Corel Linux
Screenshot of Corel Linux running WordPerfect and Netscape Navigator
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| Developer | Corel |
|---|---|
| OS family | Unix-like |
| Working state | Discontinued |
| Initial release | November 15, 1999 |
| Latest release | Second Edition / August 15, 2000 |
| Platforms | IA-32 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| Default user interface | KDE |
Corel Linux, also called Corel LinuxOS, was a Debian-based operating system made by Corel that began beta testing on September 21, 1999 and was released to the public on November 15, 1999. It mainly competed against Windows 98 and Windows 2000 by Microsoft, plus Mac OS 9 by Apple. Corel later discontinued the distribution, but did not remove the former Corel Open Source Development website until March 2002.
Corel did not use KFM, the standard KDE file manager. It instead used its own file manager, CFM. This, along with other modifications Corel made, made the operating system incompatible with other versions of Linux much more so than other competitors in the industry. At a time when there was relatively little Linux software available, this was a serious hurdle for Corel and its users.
The operating system's Second Edition was released on August 15, 2000 in download, regular and deluxe editions. The latter bundled Corel WordPerfect Office for Linux.
Xandros purchased the Corel Linux source code and development team when Corel scrapped its Linux business in August 2001. However, the Corel Corporation is a stockholder of Xandros.
Corel Linux has the following system requirements:
Corel Linux featured a file manager that was very close in look and feel to Windows Explorer. The file manager provided an integrated Windows SMB network browser. The company also advertised that the operating system was compatible with its flagship software.
The key selling point of Corel Linux was its compatibility with the company's WordPerfect applications. The eponymous word processor's eighth version was given away to personal customers in the hopes that they would purchase WordPerfect Office 2000. This suite added the Quattro Pro, Corel Presentations and CorelCentral programs. The Deluxe version of that suite added the Paradox database manager and Railroad Tycoon II: Gold. The latter omits a level editor, the network mode and some scenarios from the original game. Unlike the free WordPerfect 8, the office suite was not written natively for Linux, but instead consisted of the Windows programs powered by Corel's fork of the Wine compatibility layer. As a result, the Linux suite suffered from a performance penalty compared to the Windows version and WordPerfect 8.
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