The San Diego, California-based company has released the Desktop Linux Enterprise Assessment Kit designed to enable potential users to weigh up different editions of its LindowsOS operating system, test Linux-based applications, and asses filetype and hardware compatibility.

Available as a single DVD costing $149, the product includes LindowsOS 4.5, LindowsOS Laptop Edition, LindowsDeveloper Edition, LindowsLive!, CNR Express, diagnostic tools and older Lindows releases. The kit also enables users to create installation CDs of any of the software included.

Meanwhile, Lindows.com has been in court this week attempting to persuade a US District Judge to stop Microsoft Corp from carrying on its international trademark crusade against the company.

Microsoft believes that the Lindows name infringes its Windows trademark but has twice failed to persuade a US Court to grant an injunction against the company and indeed suffered the ignominy of US District Judge John Coughenour casting doubt on whether the company should have been allowed to trademark the word windows at all.

Microsoft has been more successful in Europe however, where it has won a preliminary injunction preventing Lindows.com from operating in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. It has also filed complaints in Finland, Sweden, France and Canada.

Earlier this month Microsoft asked the Dutch Court to fine Lindows.com 100,000 euros ($122,230) per day unless its blocks access to its web site from Benelux countries, something Lindows.com claims is impossible and would evade the US Court’s previous ruling.

Lindows asked Judge Coughenour to direct Microsoft from bringing any more trademark lawsuits outside the US and to declare the Dutch injunction non-recognizable and unenforceable, and on Wednesday the two companies both gave 20 minute presentations to the Judge.

Reports indicate that Coughenour will issue his findings in a matter of days but that he was inclined towards finding a compromise that would enable Lindows.com to continue operating while the US action is ongoing.

This article is based on material originally published by ComputerWire