Michael Robertson enjoys picking a fight. Why else would he name his Linux-based operating system package "Lindows"? It's lawsuit bait, and indeed, Microsoft (MSFT) attempted in court to block use of the name (and lost). Lindows is a Linux "distribution" (operating system, desktop user interface, and software bundle) by the company of the same name. Lindows isn't Windows, although it can run many Windows applications.

Robertson, who famously founded MP3.com and sold it to Vivendi Universal for almost $400 million, sank $5 million of his own money into the year-old operation; there's no venture capital in the company. But he has landed a big partner: In June, Wal-Mart (WMT) started selling Microtel computers pre-loaded with Lindows. The consumer pitch: It's cheaper. You can get a Microtel PC running Lindows for only $299. Lindows makes money by charging users $99 a year to connect to its "Click-N-Run" online service, from which they can easily download lots of current applications for no additional charge. There are good applications available, like Sun's StarOffice, although Robertson admits that the all-important (to certain users, at least) game selection isn't there yet.