LINUXWORLD EXPO, BOSTON: Xandros announces new products

Xandros Inc. officially announced and released version 3 of its Open Circulation Edition this week, along with a new product: Surfside Linux, which includes a unique implementation of the Clam Antivirus software and other extras for Windows users looking to switch to GNU/Linux.

Xandros Open Circulation Edition is the free edition of the Debian GNU/Linux-based Xandros desktop operating system. Changes since the previous version include updated software, the Skype VoIP communication program, and Firefox and Thunderbird instead of the Mozilla suite. The Open Circulation Edition is free to download, or LWCE attendees can pick up a CD from the Xandros booth at LinuxWorld Expo, #914.

Xandros also released Surfside Linux, a modified version of its commercial Deluxe Edition. This edition includes a 30-day trial of Codeweavers’ CrossOver Office instead of the full version that comes with Deluxe. Surfside Linux features a custom antivirus solution which is essentially a GUI front end for ClamAV. Surfside Linux also has setup wizards for a firewall and VPN, and is bundled with a Plantronics USB headset for use with Skype. Xandros offers customers an introductory, limited time promotion of 120 minutes of free computer-to-land-line calling, a service which Skype offers for a nominal fee.

According to Erich Forler, senior product development manager for Xandros, Surfside Linux is designed to work side-by-side with a Windows installation in a dual boot scenario. “This presents a smaller step for Windows users who want to move to Linux,” he told NewsForge on Wednesday. In addition to making it easy for new users to create a dual-boot setup on their computers, Xandros’ Surfside Linux also offers nominal Windows application compatibility through the trial edition of CrossOver Office, and Windows wireless driver binary compatibility with Ndiswrapper, the company said. Surfside Linux will be officially offered for sale in March from the Xandros Web site and retail partners for $100 — $10 more than the Deluxe Edition.