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LindowsOS (also Lin---s, pronounced as Lindash) is a Linux distribution based on Debian. It is geared for the consumer user —marketed more heavily than all other *nix distributions, second only to Mac OS X. Lindows was the first Linux distribution to replace Windows in home consumer desktop systems, at a substantially lower price than Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft Inc. sued Lindows.com for its use of the term "windows" which microsoft claimed was a trademark infringement. In February 2004, a Judge rejected two of Microsofts central claims. Though Microsoft lost the core of its case, and say they will appeal the decision, for uncertain reasons, it also called the decision "a victory." (See Microsoft vs Lindows for more information.)
Its initial goal was to develop a Linux-based operating system capable of running major Windows applications as well. The Windows compatibility was based on the development of WINE by the Lindows.com team. This goal was later abandoned and the developers decided to focus on making Linux applications easy to download and install, and the applications easy to use. This is achieved using an application called Click-N-Run, a program based on Debian's apt-get, providing an easy-to-use interface and a slightly modfied package system for $99 per year (apt-get is free, but more difficult to use). Click-N-Run has over 1000 pieces of software for download. Lindows is criticized for the lack of many popular command-line tools on Linux, making it less usable for advanced users and not conforming to the Linux Standard Base. However,the makers of Lindows insist that they have not taken any of these away. Lindows does come with apt-get, allowing for the download of all of these programs.
Lindows.com sponsors many open-source projects and events, including the Gaim instant messaging client, the KDE-Apps.org and KDE-Look.org websites, and the Nvu project, which is developing an open-source WYSIWYG website editor (based on the Mozilla Composer code) to rival FrontPage. In the past, Lindows.com has contributed over $500,000 to the WINE project.
The CEO of the Lindows.com, Inc. is Michael Robertson, the founder and former CEO of MP3.com.