Cost: $129 for the CD set or $119 for the download, which includes:

• The operating system.

• Family licensing that allows use in multiple home computers.

• A two-year subscription to the Click-N-Run download library, which contains more than 1,300 games, productivity software programs, and utilities for download and quick installation.

ADVANTAGES

Star Office 6.0 and OpenOffice.org productivity software allow the opening, manipulating and saving of Microsoft Office files in Microsoft form.

Another program, the Microsoft Compatibility Program based on the Linux WINE software, allows limited function of Microsoft Office 2000 while running Lindows. The program does not currently work with other versions of Office, including Office XP. (See lindows.com/mswindows for more details.)

Machines that come with Lindows installed are cheap. Currently, Walmart.com is selling an 800 MHz computer with speakers, a keyboard and a mouse for $199 (modem, monitor and floppy disk drive are not included).

Installing the operating system takes less than 10 minutes and is much simpler than previous Linux distributions. The automatic hardware configuration is similar to Microsoft installations.

Includes all the basic programs needed for connection to the Internet, e-mail and browsing.

Can be easily networked with Windows machines and Windows network printers.

Software supporting new hardware hitting the market will be made available through Lindows.com downloads.

Can be installed on a machine currently running Windows

DISADVANTAGES

Cannot run Windows-based games, and the selection of Linux-based games is limited.

Most of the programs available under Click-N-Run's $99 fee are available elsewhere on the Internet as free Open Source Linux programs.

Running Windows applications under WINE software is sometimes glitchy. More development work is being done to improve performance, but it will take time to perfect. Often programs will run but have display problems, can't print or won't function with sound.

While the operation of Lindows is similar to Windows, it will still require some time to acclimate.

Online support is minimal and rudimentary.

SOURCE: Dallas Morning News research