Linked by Andrew Davis on Mon 22nd Nov 2004 20:12 UTC
I admit that I'm a geek. I use Linux. I use Solaris. I use FreeBSD. At times, I use Windows. And without a doubt, I download and try almost every Linux distribution when they come out. Over the last few years, I've tried all of the RedHat/Fedora releases, 2 different Lindows/Linspire releases, Mandrake, Gentoo, Xandros, Suse, Ubuntu, and the list goes on.
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1. Linspire lacks LSB certification which Novell and Red Hat both have.
True. Linspire believes that the consumer should set standards, not big business. We believe open source is about what the people want, not what Novell and Red Hat want.
2. Linspire is not a member of the Free Standards Group but Novell and Red Hat are members.
Ditto.
3. Linspire does not follow simple standards such as not charging consumers to access software that is freely available with other Linux distributions.
We believe some people want and appreciate paying for services that make their life easier. That's why they buy bottled water, hamburgers at McDonalds, pay to have their hair cut, their food grown, and their clothes sewn...all things that anyone can do for free if they have the skill and free time.
Linspire believes Linux should be available to EVERYONE, not just the technical wizards. People who work on cars for a living never understand why someone would pay Jiffy Lube $30 to change the oil in their car either. =)
4. Linspire lacks a flexible EULA and seems more Microsoft like in their license offerings. Unlike the license agreements that Novell and Red Hat offer consumers, both of which work to follow the GNU/GPL.
FUD. We use GPL/GNU software, so of course our EULA incorporates that fully.
5. Linspire lacks support for current hardware such as Intel P4/Xeon w/EMT64, AMD Opteron/64-FX, current graphics cards, etc. Both Novell and Red Hat offer a wider support base for hardware than Linspire and as such better suited not only for home consumers but also enterprise.
FUD. Linspire is dedicated to desktop computing, not servers, and installs on more desktop computers than Red Hat or Novell. We have a giant QA lab to prove it if you'd like to come for a visit.
6. Linspire lacks good distributor support. Unlike Novell and Red Hat that have support from companies IBM, HP, etc.
Mondo FUD here. When it comes to DESKTOP computing, no one can beat Linspire's OEM and distribution channel. Linspire has over 350 OEM's that sell computers pre-loaded with Linspire. There are very few places you can walk into and buy a Red Hat or Novell desktop/laptop computer. There are over 1,000 retail locations in North and South America that you can walk into and purchase a Linspire computer (Fry's, Micro Center, PC Club, Electra, etc.) as well as many on-line retailers (WalMart.com, Staples.com, etc.).
7. Linspire support offerings are a poor comparison to what Novell and Red Hat currently offer consumers.
FUD. We offer 24/7 world class support.
8. TCO is higher with Linspire when compared to Novell and Red Hat.
FUD. Someone sounds like Ballmer now. =)
9. Linspire and Debian based distributions in general lack support from the entertainment industry and their software suppliers. Where as Novell and Red Hat are the leading companies used by studios and their highend software developers.
Novell and Red Hat have excellent SERVER and ENTERPRISE products, but when it comes to DESKTOP computing, Linspire's focus shows.
Kevin