Xandros Gets Wal-Mart Into The Linux ActXandros Gets Wal-Mart Into The Linux Act

A day after Linux distributor Xandros debuted Desktop 3.0, the new version of its Linux-for-desktop-PCs OS, the company announced it's powering a Microtel PC selling for under $200 at Wal-Mart's e-store.

The Microtel PC, which sports an AMD 1.5GHz processor, 128MB of memory, a 20GB hard drive, CD-ROM, and the older 2.0 version of Xandros Desktop, retails for $199.98 at ¼ber-retailer Wal-Mart's online store.

On Wednesday, Xandros rolled out version 3 of its Desktop. The first major upgrade in a bit over a year, Desktop 3.0 features enhanced support for wireless, drag-and-drop DVD burning, a wizard to walk users through configuration of a personal firewall, and automatic encryption of folders.

Desktop 3.0 is based on a customized version of the open-source KDE 3.3 desktop and relies on the 2.6.9 Linux kernel.

Xandros Desktop 3.0 is available in two editions -- Standard and Deluxe -- at prices of $39 and $89, respectively. The Deluxe Edition includes a version of CrossOver Office 4.1, which lets Linux users run Microsoft Office applications. Both can be downloaded from the <Xandros Web site now, with boxed copies available Dec. 20.

An update to 3.0 for Xandros Business Edition is scheduled to ship in the first quarter of 2005, also the target for a new version of Xandros' for-free Open Circulation Edition.

The current version of Open Circulation, v. 2.0, can be downloaded free of charge here.