Software: Internet Music Innovator Launching
New Operating System
With Microsoft’s marketing machine running at full tilt to promote a new version of Windows, San Diego’s Michael Robertson is turning up the volume about a product of his own.
Robertson, the man who made millions as founder of MP3.com, Inc., last week announced a fourth quarter beta launch of a product for Pentium-based desktop computers.
Like Microsoft’s Windows, Robertson’s product is an easy-to-use operating system.
It is built around a Linux software core and will be capable of running Windows programs , not to mention Linux programs.
Robertson calls his hybrid operating system “Lindows,” and it’s at the heart of his new company, Lindows.com.
The company will seek feedback from beta users, then Version 1 of LindowsOS will be available in early 2002.
The software will be priced at $99.
Robertson said last week his goal is to bring choice to the operating system arena.
“Right now there really isn’t much choice,” he said.
It’s a theme that Lindows marketing materials continually referred to.
The company is also promoting the product’s stability and its ease of use.
Robertson said he wants to sell primarily to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as to academia and government. Large enterprises and the home user are not his main target markets, Robertson said.
One advantage to the operating system, he said, is that a user will be able to load it on multiple computers “without the hassle of serial code registrations.”
One trick to getting Windows software to run on top of Linux is getting it to run with comparable speed, Robertson said, adding that the company’s product offers that speed.
Lindows.com has 16 employees and is “hiring a bunch,” Robertson said. He estimated a total of 20 people were working on the software project.
The company is being funded by Robertson and a former investor in MP3.com, whom Robertson would not name. Its offices are in University City.
Robertson started Lindows.com four months ago.
Robertson started MP3.com in 1998. The San Diego-based company delivers music over the Internet. Shortly into its history, five major record labels sued the company, alleging copyright infringement. MP3.com reached accords with all of them, and one, Vivendi Universal, went on to buy MP3.com in August. Robertson remains an advisor to Vivendi’s chairman.
Robertson said he created 300 high-paying technology jobs in a couple of years with his last venture.
“My goal is to create another great San Diego company,” he said.
