| Xandros preps new Linux business desktop |
Nov. 22, 2006
 [Updated Nov. 27] -- Xandros Inc. will be giving business Linux users an early holiday present Nov. 28: Xandros Desktop Professional version 4.0.
This new version of this well-regarded Debian-based desktop is designed to work in both Linux- and Windows-based office networks. It comes ready for use on NT domain, AD (Active Directory), and Linux/Unix NIS (Network Information Service)-based LANs.
In particular, seamless integration into existing Windows-centric networks is provided through support of not domain and AD authentication, but logon scripts, and group policy profiles, as well. The distribution also supports writing to Microsoft's NTFS partitions, and integration with Microsoft Exchange email and groupware.
In addition, Xandros Professional deploys a customized KDE 3.42 desktop interface that looks and acts a great deal like the Windows XP interface. The purpose of all this is to have a Linux desktop that can work as a drop-in replacement for business Windows PC users on an NT, Windows 2000, or Server 2003 powered office network.
To help make it even more friendly to Windows users, Xandros Professional also includes the latest shipping version of CodeWeavers Inc.'s CrossOver Office. With CrossOver, users can run many -- albeit, far from all -- popular Windows applications. For business users, the most noteworthy programs that it supports are the Office 2000 and 2003 suites. For those who aren't wedded to Microsoft Office, the distribution also includes OpenOffice.org 2.0.
With the use of Xandros's xDMS (Xandros Desktop Management Server), administrators can install, update, and patch multiple Xandros desktops in an office.
This new distribution also comes with support for HSDPA UMTS (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), aka 3.5G mobile phone service. This is a packet-based cellphone data service that can deliver data transmission speeds of up to 8-20 Mbps, depending on the device and your telecommunication companies' infrastructure and support. In the U.S., unfortunately, it has only been rolled out in a few places. In any case, the Xandros Network Connection manager enables users to control wired, wireless, mobile, and VPN network connections and security profiles from a single interface.
It also features advanced 3D desktop graphics effects, Bluetooth wireless support, desktop search and ISV support, a Xandros spokeswoman said.
Other key enterprise-class features, according to Xandros, include:- Seamless access to shared Windows folders and printers
- The ability to write to Windows NTFS partitions
- Seamless Microsoft Exchange connectivity
- Xandros Network Connection System for wired, wireless, mobile and VPN network connections and security profiles
- Thin clients and terminal emulation
- Dual-Core, SMP and Hyper-Threading support
- Ready for mass deployment in enterprise settings via xDMS, Xandros Deployment and Management Server
The distribution complies with the LSB (Linux Standards Base) 3.1 standards for Linux interoperability, and was one of the first commercial distributions to integrate the Portland 1.0 tools. Developers can use the Portland tools to create applications that can easily integrate into a Linux desktop regardless of whether the desktop is GNOME- or KDE-based.
Xandros Desktop Professional is available for immediate purchase and download and priced at $99.99 per desktop. A German version of the product will be announced shortly.
While there is a free version of Xandros, this Open Circulation edition is still only at version 3.0. Recently, however, Xandros began offering 30-day free evaluation downloads of its desktops.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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