Linpus offers a Linux for newbies and experts alike
Linpus Technologies has long been known in Taiwan for its Linux distributions. Now, it wants to become a player in the global Linux market with its new Linux distribution Linpus Linux Lite, which features a dual-mode user interface. One mode is for people who may never have used a computer before; the other is for experienced Linux users.
According to the company, these two modes are Easy and Normal. Easy mode uses large, colorful icons, arranging software in terms of its use. So, for example, instead of offering users a choice of Web browser and e-mail programs, there’s an icon for the Internet. Under this icon, there are other icons for Firefox, as well as links that use Firefox to automatically connect to Google Maps, Wikipedia and YouTube. If users want a more traditional PC interface, they merely need to tap an icon on the master tool bar and they’ll switch to Normal mode, which is a KDE 3.5x desktop.
This functional approach to the desktop is quite similar to that of Good OS’ gOS 2.0.