Lindows.com Upgrades OS with 4.0

Continuing its efforts to win desktop share away from Microsoft , Lindows.com Wednesday launched a new version of its
Linux-based operating system which attempts to compete with Windows on
ease-of-use issues and new features.

LindowsOS 4.0 adds Plug & Play support, ad blocking, spam blocking and
pornography blocking. The company said it also eases the install process
with a sub-10 minute installation program that installs the operating
system and configures all hardware — including video cards, Ethernet,
sound cars and devices — without the need for intervention from the user.

Additionally, through the company’s “Zero Maintenance” initiative,
Lindows.com said users will be able to install or update more than 1,000
programs with a single mouse click.

“The argument from Microsoft against desktop Linux is that it may be
affordable from the start, but the long term maintenance destroys those
early savings,” said Michael Robertson, CEO of Lindows.com. “For the first
time, Lindows OS 4.0, with its Zero Maintenance goals, makes Linux far
easier and lower cost to maintain that a comparable Microsoft Windows XP
computer. In addition, we’re leap-frogging Microsoft by unveiling a suite
of operating system features to help users block spam, ads and pornography
from their desktop.”

LindowsOS 4.0 marks the first Lindows release with Plug & Play support, and
the company said devices — including flash memory devices, Smart Media,
CDRs, hard disks and DVDs — immediately appear on the desktop when plugged
in via USB 1.0, USB 2.0 or firewire. The firm also noted that it has
improved the platform’s support for thousands of other peripheral devices,
including printers, scanners and digital cameras from major manufacturers
like Canon, Epson, HP, Kodak, Nikon, Olympus, Ricoh and Sony.

The company also introduced SpamSafe, a user-configurable spam blocking
tool, with the 4.0 release. Lindows.com said the tool “learns” which
messages are spam through auto-adaptive technology and dumps them in a spam
folder. The release also includes AdSafe technology, built into the Web
browser, giving users the ability to block pop-up ads from all sites, or to
allow pop-ups from certain online banking and shopping sites at user
discretion.

In addition, the new version of the operating system comes with a 14-day
free trial of filtering software SurfSafe and a free 14-day trial of Linux
virus protection program VirusSafe.

“LindowsOS 4.0 with SurfSafe is the first operating system to comply with
the Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA), making it ideally suited for
schools, libraries and other environments needing a safer computing
experience,” the company said.

The new version also boasts integrated multimedia tutorials, a graphic
redesign, and improved Wi-Fi support, the company said.

Lindows.com said LindowsOS 4.0 is available immediately on preinstalled
computers from the company’s online retailer partners and as a $59.95 CD
($49.95 for U.S. digital download). The company also noted that users of
LindowsOS 3.0 are eligible for a free upgrade to the new version.