View source for Xandros

{{Short description|Linux distribution}}
{{Infobox company
| name                = Xandros Inc.
| logo                = Xandros logo.svg
| industry            = [[Software industry]]
| founded             = {{Start date and age|2001|05}} (by Linux Global Partners)
| founders            = Will Roseman,<br />Dr. Frederick Berenstein
| defunct             = {{Start date and age|2018|01}}
| fate                = bought by PC/Open Systems LLC
| hq_location_city    = New York City
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| key_people          = 
| products            = Xandros Desktop
| num_employees       = 
| num_employees_year  = 
| revenue             = 
| website            = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203111601/http://www.xandros.com|title=xandros.com}}
}}
{{Infobox OS
| name                   = Xandros Desktop
| screenshot             = [[File:Xandros41OCE.png|300px]]
| caption                = Xandros Desktop 4.1 OCE
| developer              = Xandros Incorporated
| family                 = [[Unix-like]]
| source_model           = [[Open-source software|Open source]] mixed with [[closed source]]
| latest_release_version = {{wikidata|property|references|edit|Q596710|P348}}
| latest_release_date    = {{Start date and age|2007|07|26}}
| kernel_type            = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]]
| ui                     = [[KDE]]
| license                = [[GNU GPL]] with some [[proprietary software]]
| working_state          = Discontinued<ref name="distrowatch1">[http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=xandros Xandros Desktop OS]. DistroWatch.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-17.</ref>
| website                = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203111601/http://www.xandros.com|title=xandros.com}}
}}
'''Xandros, Inc.''' was a software company which sold '''Xandros Desktop''', a [[Linux distribution]]. The name Xandros was derived from the [[X Window System]] and the Greek island of [[Andros]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://forums.xandros.com/viewtopic.php?p=64889#64889 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031558/http://forums.xandros.com/viewtopic.php?p=64889#64889 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2007-09-28 | title=Xandros is an acronym? | author=Andrew | date=18 January 2005 | access-date=2007-06-05 }}</ref>
Xandros was founded in May 2001 by Linux Global Partners (Will Roseman and Frederick Berenstein).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xandros.com:80/news/press/release1.html |title=Xandros Announces Strategic Licensing Agreement with Corel Corporation |publisher=Xandros |date=21 August 2001 |access-date=2008-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203111601/http://www.xandros.com/news/press/release1.html |archive-date=3 February 2003 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company was headquartered in New York City with its development office in Ottawa, Canada.

Xandros Desktop was based on [[Corel Linux]], a [[Debian]]-based distribution that was acquired along with the development team behind the product from [[Corel Corporation]] in August 2001 after Corel decided to exit the Linux distribution market.<ref name="Corporate Background">{{cite web |url=http://www.xandros.com:80/about/corporatebackground.html |title=Xandros Corporate Background |publisher=Xandros |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203111601/http://www.xandros.com/about/corporatebackground.html |archive-date=3 February 2003 |access-date=2007-06-05 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Xandros was a founding member of the Desktop Linux Consortium and member of the [[Interop Vendor Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://interopvendoralliance.org/Directory.aspx |title=Interop Vendor Alliance - MEMBER DIRECTORY |website=interopvendoralliance.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330052345/http://interopvendoralliance.org/Directory.aspx |archive-date=30 March 2009}}</ref><!-- Broken 20100705-->

In July 2007, Xandros bought [[Scalix]], a Linux-based email and collaboration product, based on [[HP OpenMail]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Open-Xchange phones home for funding|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/04/open_xchange_funding/|website=The Register}}</ref><ref name="Scalix Bought by Xandros">{{cite web | url=http://richi.co.uk/blog/2007/07/scalix-bought-by-xandros.html | title=Scalix Bought by Xandros | access-date=2007-07-18 | archive-date=27 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144226/http://richi.co.uk/blog/2007/07/scalix-bought-by-xandros.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
In July 2008, Xandros acquired [[Linspire]].

In 2013, Xandros, Inc. changed its name to Bridgeways, Inc.[https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DOB/Enforcement/Securities/2019-SBID/Bridgeways-Inc-Stipulation.pdf], and soon after, the Xandros website was taken offline. (The Xandros website was last updated in November 2009.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://xandros.com|title=Xandros: Linux Desktop and Server Operating Systems|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402084633/http://xandros.com/|archive-date=2013-04-02|access-date=2017-08-06}}</ref> As a result, [[DistroWatch]] listed Xandros as discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=xandros|title=DistroWatch.com: Xandros Desktop OS|website=distrowatch.com}}</ref>

On 1 January 2018, PC/OpenSystems LLC purchased Xandros and Linspire from Bridgeways, Inc., and resurrected the Xandros branding with '''Xandros OpenDesktop'''[https://www.pc-opensystems.com/p/linspire-embedded-desktop.html] (a commercial release) and '''Xandros OpenServer'''[https://www.pc-opensystems.com/p/linspireos.html] (a free release), based on Ubuntu 20.04. Xandros OpenDesktop would later be rebranded as '''Xandros Enterprise Desktop''', and Xandros OpenServer would be rebranded as '''Xandros Enterprise Server''', and PC/OpenSystems also introduced free versions named '''Xandros Community Edition''' (using GNOME) and '''Xandros Developer Edition''' (using [[dwm]]).

==Products==
Xandros made products for both the consumer and business markets. While the distributions included many packages licensed as [[free software]] and [[Open-source software|open-source]], Xandros also included [[proprietary software]] developed in-house by the Xandros Corporation.

===Commercial editions===
==== Xandros Desktop Home Edition ====
This edition came with a 30-day trial of [[CrossOver|Crossover Office]]. It also included an "Applications CD" which includes extra programs which can be installed via Xandros Networks. As opposed to Home Edition Premium, the Home Edition did not include the photo manager, music manager, security suite, wireless profiles, or the ability to write to [[NTFS]] partitions.

==== Xandros Desktop Home Edition Premium ====
This edition came with a full version of Crossover Office Standard Edition, and a second CD (the "Applications CD") which included extra applications which could be installed via Xandros Networks. Despite its name, Xandros Desktop Home Edition Premium did not include a Xandros Networks Premium Membership.

Xandros Corporation offered a 30-day trial version of Xandros Home Edition Premium as a free download for evaluation purposes.

==== Xandros Desktop Professional ====
Formerly known as Xandros Desktop Business Edition, this edition was basically the same as Xandros Desktop Home Edition Premium, but it included the ability to authenticate to Windows PDC and [[Active Directory]] Domains, used [[Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol|PPTP]] VPN to connect remotely to the office, and used [[wireless broadband|broadband wireless]] connectivity with [[3G]], [[GSM]] and [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]] support. Xandros Desktop Professional was officially released on 28 November 2006.

As with Home Edition Premium, Xandros Corporation also offered a 30-day trial version of Xandros Professional.

==== Presto ====
Introduced in 2009, Presto was a lightweight "instant-on" operating system which uses the lightweight [[Xfce#Version 4|Xfce 4.6]] [[desktop environment]]. Similar to [[Canonical Ltd.|Canonical]]'s [[Wubi (Ubuntu installer)|Wubi]] installer for [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]], it was installed inside of Microsoft Windows, with Windows XP as the earliest supported version. It also had access to an "application store" based on [[CNR (software)|CNR]], which was acquired through Xandros' acquisition of [[Linspire]] in mid-2008.

==== Xandros Moblin ====
In 2009, Xandros announced that it would develop a new netbook operating system based on [[Moblin|Moblin v2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xandros.com:80/news/press_releases/Xandros_Creates_Enhanced_User_Experience.html |title=Xandros Creates Enhanced User Experience for Netbook Users with Moblin V2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203111601/http://www.xandros.com/news/press_releases/Xandros_Creates_Enhanced_User_Experience.html |archive-date=3 February 2003 }}</ref>

=== Server systems ===
Xandros Desktop Management Server (xDMS) was available. It easily set up repositories as it deploys customized Xandros Desktop configurations across a large organization.{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}}

Xandros Server was designed to run on [[Server (computing)|servers]]. It was officially launched at the 2006 [[LinuxWorld Conference and Expo]] in Toronto, on 25 April 2006, and officially released for purchase at the Xandros website on 1 May 2006, at a [[suggested retail price|MSRP]] of US$450. Xandros Server 2.0 has been released in May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xandros.com:80/news/press_releases/Xandros_releases_server2.html |title=Xandros Releases Xandros Server Standard Edition 2, Offering Enterprise-Grade Features to Windows-Centric SMBs |publisher=Xandros |date=8 May 2007 |access-date=2008-04-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203111601/http://www.xandros.com/news/press_releases/Xandros_releases_server2.html |archive-date=3 February 2003 }}</ref>

=== Previous editions ===
Xandros Open Circulation Edition (OCE) was a freely redistributable edition for non-commercial use, with a limited set of additional software. Soon after the 4.0 version was released as a DVD shrinkwrapped with Linux magazines, the torrent was pulled from Xandros' servers and all references to OCE removed from the Xandros website without explanation. Previous versions of Xandros OCE were generally released about 4&nbsp;months after the release of the commercial versions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://forums.xandros.com/viewtopic.php?t=28362 | title=OCE 4 – Prerelease information | author=BoyLinux | date=20 December 2006 | access-date=2007-06-05 | archive-date=28 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928031644/http://forums.xandros.com/viewtopic.php?t=28362 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Xandros Desktop OS Standard Edition was basically the same as the Open Circulation Edition, but it included full-speed CD/DVD burning. This product was replaced by Home Edition.

Xandros Desktop OS Deluxe Edition included an "applications CD" which included extra programs which could be installed via Xandros Networks. This product was replaced by Home Edition Premium.

Xandros Desktop OS Surfside Edition (branded and sold as Xandros SurfSide Linux)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=ACi1eMrIPNg|title=Xandros Desktop Linux install - Dell Dimension 2400 - Part 1|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> was basically the same as Xandros Desktop OS Standard Edition, however the Surfside Edition also included a Plantronics USB headset and 120 minutes of [[Skype]]Out service.

According to [[DistroWatch]], Xandros Desktop is discontinued.<ref name="distrowatch1"/> DistroWatch made the decision because no new official version or official updates to Xandros Desktop have been released since November 2006.<ref>[http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20100426#news Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD]. DistroWatch.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-17.</ref>

When Xandros purchased Linspire, they announced plans to retain [[Freespire]] as a Debian-based free community distribution and to base future editions of Xandros Desktop Professional – Home Edition and Home Edition Premium were to be discontinued – on Freespire. (This would be similar to the way [[Novell]] bases [[SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop]] on their free [[openSUSE]] and to the way [[Red Hat]] bases [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]] on their free [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]].) However, according to one website, Xandros has discontinued Freespire.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.itpro.co.uk/622528/the-lost-world-of-the-xandros-desktop/ |title=The Lost World of the Xandros Desktop |newspaper=It Pro |publisher=Richard Hillesley |date=20 April 2010 |access-date=2010-08-09}}</ref> In addition, the DistroWatch website has added Freespire to its list of discontinued distributions.

== User interface ==
[[File:Xandros 4.1 Full.png|thumb|200px|Xandros 4.1 OCE (KDE) running Xandros File Manager, Xandros Networks, Control Centre and the Xandros Launch Menu]]

The Xandros [[graphical user interface]] (GUI) used a modified version of [[KDE]], which included replacing [[Konqueror]] with its own proprietary file manager called Xandros File Manager. It also used a package manager known as Xandros Networks, which handles installation of software. Installation of Xandros was done by a wizard that asks questions about partitioning and the administrator (root) password.

It was possible to install and use the [[GNOME]] and [[Xfce]] desktop environments on Xandros.{{elucidate|date=March 2011}}{{citation needed|date=March 2011}}

== BridgeWays for Microsoft Systems Center ==

In June 2007, a "broad collaboration agreement" between Xandros and Microsoft was announced.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jun07/06-04XandrosPR.mspx | url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120216223022/https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/jun07/06-04XandrosPR.mspx |archive-date=February 16, 2012 | title=Microsoft, Xandros Broad Collaboration Agreement Extends Bridge Between Commercial Open Source and Microsoft Software | publisher=[[Microsoft]] | date=4 June 2007 | access-date=2007-06-04}}</ref> The agreement included "patent covenants, similar to the agreement that Microsoft reached with [[Novell]]."

In 2009, Xandros BridgeWays released the first of many Management Packs for Systems Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pr.com/press-release/190492|title=BridgeWays Releases Major Expansion of Its System Center Cross-Platform Monitoring at Microsoft TechEd Show|website=PR.com}}</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=February 2011}}
The BridgeWays Management Pack Suite of products includes:
*VMware ESX virtualization and HyperV Extensions;
*JBoss, Apache, IBM WebSphere, Oracle WebLogic application development environments;
*Oracle, IBM DB2, MySQL database products;
*Apache web servers and more.

In 2010 BridgeWays is “Extending System Center”, by expanding the scope and market potential for Systems Center, with Windows, Linux, UNIX and VMware application environment monitoring. BridgeWays’ only focus is on building, selling and supporting Management Packs for System Center. See BridgeWays users can now track their alerts through System Center Service Manager 2010

BridgeWays does not compete with Microsoft. This group works closely with the Microsoft System Center R&D, Sales and Marketing teams to maximize value to System Center customers. In addition Xandros Bridgeways System Center resells direct and through its partner network of Distributors, ISVs, and  SI MVPs worldwide as a contributing member of the System Center community.

== ASUS Eee PC ==
[[File:Asus EEE PC with License Agreement window.jpg|thumb|[[ASUS Eee PC]] with License Agreement window]]
In a collaboration of ASUS hardware and the Xandros operating system, the first "netbook" came into being. The [[ASUS Eee PC]] was available with either Xandros or [[Windows XP]]. The installed version of Xandros is tab based, built from scratch using Xlib and the [[Qt (toolkit)|Qt 4.5 toolkit]]. The full desktop version (or "Advanced Mode") may be installed—but not always easily—through a set of administrative command prompts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:getkde |title=Enable Advanced Desktop Mode &#91;EeeUser EEE PC Wiki&#93; |access-date=4 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106041820/http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:getkde |archive-date=6 November 2008 }}</ref> The full desktop version features a [[KDE]] 3 desktop with a few modifications performed by Xandros. This desktop mode also provides access to the [[Synaptic Package Manager]] which can be used to update and manage the [[Eee PC]]'s software.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wiki.eeeuser.com/guidebooks:how_linux_software_installation_works | title= How Linux software installation works}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg102/holyprop/fulldesktopversion1.png | title=Xandros full KDE desktop on EeePC}}(screenshot of the full desktop version of Xandros running on the EEE PC)</ref>

In February 2009 it was announced Xandros is porting its Eee PC Linux distribution to 2 [[ARM processor]]-based (Freescale [[i.MX]]515 & the [[Qualcomm Snapdragon]] CPU) platforms for netbooks & other mobile devices.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Xandros Netbook Edition Ports to ARM |url=http://www.linux-magazine.com/content/download/62041/483681/version/1/file/016-017_techtools.pdf |magazine=Linux Magazine |date=May 2009 |access-date=8 November 2013 |page=17}}</ref>{{Update after|2010|11|13}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikibooks|Xandros}}
* {{DistroWatch|xandros|NAME=Xandros Desktop OS}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110227031427/http://www.bridgeways.ca/ BridgeWays]

{{Linux distributions}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}

[[Category:2001 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Companies based in New York City]]
[[Category:Defunct software companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct computer companies based in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Linux companies]]
[[Category:Software companies established in 2001]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]