[CLUG] Corel Linux

[Noel Dillane, Home Account]

Folks

In the spirit of diversity I would like to present my views on Corel
Linux.

I signed up last year to be a beta tester for their Linux distro, mainly
because I use
Linux as a hobby and have installed Slackware, Caldera, Red Hat and Suse
(my personal favorite).
I received a complete boxed set of Corel Linux deluxe for my efforts. 


I think Corel have gone a fair way in meeting their objectives in the
Linux distro.

This is NOT a Linux distro for hackers, this is for the end user that
need a user friendly stable working environment.
They do not provide 20 different editors, etc etc. They provide a
slightly customised version of KDE that looks 
enough like windows that it might just convince another few users to
move over from the Microsoft camp.
They bring years of Windows graphic design experience to the Linux world
AND they bring years of experience in designing
products for end users.

The quality of their packaging and manuals far exceeds anything I have
seen in the Linux World (IMHO).
Their File manager is very intuitive for a Windows users and the built
in ability to browse WfWG networks is a BIG added bonus 
for Windows users. Their Corel Update  Tool is just excellent period.
The additions to the KDE Control panel which allow basic admin
are again IMHO excellent and where a user would expect to find such
tools (what end user really wants to run a separate Admin tool)

Folks, Corel could do a lot for Linux. They are providing a lot of
funding and programmers to Wine and are using this to "port" their 
full Corel WordPerfect suite to Linux (and also Corel Draw this year).
They are also working with Major 3rd party companies to bring Voice
Capability (Philips), better font rendering, RAD tools (Inprise) and are
also working with Creative Labs to bring better h/w support.

They hold significant share in :

http://www.rebel.com/	(Like Cobalt Cube)

http://www.graphon.com/  (Like Cytrix)

Games companies

and have also bought a share in a Linux support company (like a small
"LinuxForce) and a Linux Server s/w company http://www.newlix.com/

They have been the number one and two (I think) download from CNET for
Corel Linux and WordPerfect and were rated number #1 Linux distro from
CNET also.



Here is a rave review even from the Microsoft sponsored MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.com/news/357464.asp


I am not a programmer/Hacker and have always looked at Linux from a
(Technical) End user point of view, I believe Corel will do 
more for Linux on the Desktop (for Joe Average , nerds need not apply).

Give them time Version 2 is due out in a few months, when they ship
their WordPerfect suite (2nd best selling suite worldwide)
I am sure they will have made improvements just as RH and SuSE do with
each new version

I would respectfully suggest that you look at this from a End User point
and what they can do to bring more users, credibility and applications,
support etc. to Linux.

This is NOT a hackers linux

regards
Noel D