XP on Linux

[JohnT]

Someone might find interest in this as a WM. I only post it as a matter of curiosity.
http://www.xpde.com/index.php

No flames. There are some that might have a use for this. Read the FAQ's onsite before making other than informed comments.

[jsbrusty2]

I don't find that look comforting at all. It would make me suspicious that MS is putting out a distro. :( :mad:

[jsbrusty2]

Although it may give a warm fuzzy to XP users making the switch. :rolleyes:

[Fryguy8]

I gotta give that project some credit, I'm sure if you loaded that on somebodies computer, they'd be hard pressed to find differences.

[Seph64]

I tried that before, very buggy. I couldn't get the "start" menu to work properly either.

[Stween]

Originally posted by Seph64
I tried that before, very buggy. I couldn't get the "start" menu to work properly either.

Probably because it's still in an early stage of development (http://www.xpde.com/tree.php). :)

[mssever]

I've done Windows tech support, and I can see how XPde might be effective. The average Windows user in the corrporate world knows virtually nothing about computers (I would get questions like "Netscape doesn't work!" when the network was down. They didn't think to try another network-enabled program. When I would try to explain this, they would still say that Netscape didn't work.) and doesn't want to take the time to learn new software. XPde could partially address that concern. After all, it's just another (windows-like) face of Linux.

[lonescout]

Well gotta say it's different, although I might go into convulsive flashbacks if I found it on my desktop :).

I can see where it could be helpful and reassuring to newly converted "Windoze-lover". I may just create a new user and play with it.

Dunno that I'd agree that it would be any easier/harder to tech than any other graphical environments though. Some people just prefer to be led around blindly. I don't really care if they get off the phone thinking I "fixed" Netscape when I really didn't. Long as they can follow instructions, don't really know that the environment matters (espcially since most of them don't venture into their windows control panel, network settings, or command prompt anyway).

Maybe the key to getting linux on all desktops...."Well it looks like Windows.....but it hasn't crashed yet????" <g>

[bosox79]

it looks like a very interesting project. I wish them the best of luck. I don't think I would run it myself, but it could help Linux make erodes onto the corporate desktop because it looks so much similar to the xp/luna interface. it would make end user training much easier. I wonder if MS has seen this yet. you know how they got so worked up over the use of the name Lindows:D

[garskoci]

The only thing that is missing is IE! (but that could be solved too) I agree with mssever. I think that this could be a good way to bring Linux to the desktop. The corporate users know "I click this and I get that"! If "that" doesn't show up, they call the helpdesk. Another thing that just kills these people is change. If something looks different than it was yesterday, they freak! This would be a good way to make the change to a better OS (Linux) and minimize the impact. It's not for me though. I'll stick to KDE etc.
Just .02 to add to the pile.

[jetblackz]

Originally posted by Stween
Probably because it's still in an early stage of development (http://www.xpde.com/tree.php). :)
Err, it's the way Windows is supposed to work? Just a thought. :D

[bosox79]

Originally posted by jetblackz
Err, it's the way Windows is supposed to work? Just a thought. :D

good point:cool:

[dmd3x]

XPDE looks like a pretty good clone of the Windoze interface. It would be good for people who are in the process of moving over to Linux. I hope all goes well with this project. But me? I will just stick to Fluxbox.

[LinFreak]

it looks like they hacked xp :D

[ant1832]

There's another reason that this would be really useful. I like linux, my wife likes windows.

She reboots my machine all the time she's on so she can go back to xp. Then when I come home I have to boot back into linux--Major pita!!

All she really does is surf and e-mail, burn cds etc. She's not a power user. So if I could get this going for her she may be willing to stay on the linux side, then I would only have to switch users rather than reboot. I will probably wait until its a little more stable, but could definately see the benefit of this.

[Nuada Storm]

There is an XP style/theme for KDE as well. Look on the various KDE sites for it.

[jetblackz]

You could get the XP theme for IceWM which works well. I think the theme is bundled with it.

[apeekaboo]

I'm quite impressed!
Not in that sense that you can get Linux to 'look' like WinXP, but rather that you can get the whole WinXP 'feel' to it.
I mean, it's not just how the borders of the windows look, it's about how everything works.
I can definitely see this as a good way of turning Windows users to Linux.
It's a well-known interface for them and it still works as they would expect to.
If I installed this on my parents computer, I doubt they'd know the difference.

Not everyone is devoted to learn as much about an OS as we are on this forum... ;)

[LinuxLuke]

I find nothing wrong with the windows GUI, it's just the OS under it, MS has spent a lot of money on that GUI, I dislike the bloated Luna look, but the classic is fine with me

[JohnT]

Originally posted by LinuxLuke
I find nothing wrong with the windows GUI, it's just the OS under it, MS has spent a lot of money on that GUI, I dislike the bloated Luna look, but the classic is fine with me


I agree...the bloat has to go.

[Homer119]

wow this thread is going in my list of oxymorons.

[zagiboy]

I agree with ant1832. My friend cringes at anything but windows, so to keep her sane, I can use this, and she can use the computer just like she would at home.

[JohnT]

(off topic) But why are signatures becoming larger than the actual post?

[Stween]

Originally posted by JohnT
(off topic) But why are signatures becoming larger than the actual post?

I've noticed this too - some peoples signatures are just absurd. I find they're a bit like banner ads once they're over ~5 lines long, and I just ignore them.

That said, there's been enough of it for me to consider setting my preferences to not view the signatures - this is a shame, because I find that a signature is a unique way of expressing yourself that many people take advantage of, but many people simply use to describe the 15 computers that they happen to have lying around the house.

[sploo22]

Originally posted by mssever
The average Windows user in the corrporate world knows virtually nothing about computers (I would get questions like "Netscape doesn't work!" when the network was down. They didn't think to try another network-enabled program. When I would try to explain this, they would still say that Netscape didn't work.)

A great site (though it hasn't been updated in quite a while): http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/ :D

Also, I noticed that in XPde's FAQs, they mention that Microsoft might sue them over copying their "Look-and-Feel (tm)." I don't know about anyone else, but I seem to remember a similar lawsuit... going the other way... involving a company named after a fruit... beginning with "A" and ending with "pple" ;)

Let's hope they can't bribe the courts into letting them have it both ways.

[Drago]

:eek: that window manager is......uh.....great!

[shadowrider]

impressive and interesting. i might try it someday when i need to kill my time:)

[GaMMa]

Wow I'm really impressed. Next virus that wipes out my Windows drive, I might have to install a newbie distro and this WM and tell my family it's a new version of Windows called Windows DE, but it's incompatable with all previous Win32 programs. Actually this would be GREAT to get my family to make the switch to Linux. I'd finally be able to get rid of Windows once and for all, thx for the link.

[2.4]

Originally posted by sploo22
.... they mention that Microsoft might sue them over copying their "Look-and-Feel (tm)." I don't know about anyone else, but I seem to remember a similar lawsuit... going the other way... involving a company named after a fruit... beginning with "A" and ending with "pple" ;)

umm, that must be Axeroxpple. ... wait...?

I don't think this will ever happen, but it might be interesting if some retailers sell/demo PCs running on Linux/XPde side-by-side with MS XP with different price tags. Maybe no one will notice the difference until they find popups and spyware on one and not on the other. This may be a good default WM for Xandros/Lindows/Lycoris, though they already have look-alikes. Just my thoughts....

[viperlin]

i'm sorry but that looks nothing like XP, win9x yeh, but XP's all "Luna" (i know there are classic themes aparently, i have never touched XP after reading the licence restricting my hardware...)

might give it a go for a laugh....

[mrbl0nde]

i agree...i am a hardcore linux user all the way, but i can't knock microsoft for their work on the gui front. i like the transparency/security/reliability/price of linux machines much more than windows boxes, but in terms of reliability and "feel", xp is a major step up from the win9x systems.

[3eyes]

What's funny to me about it is that one of the things I hate about XP is that the default interface is butt-ugly. JMHO though. ;) Seriously, I wish all the other software makers (OSes, apps, everything) would stop trying to get that "cool XP look". Maybe I'm too old to get what's cool nowadays. Sigh......

[dmd3x]

Originally posted by viperlin
i'm sorry but that looks nothing like XP, win9x yeh, but XP's all "Luna" (i know there are classic themes aparently, i have never touched XP after reading the licence restricting my hardware...)

might give it a go for a laugh....

The windoze xp "native" look is like the win2k look. Luna is just a theme. XPDE is themeable, so someone could make a "luna" theme for it.

[viperlin]

sorry, though the Luna XP theme was default, at least in my experience.....
anyway didn't know xpde was themeable, it's too unstable for me to find out, things don't load corectly and rarely work at all.

well, looks like xpde is mimicking windows in more than looks. ;)

[Stween]

Originally posted by viperlin
sorry, though the Luna XP theme was default, at least in my experience.....

100% correct - the default theme on installation for Windows XP is the Luna theme. The 'classic' look is available if you want to switch to something a little less bulky.

[jamez1988]

looks cool
i might get it for my dad when he gets around to switching

[Tesl]

i think i might download this and test it :)

i hope they dont get sued over it, but chances are they will ><

its a really good idea though, and would allow people to convert to Linux very comfortably. It would be nice if they could get it completely working and mostly bugfree, so then some of the bigger distributions could have it as an available WM. Id have thought that would do great things for windows people who want to migrate :)

this is a project that i feel quite willing to contribute to actually :)

*tries to join the development team*

[Tesl]

well my test didnt go so well, it hardly works at all :P

never mind, but i do like what i saw on the website :)

if they could get a lot of that put together, it really could serve Linux well :)

i can imagine quite a few of people objecting to it, because it would take away Linux's identity. After all, we dont want Linux to be the same as Windows.

of course, it would be nice to have the option ;)

[roamingnomad]

Haha, now it's my chance to sneak into the school computer lab, swap out Windows with Linux, install xpde, and have nobody know!!! Muhahahaha!!!! (or maybe I could just do it on the family computer, lol)

This would be great for me. The only reason my brother doesn't use Linux is because of the unfamiliar interface, so I'll just bring that familiar interface to Linux!

btw, didn't somebody post something about this before, or is this the same post???

[Stween]

Originally posted by roamingnomad
btw, didn't somebody post something about this before, or is this the same post???

It's probably the same thread. This thread is over a month old now.

[JohnT]

Who the h311 started this thread?:p

[viperlin]

j00 |>1|> J0#|\|+

[kart38]

IMHO this DE will not get more people into Linux. I've been using computers since 1993, when I was 12, so I consider myself knowledgable with computers. I don't know everything about them, but I also don't care to. The first distro of Linux I installed was MDK9, just about a year ago, and I had no problems using it. I was able to use it for everything that most people use computers for (surf the net, chat with friends, email, simple games, listen to music, etc). What I couldn't use it for was downloading music, playing Windows games (I've never managed to get Wine to work), use Windows programs I know and like (Photoshop, 3DS Max), and I had a heck of a time installing things just to play around with them.

The way Windows and the Linux distros I've used are layed out similar. They are close enough that it takes no more than 30min to figure everything out. The real problem with switching from Windows to Linux is, quite obviously, the lack of compatability. I've got games I "can not live with out" and various Windows programs I'm used to and don't have the time to learn the Linux versions. If I could download a distro, install it, then right away install my favorite Windows software I'd use Linux with out a doubt.

[Stween]

kart38: True, no amount of pretty desktop interfaces are going to convince average users to switch to Linux.

Instead, an XP look 'n feel for Linux can allow businesses to change their workstations to Linux systems with far less impact on staff - staff training and time lost as staff adapt to new systems is *very* costly, far more costly than a Windows license.

Even then, the (strikingly) similar interface is only one factor in convincing big business to put Linux in more places than just various servers.

[terribleRobbo]

Originally posted by JohnT
(off topic) But why are signatures becoming larger than the actual post?

It's an ego thing... *Sigh*

It's not bad here... You should see some of the sigs in the less 'refined' boards... Some I've seen (images) literally take up half the screen (ie. 400+ pixels high).

[Stween]

Originally posted by terribleRobbo
It's not bad here... You should see some of the sigs in the less 'refined' boards... Some I've seen (images) literally take up half the screen (ie. 400+ pixels high).

Those are the really horrendous ones. I really hate having to scroll so far to get to the next message, and I find it difficult to believe that anyone finds .sigs like that appealing - presumably they're 14 year old kids who've just found the 'Interweb'.

[terribleRobbo]

Here's a sig I've seen:

http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~parm9222/junk/cow.jpg


If that's not a little extreme, I don't know what is.

People and their fs*king egos.

[jamez1988]

lol, thats a really bad sig, the person who had it probaly got flamed soooo bad. but isent this topic about XPde, not large cow sigs?

[keyshawn]

While I personally don't like it one bit, I think it can become very popular among ignorant windows folks on linux.........

Yet again, I put on the XP theme on IceWM for My sister [who has used windows her whole life], who didn't notice the difference, until she asked me where internet explorer was *grin*

[roamingnomad]

Shoulda told her that Internet Explorer wasn't working after you... 'upgraded' your system, and that you had to use the new version of Netscape, which was called 'Mozilla' because they wanted a cooler name... hehe...

[Nuada Storm]

Originally posted by roamingnomad
Shoulda told her that Internet Explorer wasn't working after you... 'upgraded' your system, and that you had to use the new version of Netscape, which was called 'Mozilla' because they wanted a cooler name... hehe...

Could have even put an IE theme on Mozilla so she would have never known.

[jetblackz]

"Instead, an XP look 'n feel for Linux can allow businesses to change their workstations to Linux systems with far less impact on staff - staff training and time lost as staff adapt to new systems is *very* costly, far more costly than a Windows license." - only IF the software, in this case, XPde, is a production version, rather than a beta.

When they realize some of the things aren't ready, they'll just ghost Windows back in 10.

[Stween]

Originally posted by jetblackz
When they realize some of the things aren't ready, they'll just ghost Windows back in 10.

I know. That's why I said this was only one factor among many.

[ixthus]

Originally posted by AnandT
ugh, that disgusting thing. If anything I want to get away from that cheap homy xp look. :rolleyes:

No doubt, the first step after I do a clean install of Virus XP on the family computer [some in the family require familiarity] is to change the theme/desktop to the classic mode.

The XP theme makes me ill, like something that would come on a product for the 3 - 7 year-old age group.

[viperlin]

Originally posted by Stween
presumably they're 14 year old kids who've just found the 'Interweb'.

eh hem, not all "kids" are dumbsh*ts. although most are ;)

i'm 15 and have used Linux since april 2001.
currently using Gentoo. webserver done, etc etc. then again i had teachers ask me for help in my ICT class.

[David Speight]

How about a patch for XP to make it look like RedHat or KDE?
This would make it easier for those of us who have to suffer with XP at work.
I much perfer my RedHat desktop at home...

[roamingnomad]

viperlin: You're 15? HA! I'm only 12!!!!;)

Actually, there is Blackbox for Windows, so Windows CAN look like Linux...

[vze4gmkk]

i'm 11
beat you

[terribleRobbo]

</Youngness_Bragging>

[theARE]

It's an interesting project that needs a lot more work to get it up to a level where it's particularly usefull.

That said, I can see it's potensial down the road a bit, if a distro came along that used a mature version of XPDE as its DE, and it camed bunddled with Crossover Office / plugin then such a distro could easily gain a large market especially in the buisness enviroment. Something that looks like windows, runs windows programs but at half the price, I'm sure a lot would go for it.

It of course wouldnt be very popular with the traditional linux crowd, but there would definetly be a market or it.

[xeerex]

Hi all---Linux newbie here (with a short sig).

One of the reasons that I have delayed going into the "linux world" is because of the lack of applications that 90% of users need. I know there is OO and KOffice and everything else, but for the most part they are not as polished as M$ apps. Granted, they may be more stable, but 90% of the users don't care. That's why they call the IT dept or their friendly neighborhood computer geek.

For linux to further "defeat the evil" of M$, it is going to have to move further into the non-geek segment. As many have stated, average people are opposed to change. Having an XP/Luna look (which i think looks sickeningly close to AOHell), will help convert some of them.

However, the interface won't hide the absence of Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook. Like it not, the average users love those apps and generally don't use their pc's harshly enough to crash Win2k or XP. I've got a Win98SE pc that only gets restarted when I walk around and do it. Even then, the woman at the keyboard asks why.....

Anyway, I think keeping things familiar is a good step but only a small one. Linux is superb and I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that I really do have a choice. However, I don't belong to the 90% of all pc users....

[volumefiend]

the microsoft look is cheap and dull. im sick of it. i hate windows.

[wranga]

When I first installed Linux on my computer I had no trouble with the DE, I got it all figured out within about half an hour. The thing I had trouble with (and still do) is that you still need to use the command prompt a lot more than windows, and also Linux has poor compatibility with NVIDIA graphics cards.
If you want to make Linux more atractive to newbies make greater hardware support and eliminate the need for the shell by letting people launch applications from Konqueror.
BTW: every Windows user I know comments on how much better KDE looks and feels than windows, so this thing is a waste of time IMHO.

[wranga]

Originally posted by theARE
It's an interesting project that needs a lot more work to get it up to a level where it's particularly usefull.

That said, I can see it's potensial down the road a bit, if a distro came along that used a mature version of XPDE as its DE, and it camed bunddled with Crossover Office / plugin then such a distro could easily gain a large market especially in the buisness enviroment. Something that looks like windows, runs windows programs but at half the price, I'm sure a lot would go for it.

It of course wouldnt be very popular with the traditional linux crowd, but there would definetly be a market or it.
Xandros distro has released a much more mature version of a similar desktop environment, bundled with support for Windoze apps. It is said to be extremely powerful. You can see a screenshot here (http://www.xandros.com/images/desk.png). Go to xandros.com for more info.

[nouse66]

Originally posted by wranga
When I first installed Linux on my computer I had no trouble with the DE, I got it all figured out within about half an hour. The thing I had trouble with (and still do) is that you still need to use the command prompt a lot more than windows, and also Linux has poor compatibility with NVIDIA graphics cards.
If you want to make Linux more atractive to newbies make greater hardware support and eliminate the need for the shell by letting people launch applications from Konqueror.
BTW: every Windows user I know comments on how much better KDE looks and feels than windows, so this thing is a waste of time IMHO.

poor comatibility with nvidia???? nvidia releases linux drivers!

[wranga]

I know that now but when I first started using it I didn't and I couldn't understand why all the games where going so slow. Also, for newbies the drivers aren't very easy to setup, you have to use command prompt which is the other problem I was talking about.

[nouse66]

Originally posted by wranga
I know that now but when I first started using it I didn't and I couldn't understand why all the games where going so slow. Also, for newbies the drivers aren't very easy to setup, you have to use command prompt which is the other problem I was talking about.

ok, i see

[The Linux Kid]

I started with linux when i was 6 yrs old. I'm now 13. The IT dep at my skool have asked me to install a new server for them! See we are not all stupid u know!

<EDIT>Sorry terribleRobbo, didn't see your message above</EDIT>

[chiatello]

honestly i have to say this is a pretty cool idea, show people what linux is like and they wont be too scared (as long as you dont pull out a console rofl)

i dunno it looks pretty decent


granted its no kde/gnome