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This week Lindows.com is busy hosting the Desktop Linux Summit -- the
first event devoted to using Linux on the desktop. Since I know that many
of you can't make it to the show but are still interested in the latest
news, I'm sending you this special Michael's Minute talking about our two
new products. Today at the show, we're announcing two exciting products
which will help achieve our vision of a computer in every room and in every
backpack or briefcase--and I wanted to alert you to them so you'd be the
first to know.
Many families want to purchase a new computer for their home but are concerned
about the safety. There's great value on the Internet, but there's also
a lot of potentially harmful content that most parents don't want their
childeren to bump into. Parents often restrict their kids' online time to
the computer in the living room where they can oversee activity. Until now
there's been no way to buy a computer that, when plugged in, gives you access
to the richness of the net, but also seamlessly blocks the objectionable
materials. When we polled parents, they said there was a real need for a
"Family Computer" - a computer that allowed the beneficial parts of the
Internet, but blocked the bad. They also said that it needed to be extremely
affordable and work with all network connections whether DSL, cable
modem or dialup.
Today, we're announcing the availability of LindowsFamily, the first product
in what will be a large product category - Family Computers. The "one size
fits all" PC of the past needs to start specializing to better serve market
segments if the PC industry is to continue to grow. LindowsFamily meets
the needs of families looking for a first computer, or additional computers
for their homes, in a way that the traditional PC does not. LindowsFamily
combines the power and ease-of-use of LindowsOS with features designed to
ensure a safer computing experience out of the box. All LindowsFamily computers
include the new SurfSafe web filtering system which seamlessly blocks inappropriate
materials for any net-connected computer. SurfSafe is integrated into the
computer, so it works with any net connection whether DSL, cable-modem
or dialup. It also works to block objectionable materials in web browsers
and email, so it will not only protect web browsing, but is also effective
against pornographic spam e-mail messages.
LindowsFamily is easy to set up, fast and perhaps best of all -- very
affordable. Included with every Family Computer is one year of SurfSafe
which can be turned on through an easy-to-use interface. SurfSafe is an
"updated-daily" service which tracks millions of inappropriate URLs and
routes web traffic around them with no noticeable degradation of the browsing
experience. Lindows.com is working with our same network of value minded
computer manufacturers to ensure that the first Family Computers are affordable.
Walmart.com and other leading builders are selling LindowsFamily
computers for under
$300 making them practical as a first family computer, student computer,
or for any school, library or church concerned about youth and their access
to inappropriate material.
I imagine that some of you are familiar with client-side security attempts
like MSN and AOL Parental Controls. While these are admirable first attempts,
every 11-year-old seems to know that all you have to do to circumvent
Parental Controls is click on the browser icon on the desktop or Start
menu and there is no protection at all. These services basically only offer
"one-window" security. To really work, filtering needs to be
incorporated into the
operating system so it works in all windows, not just the window that
has the dialup software. Additionally, to the extent that these services
work at all, they work only if you use the prescribed ISP. LindowsFamily
protection works with any type of net connection - even broadband. To learn
more about this product, or to purchase, go here.
The
other major announcement we're making is the $799 Lindows Mobile PC. Just like
Lindows.com broke through the price barrier on desktop computers when introducing
the $199 computer, we're now doing the same for notebook computers with our
$799 Lindows Mobile PC.
Conventional
laptops are too heavy and too expensive. Handhelds are too low powered.
What's needed is a lightweight computer which users can take anywhere, and
it needs to be light in price as well as weight - that is what makes a "Mobile
PC."
At the Desktop
Linux Summit we'll be displaying the phenomenal $799 laptop that only weighs 2.9 pounds.
This featherweight but capable computer comes with LindowsOS, 933 MHz processor, 256MB
RAM, USB 2.0, Firewire, Ethernet, 12.1 TFT display plus a PCMCIA slot to
add more functionality, such as wireless networking. No other computer
is so ideally suited for mobility as the affordable under 3lb. Lindows Mobile
PC. It compares
favorably to computers costing 2 or 3 times as much. This computer is
available
for order immediately and you'll want to get your order in quickly to
get yours in our first shipment.
We're confident that LindowsFamily and the Lindows Mobile PC will encourage
even more people to consider Linux for all of their desktop computing needs.
I'll be back next week with a full Desktop Linux Summit report.
-- Michael
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