Customer Reviews

Xandros Desktop Home Edition Premium V4

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Users must activate this product with Xandros support in order to unlock some of the functionality of the product and receive critical product and security updates. Without product activation, users will not receive access to such updates. Should the user activate beyond a certain number of installations, they will be denied new activation codes until they have contacted Xandros support and explained themselves. Support may or may not then grant further activation codes.

This activation system is currently not documented anywhere on the main Xandros website, and users are not alerted to it during the purchase procedure or in the End User License Agreement.

It's among the most pricey of linux distros. Is it worth it? You could get Ubuntu for free. Oh, but then you have to run out and buy an external modem to run in Ubuntu.
Like most distros these days, Xandros can resize your NTFS Windows partition. Like a few, it can write to NTFS partitions. There is no need to create a FAT32 Windows partition for file sharing. I already have Partition Magic, but for a simple Windows and Xandros system you can probably do without it. Of course linux writing to NTFS could be a mixed blessing. In theory you might be able to destroy critical Windows files without the warnings Windows would give you. I have not tested this theory.
Xandros comes with a nice instruction manual. So does SUSE. I think Xandros is clearer and mostly more helpful.
Software registration is highly recommended. Unlike Windows, Xandros won't self destruct without it, but you will need it to access Xandros Networks for updates and additional software.
My computer is shop-built. It has an NVIDIA graphics card and a hardware controlled PCI internal modem. (Most new computers these days have PCI Winmodems.) Xandros recognized the modem as easily as Windows. MEPIS works with it, but it had to be manually set to ttyS4. I could not get Ubuntu configured for it. Xandros claims to work with some Winmodems, but I have not tested that. MEPIS 6 has shown that it can work with my laptop's Winmodem. Some distros offer excuses and a scavenger hunt for Winmodem drivers.
Xandros came bundled with 3D support for my NVIDIA card! SUSE and MEPIS don't. I have tried in vain to install that in MEPIS. Does it matter? Well, in Xandros it's not obvious. Planetpenguin Racer and Tuxkart don't come bundled. You can get Planetpenguin Racer from Xandros Networks, but you have to enter a search for it. You can apt-get Tuxkart from Debian unsupported. Experienced users may enjoy the hunt, but it's strange for a distro that otherwise appeals to beginners. To use apt-get from Console (Administrator) you must be connected to the internet and have Debian Unsupported selected in Xandros Networks. The book tells you how to select it. Synaptic Package Manager, a GUI version of apt-get bundled in many distros, is not provided in Xandros. You can apt-get install synaptic in Xandros. The only way to open it is using the Terminal Program icon from the panel while logged in as Root. There's a reason why they call it Debian unsupported.
CrossOver Office makes it possible to run some Windows programs. I was able to install MS Internet Explorer. This virtual Windows may not have full Windows functionality. In real Windows XP I can use IE to ftp files to my webpage. IE in linux lacked that ability. A good linux tool to do that job is gFTP. It's provided in MEPIS but not in Xandros. It can be installed in Xandros by apt-get.
Windows is still the champ at playing MIDI files. Xandros is not bad for a linux distro. MIDI Player comes with piano and guitar and plays all notes. There are actually useful instructions in the book to download and install the goemon library of instruments. Some instruments are so-so, but all notes are played. MIDI Player seems to automatically repeat, and I could not find a button to change that. By comparison MEPIS can work with Timidity and Freepats, but if an instrument is missing, notes are not played.
Xandros worked fine with my floppy drive. Most other distros do too, although MEPIS is an underachiever on that feature.
Kooka would not work with my Epson 4490 scanner in Xandros. Other distros that I have tried have not done better.
In conclusion, linux still cannot completely replace Windows unless you have scaled-back wants. Xandros 4 does seem to come closer than other distros that I have tried.

I bought Xandros because it is marketed as friendly for Windows-dependent users and I want to wean my wife from her dependency on Windows. Why spend money when Ubuntu linux and SUSE 10.2 Open Source are available for free? The answer is support and quality of provided documentation, along with ease of use and ease of installation.

BOTTOM LINE: Xandros is worth the money because of the ease of use and service provided. If you are less afraid of new territory, get one of the free distributions, such as Ubuntu, SUSE, etc.

For the record, I have played with Red Hat (Version 8), Mandrake (now Mandriva), Lindows (now Linspire), Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Debian, and SUSE 10.1. I still use Micro$oft Windows XP on a couple machines. I am running SUSE 10.1 on one machine, Ubuntu on another, Xubuntu on an older machine and am now running Xandros on main-linux-host. We have a hard wired LAN in the house.

Xandros installed painlessly and recognized my LCD monitor, where SUSE 10.2 would not configure X-Windows at all. Xandros installed my network printers absolutely painlessly.

Support is available only by email / web. However, the quality has been excellent.

I do have one gripe about the product. Xandros version 3 provided support for web hosting. Xandros Version 4 doesn't. They want you to spend over $400 and buy their server edition. Given that Apache (web hosting software) is available online for free and given that Debian, SUSE, and Ubuntu all come with Apache as standard, the decision to not support Apache with Xandros Version 4 seems wrong, in my not-so-humble opinion.

The installation of Apache under Xandros Version 4 has gone well, but you need to be a pretty serious geek to do it.

The Xandros people renamed a lot of programs available under Linux, to make the programs friendlier to Windows refugees. I think that was a dumb decision, but the programs are there.

Xandros comes with a program, Crossover Windows, to allow one to run some Micro$oft programs under Xandros. For a limited set of programs, it works well. For programs written to run under Windows, but not specifically crossed-over by Xandros, I've had limited success.

Updates and antivirus: Updates are painless and automatic. Xandros is one of the few Linux distributions to come with an antivirus package automatically installed. I'm not sure you need it, but it's there.

The desktop is painless to use. They avoid the Ubuntu mistake of not having a Superuser or Administrator log-in, so some functions are easier to use even than Ubuntu. If you want hand-holding and want to try Linux, buy this product. If you are not afraid to venture on your own, get the free version of Ubuntu, or SUSE, or Debian and buy one of the books. (Amazon also sells the excellent official book for Ubuntu.) You can also buy computers with a version of Linux already installed for you. Dell has partnered with Canonical to make Ubuntu available, and there are also versions of SUSE available.

Well I have been very interested in Linux for a very long time. i have tried several different releases of Linux from Redhat to Misc. Debian flavors to Linspire.

I found Redhat very adaptive and technically on top of their game but they were lacking in Hardware support. Linspire was very, very easy to use however they just weren't there in wireless networking support.

Now I came accross the Xandros Version 4 Release and was very interested. I installed it and was able to use my wireless internet connection with very, very little hassle. I was able to use my Microsoft drivers via the Crossover software and now I am up and running.

I am not a computer genious nor am I a newbie but I was able to get up and running within a few hours and very, very happy about it. I started with a dual boot Win XP / Xandros then I just formatted and went straight Xandros.

I am happy with the outcome and I look forward to the future that Xandros has to offer.

This OS is very, very stable and easy to use. You really cannot mess it up, but know that what it comes with it what will work with it without any trouble.

Install it with all the devices you have connected to the computer turned on. The OS sees them, and sets them to to install. Epson Printers, all in ones, are significantly supported while HP printers.. all in ones, are merely supported. One way or another.. it works and well.

A suggestion. Wipe a small disk (20 gigs).. nothing on it... start with the installation disk, select custom, and when asked, tell the OS to take over the disk. It will install with your goodies on it, and you will have a very fine and stable OS.

You have a list of programs you can select from and install in the Xandro icon. I prefer Star Office to open Office, but both are excellent. However, there is a text editor in there that is really, really good, easy to use, and posts to the Net without formating code included. And it has a spell checker.

It is really good if you are busy and don't ..play.. with your system. More than that, it is very stable and hackers don't get a easy shot at your system.

Xandros is OK but much to technical for a Windows user. It requires a knowledge of Linux. The first thing they tell you is don't use Root. Most Windows users wouldn't know what you are talking about. Linspire 5.0 is a much better product for this type user. I would say if you know Linux, then buy this product. If you are coming from Windows, buy Linspire.

Contrary to some of the other reviews here, a product key and registration are no longer required to use the Xandros OS. Once installed, the user can navigate to the Xandros site and download all critical updates along with free software from both the Xandros and Debian Repositories. The only restriction for non-registered users will be tech support, which the user forums are loaded with for free, and to which you will have total access.

One of the best things about Xandros in comparison to almost all other Linux distros (excepting PuppyLinux) is the almost automatic detection and configuration of both WinModems and Serial Modems for dialup access, as well as Wireless and Wired LAN hardware. With Ubuntu, SuSe, PCLinux, etc., you can literally spend days trying to get your WinModem to work. Serial Modems are easier, but more expensive. I have never had any problem with Xandros with any of this hardware, the detection and configuration being smooth and trouble-free.

This issue of Xandros comes with a full installation of Crossover Office (not a demo) to allow the user to install and use some Windows software. But for the most part, what you need in Windows can be done in Xandros. OpenOffice, for example, will read and write MS Office documents, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with the ability to save them in MS formats for use in Windows computers. GIMP can now do virtually everything PhotoShop does, with zero cost! One can choose from several disc burning software titles in the repositories, all free, to burn your data or copy to CD or DVD. While iTunes does not yet exist for Linux, I have found that RhythmBox is a viable alternative. Watch DVD movies with VLC, one of the more stable media players in Linux. ...and on and on and on.....

Mostly, anything Windows can do, Xandros can do, but without the virus problems. In fact, even though virus protection is not necessary with Linux, Xanros includes it along with a Firewall and File Protection software.

Still need Windows? Not a problem. Just install Xandros in the same computer, choosing "Keep Windows partition" during installation, and you will now have a dual-boot machine. When your computer starts up, you will see a splash screen to choose between the two OS's. When you are surfing the net in Xandros, you can actually download Windows software and simply drop it onto your Windows hard drive, visible from the Xandros side! Reboot into Windows, and there is your software, all without compromising Windows to internet virus attack.

I bought this Linux os because the motherboards of two of my older pc had died, and I did not want to spend big bucks for new Windows licenses when I rebuilt them with new motherboards. As a Linux newbie and somebody who is not very computer literate, I am very pleased with the results. This Xandros version shows much improvement over the free Xandros version 3.0.4. Installation was easy. I successfully configured my dialup connection using my Best Data external hardware modem. Configuration for my broadband connection was likewise a success. To make this os fully functional, one has to first download and install the latest adobe flash player, and then open the Xandros network page and download and install the service pack cache, followed by downloading and installing the service pack 1 for this os. The os came with a security suite with a firewall and an antivirus utilities. This is nice, even though I don't think I really need it for my home use. I briefly fooled around with the Codeweaver Crossover for Windows. I successfully downloaded and installed IE6 and quick time for Windows. All I can say is that it works. I would highly recommend the Xandros Home Premium V4 to any Linux newbies who want to build a new desktop for cheap.

This is the first time I can say a Linux distribution is really working for me. I am not a technical person, just looking for a solid OS that is less costly and more secure than the Microsoft product. I have used (and abandoned) V3 along with other Linux setups because of hardware detection hassles and complexity for the other users in my household.

V4 loads easily, recognizes my devices quickly, has integrated easily into the MS based home network and has a user interface that allows my wife and kids to use it without a lot of retraining. I am especially impressed with the improvement in wireless networking. V4 immediately recognized my adapter and network and just worked.

A terrific improvement. If you're not interested in learning to recompile your kernel, just in using your computer easily, this is for you. Goodbye XP. And Vista? Forget it.

Installing this os is easy. I set it up to dual boot with windows xp
no problems at all. it reconized all my hardware. I like it better than xp
because you have more control over everything! it does require some knowlidge of
linux, (but windows requires some knowlidge of windows) xandros website has a lot
of info in there user forums if you do have any problems. if you don't like vista
try this distro! its worth the $60 or so with all the software they include.