lindows makes a good decision for viewers that dislike the M$ media center era

[raptor]

quote: By David Becker
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
 January 28, 2003, 2:02 PM PT
 

Linux software maker Lindows took another crack at Microsoft on Tuesday with a package intended to mimic the software giant's Windows XP Media Center.

Idot, a small PC maker specializing in direct online sales, will sell a Lindows Media Computer model that incorporates some home entertainment functions such as DVD and digital music playback. The company plans to begin selling the PCs early next month, with prices starting at $330 without a monitor.


The goal is to offer a low-cost PC that can take the place of several home entertainment appliances, Lindows CEO Michael Robertson said in a statement. "For under $350 retail, consumers can have a DVD player, CD player and personal computer in every room of the house or office," he said.

The media PCs appear to be a scaled-back response to Microsoft's heavily touted Windows XP Media Center, a version of the operating system that focuses on digital entertainment functions. The Lindows PCs lack several basic functions found in the Windows version, such as the ability to record TV programs and a remote control.


The Idot PCs are based on budget processors from Via Technologies and are similar to low-cost Lindows PCs sold by Wal-Mart, with the addition of a DVD drive and accompanying software. Lindows uses software maker Elegent's etDVD program to enable DVD playback.


Linux has had a contentious history with DVDs. The lawsuit-plagued DeCSS software, which government and movie-industry figures have attacked as a tool for illegally copying DVDs, originally was created as a way for Linux users to be able to play DVDs on their PCs.


Robertson, founder of MP3.com, started Lindows two years ago with the aim of offering a simplified, consumer-oriented version of the open-source Linux operating system. The company was promptly sued by Microsoft for allegedly misappropriating the Windows trademark.  

This will be fun to monitor, it might be a bad decision for lindows OS.

Speaking of Lindows OS (Wal-mart sells computers pre-packaged with this OS    )

[hm_murdock]

that lindows guy is a wannabe gates

he sounds like he's got a lofty goal with linux, but really, he pulled a bill. linux is free, it's available, and easily modified, so he took it and he's turning it into his little windoze clone

[Fett101]

Anyone else can't help but think Idiot instead of Idot? Whenever I read that name in the artilcle. Idiot.

[pkd_lives]

I have to admit, I hope in some respects he succeeds. I don't believe a true monopoly can exist in Linux, but if ideas like this get people buying Linux PCs then when they try to fully implement computer control (TCPA, etc.), there will be many many more people who will join the outrage.

The more people not using M$ the more people are involutarily in the revolution.

[hm_murdock]

that is true!

[slave]

quote:Originally posted by fett101:
Anyone else can't help but think Idiot instead of Idot? Whenever I read that name in the artilcle. Idiot.

Man but it's true!  I had to re-read the first sentence of the second paragraph 3 times befor I figured out it was Idot instead of Idiot!  At least be called iDot or something... but then Apple would probably sue because they have trademarked the lowercase I.

[preacher]

Ok here is my question. What software DVD Player will Lindows use that can play encrypted DVD's? Im curious, because I wasn't aware there was any player for linux that could legally play encrypted DVD's in the US, and I'd be quite willing to pay for a high quality software DVD player for linux, so I can legally watch DVD's that are encrypted and not as choppy as Ogle.

[SpeeDFreaK]

I'm suprised Apple hasn't sued yet. His site's design looks like a copy of Apple's.

[Calum]

i still haven't managed to play a DVD legally or illegally, not to mention quicktime. but we won't go there.

lindows: yes fine whatever, good for them et c, i have a feeling that they STILL offer nothing new to the user that isn't implemented better on another popular desktop operating system at a cheaper price.

are they still breaking the law by witholding the source code of GPL software?

[Pissed_Macman]

虛擬主機、域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值點數卡虛擬擬主機、網域名稱、 撥接帳號、 儲值點擬數卡 虛擬主機、網域、撥接帳號、儲點數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、 撥接帳號、 儲值點數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值點數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接號儲值點數卡  虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值數卡 虛擬主、網域名擬稱、撥號、儲值點數卡

[Calum]

quote:Originally posted by Macman: dumb retart / BOB:
虛擬主機、域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值點數卡虛擬擬主機、網域名稱 289; 撥接帳號、 儲值點擬數卡 虛擬主機、網域、撥接帳號、儲點數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、 撥接帳號、 儲值點數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值點數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值數卡 虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接號儲值點數卡  虛擬主機、網域名稱、撥接帳號、儲值數卡 虛擬主、網域名擬稱、撥號、儲值點數卡

what the hell's that in a language i can understand?

[rtgwbmsr]

IDot is (was?) a pretty good computer store. They are the only people to sell the VIA C3's standalone...

www.idot.com in case you want to visit them...they seem to be overloaded at the moment.

Oh, yeah. The Lindows business model:


[ January 29, 2003: Message edited by: The Muffin Man ]

[rtgwbmsr]

Pics & Screenshots of the LMP:
http://info.lindows.com/lmc/

Info on hardware used (first news article):
http://www.mini-itx.com/

[HibbeeBoy]

Well as long as it deflects revenue away from M$ then it's fine by me. A lot of home PC users insist on buying overpriced high end brand name PCs that they don't need and I think there is a market for this thing.

[DJ]

Just a quick question about this. Assuming that MS doesn't have too much of a hissy fit or anything else otherwise hinders this product's staying on the market, would this be something that may work on other *nix platforms? I read a couple responses about not having any 'real' DVD playback software for Linux, so does anyone believe this would this be a solution to that or would it be something only Lindows compatible?

Dj