Linux distributions but includes applications most commonly used by business users, including OpenOffice (a full featured office suite which is file compatible with MS Office) and Code Weaver Crossover Linux, which actually lets you run your MS Office and other Windows applications natively!

I have been using Linux since 1997 and have used many flavors and distributions, including Red Hat, Slackware, Mandrake and Caldera OpenLinux.

Xandros 4.1 Desktop (Open Circulation Edition) was by far the easiest to install. It installed painlessly on my Toshiba Satellite P100 laptop and spared me of the usual trick questions during installation. It recognized my Window XP installation, resized the Windows NTFS partition painlessly and installed its own boot manager - allowing me to dual boot with Windows XP. (Xandros also supports dual booting with Vista, and the information is in the website FAQ). I was quite pleased with its plug-n-play capability. It even recognized my Targus PA095 port replicator, and allowed me to use an external keyboard and mouse connected to the port replicator.

The only problem I had with my installation was the sound did not work on my Toshiba Satellite P100. I found that the problem was with Toshiba's Differentiated System Description Table (DSDT) in the BIOS. Detailed steps to fix this are posted in the Xandros user forums under the Sound category. Now, with sound working, I am able to enjoy DVD movies and listening to CDs.

If you are a Linux geek, or a quasi Linux-geek like me, then all the geek-ware you need like C/C++ Development environment, Linux source code, KDE Dev tools, etc. are available in Xandros Networks, accessed by an icon on your Desktop. Installing them is a breeze. Just a couple of clicks, max. You can also use the familiar Debian "apt-get" command to get other tools you may need.

The Xandros KDE Desktop is the most intuitive Linux Desktop I have experienced. With in-built as well downloadable custom themes, wallpapers and screen savers, the Desktop experience is a rich and elegant one. It is certainly better than Windows XP. Initially I thought the Desktop was not as good as Vista. Boy was I glad to be proved wrong!

My laptop has an nVidia GeForce Go 7300 video card, which supports 3D graphics acceleration. After upgrading the nVidia driver in my Toshiba laptop pretty painlessly with instructions in nVidia's website, I got the Linux 3D Desktop to work wonderfully. (Type '3ddesk' in a terminal window). I also got the "3D Effects" feature to work by just tweaking a couple of files. (Search for Compiz and nVidia in the Xandros forums). This feature allows you to rotate the desktop as a three dimensional cube. It also has the cool "wobbly window effect". Check out the "Customer Images" under the Xandros image at the top left of this page. This Desktop experience puts Windows Vista to shame!!

Overall, I am pretty pleased and will definitely keep Xandros in my laptop to dual-boot with Windows XP. I would have rated Xandros 5 stars, but took away one star for the problem with the sound - which required a manual procedure to resolve.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Still Falls Short, February 11, 2008

By 

William B. Dwinnell IV (King of Prussia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Xandros Desktop Professional (CD-ROM)

If what you want is a Windows-like experience from Linux, then this distribution will only get you part of the way there.

Good (Specific to Xandros):
-Easy installation
-Desktop is much like Windows, and offers some nice extras
-Comes with some applications which install with a button-push

Bad (Specific to Xandros):
-Poor audio hardware support
-Extremely poor technical support from Xandros

Good (Shared by all Linuxes):
-Freedom from MicroSoft and Apple
-Stable operating system

Bad (Shared by all Linuxes):
-Application installation is still needlessly complicated

Xandros may meet your needs if you're already a Linux-type who wants to tinker with the innards of the system, but I would suggest trying something else if you need a Windows replacement for average users.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Product, November 14, 2007

By 

Blue Blazer 62 (Chesterton, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xandros Desktop Professional (CD-ROM)

Installed without a hitch on its own hard drive. Recognized all hardware and internet connections. Partitioned hard disk. User manual excellent. Downloading applications through Xandros Networks is a snap. Installation or removal of applications is easy. Technical support has been fast and excellent. My only minor gripe is that Networks needs to make available most recent versions of KDE and OpenOffice products. Also, despite excellent tech support, can not get KOffice applications to open. Other KDE products, such as Kmail, KPIM, Konqueror work fine.

Dual boot software for Xandros and Windows works well. I am having fun learning Linux, although a bit of a challenge to me. File management utility takes a little learning. I have not yet tried all the applications, like video playing, photo downloads, disk burning, music, Crossover, so my limited experience to date allows only for a 4-star rating. Have used product for two months.