Ambitious Lindows tries to put a friendly face on Linux (Lindows?)

If Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is Goliath, Michael Robertson wants to be David. He hopes, at least, to knock some chinks in Gates' armor by loosening Microsoft's stranglehold on the market for PC desktop operating systems.

A couple of years ago, Robertson went up against the recording industry and lost as the creator of popular music site MP3.com. This time, as founder and CEO of San Diego start-up Lindows.com, he's aiming at Windows, the software that runs about 95 percent of the world's computers.

``When you take on big competitors like these, you have to be prepared for a battle,'' he said.

For consumers buying low-cost PCs, Lindows.com offers a Linux-based operating system originally designed to run Windows applications, though Robertson admits he has some work to do before the OS will run Windows programs seamlessly. He also offers an online warehouse for easy installation of hundreds of Linux titles. They rely on software code that is open for anyone to take, modify and reuse, providing an alternative to Microsoft's proprietary code.

Though Linux software is freely available on the Internet, it appeals almost exclusively to a community of technophiles. Robertson thinks he has a way to broaden Linux use by selling a better distribution vehicle.

``I'm trying to bring Linux technology to the masses,'' Robertson said. ``They want to know `hey can I type a letter, send an e-mail or keep track of my checkbook on this thing?' We try to avoid the geeky words and speak right to the consumer.''

Robertson, 35, started his venture nine months ago. He has a team of 35 people and working capital of $5 million, most of which was his own money. He faces legal challenges from Microsoft, criticism by some proponents of free software, technical issues and an untested market. So what makes Robertson think he can succeed where others have failed?

``One of the factors is broadband,'' he said. ``This gives us a new channel to sell our software and Microsoft cannot cut off our blood supply. . . . More and more computing time is spent in front of a Web browser. That's great for me because once you're in front of Web browser you can't tell what kind of operating system you're on.''

A few weeks ago, Wal-Mart's Web site began selling Microtel computers pre-installed with the LindowsOS. Since then, Robertson said he has started negotiating with Microtel and Wal-Mart to get the machines on store shelves. Last week he announced a plan to let hardware makers put Lindows on an unlimited number of machines for a flat fee of $500 a month.

Like MP3.com, the heart of the Lindows.com business is distribution. Robertson sees his market as small- to medium-sized businesses without big computing budgets and home users with broadband who want to have more than one computer.

Also like MP3.com, Robertson's new venture has run into legal issues. The major record labels sued MP3.com over copyright infringement and won settlements totaling about $175 million. Though beaten in court, Robertson made millions when MP3.com was later sold to Vivendi Universal.

That's a world away from his childhood, growing up poor in Southern California, as his single mother struggled to make a living. Robertson said he wasn't interested in computers until college. He was working at a computer rental store at University of California-San Diego when a chance came to study at the university's Supercomputer Center. ``They called up and said we need interns,'' he said. ``I probably wasn't even qualified.''

He was back in court earlier this year when Microsoft sued to prevent Lindows from using the terms ``Lindows

.com'' and ``LindowsOS.'' Microsoft is proceeding toward trial after a judge denied the software company's motion for an injunction to stop Lindows from using the name.

Besides that, a controversy is brewing over whether Lindows should sell any proprietary software code at all.

``Lindows is not 100 percent free. For us that is a major downside,'' said Bradley Kuhn, the executive director of the Free Software Foundation, a Boston-based non-profit organization. ``Lots of businesses have made money selling copies of free software. It's really nice to have the convenience, that someone has made a system to get it distributed.''

The Free Software Foundation objected to Lindows' distribution of its copyrighted software without adequately informing users of their rights to copy, modify and distribute it any way they wish.

``You're allowed to distribute it and allowed to charge money for it. But there are some obligations,'' Kuhn said.

Nevertheless, he said Lindows is another example of a growing movement to turn free software into businesses that can challenge Microsoft. ``Microsoft is such a monolith that there's really no way to compete with it in the traditional way,'' Kuhn said. ``Companies are picking it up and finding different ways to make it useful. As a whole that's big enough and it's certainly having an impact.''

So far, analysts are skeptical, saying Linux programs are still too complicated for most consumers.

``I feel a sort of sympathy in my heart for Linux, but I wouldn't bet any money on Linux taking a huge bite out of Microsoft any time soon,'' said Will Zachmann, president of Canopus Research and an early backer of IBM's challenge to Microsoft, OS/2. ``It's still a Windows world out there.''

lindows has the user run as root; it also makes users buy their $99 software plan. fortunately, walmart will also be rolling out machines running mandrake which, though not my favorite distribution, will be much, much better.

dep

3 posted on 07/05/2002 10:25:05 AM PDT by Free the USA

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.