CompAmerica has announced a free operating system option for its PCs that it claims “bears a reasonable resemblance” to Microsoft Windows XP and can cohabitate with Microsoft Windows XP on the same PC. The free operating system, called: “AX5,” which CompAmerica says “very much resembles Microsoft Windows XP.” The new operating system includes a graphical user interface that CompAmerica claims very much resembles it’s Windows ®counterpart. AX5 comes bundled with a full featured, built-in Office Automation package that can read and modify Microsoft Word 2003 documents with full word processing like Microsoft Word , a Browser similar to Internet Explorer called “Mozilla,” and high end Video, Music Media Players. AX5 also includes built in advanced security, built in auto-configuring networking, network sharing and wireless support. It comes with a vast library of web downloadable 2000 3rd-party applications ranging from Multimedia to Business Applications to Development tools, very similar to or equivalent to those found in the Microsoft Windows community.
Company Chairman, Dr. Jack A. Shulman said in a statement, “While we are traditionally a Microsoft Windows oriented PC company, we have been selling other systems since the first day of our company’s existence. We see a cost savings opportunity for those who have limited budget, and need robust Word Processing, Spread Sheets, the Internet, Email, Instant Messaging and Databases. AX5 is quite robust, since all of these features come standard with it. It plays videos, DVDs, Macromedia presentations, you can even load Apache Stronghold on it because it is 100% Linux and Unix compatible, as well as compatible with the Windows XP file system, NTFS. You can load Windows XP and run AX5 right from the CDROM on your CompAmerica PC, directly accessing your XP/NTFS drive, then switch back into XP mode, with a simple restart. AX5 is fast, providing Open GL graphical quality at resolutions of 1680×1200 and 1920×1280 on ordinary 17 and 19 inch CRTs and Flat Panels. Our Phoenix 64 PC at $299 with any APG4x/8x or PCI-express Video adapter will run AX5 right off the distribution CD with no installation necessary.”
CompAmerica indicated that AX5 will run on all CompAmerica PCs with few exceptions. An enhanced version, AX6, would be made available in the next few months bundled with Apache Stronghold, NFS, and MYSQL Database manager for use in high performance, low cost server form-factors. It also indicated it would be adding more features to the AX series so that low end PC buyers could obtain them on a smaller budget.
A spokesperson added that CompAmerica’s VideoC/++ and a Java Development system, as well as multimedia development from Apple and Real Networks are available for AX5, along with 2000 other applications from its 3rd Party Catalog, available for a modest annual maintenance subscription. CompAmerica indicated that it expected most users would also opt to purchase Windows Media Center 2005 for their PCs, and is offering a bundle of both AX5 and Microsoft Windows Media Center 2005 along with a plug in TV Tuner and Remote Control for $199 extra, on all 3.0GHz and up CompAmerica PCs.
To order AX5 with any CompAmerica PC, Laptop or Server, simply add the word “AX5” to any telephone or web order.
More info: http://www.compamerica.com/press/
Steve Jobs on a popsicle stick. CompAmerica does many things. Check out their “Jaguar,” “Panther,” and “Tiger” personal computers here. They also offer “Jaguar” and “Panther” laptops, too. The “Tiger” laptop must still be in development. The even sell domain names. We’d tell you more, but, no kidding, we literally got scared while briefly poking around that website. Some of the PC case designs they sell have the potential to literally kill Jonathan Ive or at least blind him; for most of us lesser mortals, severe stomach discomfort could and probably will occur, so be careful. Good luck to all future AX5 operating system users!
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