Well I took the plunge and installed Xandros this weekend. It is one weekend later than I expected to, but last weekend I was sick.

So I burned the ISO, popped in the CD, and was running the OS within 15 minutes. All my hardware was configured correctly, including my HP multifunction printer, Logitech Mx510, Logitech wireless keyboard, Canon IXY digital camera, Internet settings, everything was nearly perfect.

So the first thing I did was go to TZ using firefox which was pre setup and works great. Using version 1.0 atm. One thing is the fonts.. they are not as good as the windows fonts. THey look pixelated or something... I will be installing true type fonts soon....

Updating applications with Xandros couldn't be easier.. You can simply click the "UPDATE ALL XANDROS APPS" button at the top of the Xandros Network window or you simply open the Xandros Networks prompt, click on the applications you want to update, and then select the type and the app you want to update, and click update.

After that Xandros goes on the net and downloads the latest versions that are compatible with your version. I had firefox and Thunderbird both updated in less than 3 minutes.

In fact I kind of like Xandros more than Mandrake.. and that is quite hard to believe. But before I officially declare it, I want to spend some more time playing around with it.

Xandros seems like a very refined version of Linux... it looks as professional as windows.. but still shows some of the "communist" look that haunts the early days of Linux.. like the cheesy sound icon, and wierd logoff buttons...

But, the great thing is Xandros makes it as simple as a few clicks to change almost every setting, button, and theme you want to change.. from the way you can open your windows, to how you click and close things.... from the xandros way, to a more KDE based environment right up to a windows clone....

The other great feature is that Crossover plugin is already installed and setup... that means I can install several of my favorite windows based apps without much effort at all... And it is free, though it is a 30 day trial.

Skype is even preinstalled... windows doesn't even offer that... All I have to do is set it up. Now that is grand.


It will take time to get used to Xandros. With time, and enough patience this OS could replace windows... I see no reason other than gaming........... and a few funky windows only apps that would stop me from doing it entirely.

One thing I will say is about drivers... again, compared to windows this version of Linux still is lacking... I don't blame Xandros for that... that's ATI, Nvidia, and all the other card makers.... They should put as much emphasis on Linux as they do windows, and the support would improve.. of course it would be more costly and take more time... but then you the user would be able to serious consider both OS as equals and decide for yourself which is better...

That won't happen anytime soon.. but who knows, maybe in a couple of years..

Take a look at the image I posted.. I might have more coming in the future..