Lindows to AOL: surely some mistake

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

NEWS
Lindows.com, which sells an operating system designed to compete with Windows in the consumer PC market, is sticking by its original announcement of an "AOL computer", despite AOL Time Warner's claim that the way the deal was described was "misleading". AOL last week distanced itself from the Lindows PC, saying "AOL has nothing to do with it", and saying that Lindows.com had only filled out a one-page form allowing it to distribute the Netscape 7.0 browser, something it has in common with more than 70,000 other organisations. On Thursday, however, Lindows suggested that AOL might not have its facts straight. "Our engineers have been to Dulles, Virginia, and have worked with AOL," said Lindows' public relations director, Cheryl Schwarzman. "It may be the case that the spokesperson was not informed of that information." In response, AOL reiterated that it has "no formal relationship" with Lindows.com. The spokesman said he had "no knowledge of their people working with ours." The dispute arose after Lindows.com announced a deal to incorporate AOL Time Warner's Netscape 7 browser as default into Lindows 2.0 and to include tools allowing users to access AOL email and instant messaging services. The deal was widely reported as an alliance between two foes of Microsoft. Lindows suggested the term "AOL computer" for such PCs. The company is promoting the AOL functionality as a major selling point for $200 (about £128) Lindows 2.0 machines being sold in the US through Wal-Mart's Web site. "Many (AOL) customers will be motivated to purchase their own 'AOL computer', especially now that users can pick up a LindowsOS system for under $200," Lindows.com chief executive Michael Robertson said last week. Wal-Mart sells a Microtel PC sporting the Lindows OS for $199.86 on its Walmart.com Web site. The company also sells computers running Windows XP and Mandrake Linux, and PCs without operating systems. The AOL and Netscape functions are available on many other operating systems, including other Linux distributions and on the Mac OS. Lindows.com noted that users cannot currently gain access to the main AOL service, only email, instant messaging and the AOL Web site. Lindows.com is working on customising the Windows version of AOL 7 for Lindows using Windows simulation technology.
See the Software News Section for the latest headlines on everything from peer to peer clients to Office software and beyond. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

BrownieBoy

@Jack, > Works really well for thieves.... Nice attempt to deflect the argument by tossing in a point that's totally irrelevant, even it were...

1 hour ago by BrownieBoy on AMD Ultrathins to challenge Intel Ultrabooks
bootlegger

Make that 13 people now - I got refused today at Manchester airport. I thought I was up to date on this legislation - I knew of the EU ruling from...

4 hours ago by bootlegger on UK airport body scans will not be opt out
tinycg

Don't forget to check out apps like GoodReader or SlideShark either, they're indispensible for people on the go in presentation situations. Best...

7 hours ago by tinycg on Four top iPad apps for people on the move
TerryRK

Well it seems there is something a number of us agree on. Why is the Ubuntu Unity launcher so ugly? I thought perhaps it was something to do with...

11 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Freebies202

Duplicate comments are not made intentionally. Its very good to know that now you are keeping check on this problem because sometimes a commenter...

21 hours ago by Freebies202 on Microsoft fixes blog comments, speeds up blogs with open source
kevinmchapman

"the very significant number of users" and "many (most) of us" - you have no evidence for these statements. It is a fact that most users are saying...

1 day ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Marg Menzies Harrison

Another grammar faux pas is the improper use of "you". When sitting down down in a restaurant, for example, I get cringe when the waitress...

1 day ago by Marg Menzies Harrison via Facebook on 10 flagrant grammar mistakes that make you look stupid
zdnetukuser

And NOW, folks, for Canonical's next trick... Kubuntu is late. Here's a pencil. Draw your own conclusions. cf.:...

1 day ago by zdnetukuser on Linux Minterface
Moley

@kevinmchapman. The discussion here reflects the very significant number of users who really do like the traditional menu system and who wish to...

1 day ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

Er, no... It is an efficient means of finding the application/file/setting you need in one place. The icons are a simply a fallback for when you...

1 day ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

Isn't the provision of a text based search an admission by the developers that the mass of icons approach does not work? I don't need to use a...

1 day ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

"Unity and GNOME 3 both abandon the old text-based cascading menus in favour of a graphical icon-driven system." Point truly missed. Both use a...

2 days ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

whs001 - Thank you, I'm glad you liked the article. I absolutely agree with you on your first point. I should perhaps have made it clearer that...

2 days ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Dennis Nilsson

If we allow corporate interest to dictate the way our government circumvents due process against foreign entities then we should accept the same...

2 days ago by Dennis Nilsson via Facebook on ACTA stumbles in Germany
GHar123

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

2 days ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

2 days ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

2 days ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

2 days ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

2 days ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

2 days ago by via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint