http://www.osnews.com/story/14421/Linspire_Announces_Freespire_Distribution Exploring the Future of Computing en-us Copyright 2001-2009, David Adams adam+nospam@osnews.com Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:15:24 GMT http://www.osnews.com/images/osnews.gif http://www.osnews.com http://osnews.com/thread?117795 http://osnews.com/thread?117795 You've got to wonder; if one can get Linspire for free (or almost) without CNR subscription, where does Freespire fit? Mon, 24 Apr 2006 18:49:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (olivier) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117799 http://osnews.com/thread?117799 I just checked the website, and it seems that Freespire, essentially, *IS* Linspire without a CNR subscription; correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is a "Linspire" branded version without it.Edited 2006-04-24 19:04 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:03:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (FreakyT) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117802 http://osnews.com/thread?117802 They aren't supporting multiple architectures yet and think "PowerPC = Mac" in their documentation.

It will be primarily KDE at first and then Gnome based distros will appear.

Legal mainstream codec support will be out of the box or damn near indistinguishable from it. This is consistent with Linspire's belief that proprietary software belongs in Linux.

They will join the DCCA and get LSB certification.

If I've misspoken, TIA to whomever corrects me. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:20:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (snozzberry) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117804 http://osnews.com/thread?117804 Even better, if you can get debian packages for free without CNR subscription, where does CNR fit? Why pay for something that you can get for free.

Granted, CNR is very simple to use and I applaud linspire for integrating it so well. However, gnome-app-install (Add Applications on the system menu) on Ubuntu is easier than CNR and it is free!

As great as it is that linspire is doing this, there isn't much of a niche for it that hasn't already been conquered by Ubuntu, Fedora, or SUSE.

Linspire should stick to their proprietary distro and continue to fund great open source projects such as:
-Lsongs http://lsongs.com
-Lphoto http://lphoto.com/
-AolDialer http://tinyurl.com/g55ea
-libipod http://libipod.sourceforge.net/
-nvu http://www.nvu.com

I don't think you are going to see a lot of linux newbies convert over to freespire with other distros leading the way. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:22:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (SEJeff) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117805 http://osnews.com/thread?117805 I guess their business model is going through a slight change. They must've come to the conclusion that they can give the OS away and charge for the CNR subscription. This could be a very smart move, helping their distro by setting it into the wild free and than getting some returns ($) for unique features such as CNR. Their market share will hopefully increase... and if they play there cards right, could become the big player in the Linux world that they are dying to become.

IMHO Jb Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:24:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (GrapeGraphics) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117808 http://osnews.com/thread?117808 Do they have a VMWare image?
Would be nice if they did... Mon, 24 Apr 2006 19:31:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (load_mic) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117819 http://osnews.com/thread?117819 Considering it hasn't been released yet, no. http://www.freespire.org/download. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:04:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (jayson.knight) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117821 http://osnews.com/thread?117821 ...because the perspire.com domain name wasn't available. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:05:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Joe User) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117822 http://osnews.com/thread?117822 Unfortunately nvu at least hasn't seen a bit of work since the 1.0 release, and this is an area where linux really is lacking, decent wysiwyg web editors. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:17:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Knuckles) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117830 http://osnews.com/thread?117830 This is a good thing. Last time I saw Linspire was version 5.0, and I must say it had some very nice polish to it. Granted, it was too candied up for me to like it, especially I'm a Gnome guy here. But It did look nice from boot up to full use it just had a very nice all around look and feel to it that few linux distributions (including Ubuntu) don't quite have yet.

The question is, will it literally be Linspire - CNR? If so that would be the best, since that's the one reason I think Linspire is horrible. Apt was meant to be free.

Leech Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:30:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (leech) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117847 http://osnews.com/thread?117847 I wonder if this is the first step of decoupling CNR from Linspire? Taken into account the discussions of moving CNR into Ubuntu, maybe they are focusing on a service oriented (CNR) business model? Mon, 24 Apr 2006 20:54:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Armeck) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117853 http://osnews.com/thread?117853 A nice newbie Linux distro... BTW, you can still get CNR service, according to the FAQ. Also, it says that you will be able to get any FOSS program in the CNR warehouse using APT anyway. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:12:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (madcrow) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117904 http://osnews.com/thread?117904 You anti LinSpire guys (and girls) just don't get it yet. And NO, Ubuntu is NOT easier to install software than CNR. Maybe for you but not for people that just came over from Windows. Mon, 24 Apr 2006 23:41:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Sabon) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117911 http://osnews.com/thread?117911 I dont really see how it could get any easier in Ubuntu.

1. Click the Applications menu.
2. Click the Add/Remove... menu item.
3. Click a category (Games, Internet, Sound/Video, etc)
4. Browse the list of applications in that category. You can read about what each application does.
5. Click the checkbox next to an application you wish to install.
6. Click OK and enter your password when prompted.

Based on the screenshots of CNR on Linspire website, it does look "better" (more information, some screenshots of the app, etc).

I'm not sure that makes it easier to use though - I'd actually be inclined to think its harder for the new user, since it appears to have far more functionality than the Ubuntu offering and following Gnome's lead*, we all know functionality is the first step towards confusion

* I am a Gnome user and prefer it like thatEdited 2006-04-25 00:08 Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:06:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Nathan) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117920 http://osnews.com/thread?117920 Business models commonly evolve in order to take advantage of new opportunities.

I think this could be a good move. If the user likes CNR during the 30-day trial period with Freespire, they can opt to get a Standard or Gold CNR Subscription. If the user subscribes to CNR, that's $ for Linspire.

If they really want to get some attention, they should have a bundle of CDs burned & distributed to stores like CompUSA, Best Buy, Staples, and others that sell computers & computer products. Since only a small percentage of people purchase s/w via on-line sales, a good way to get the word out could be as, 'freebies,' in the stores. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:40:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Pelly) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117921 http://osnews.com/thread?117921 On their forum, a script kiddie is registering dumb memberships one after the other: blablabla_AT_gmail.com

http://forum.freespire.org/memberlist.php

In a few moments the forums registered more than 600 registrations!

It is now impossible to register on the Perspire forums Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:46:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Joe User) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117954 http://osnews.com/thread?117954 Oh, we get it, all right. And PJ at Groklaw has it down fairly well, too. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 03:37:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (egon_spengler) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117961 http://osnews.com/thread?117961 "Oh, we get it, all right. And PJ at Groklaw has it down fairly well, too."

*yawn* The great Linspire/Microsoft conspiracy. Microsoft has paid off Linspire to be a mole in the "linux community" to destroy from within. Neato.

F/OSS people get more crazy and less loveable by the day. I like the idea but some of the ideal is totally loathesome; equally so as the proprietary lockin that Microsoft espouses imo. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 04:11:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (abdavidson) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117965 http://osnews.com/thread?117965 No, not a mole within the community. The abandonment of freedom for convenience, the compromising of ethics, the wholesale sellout that is being advocated, the attempt to coopt development for short-term gain. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 04:47:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (egon_spengler) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117976 http://osnews.com/thread?117976 What a load of codswallop.

Abandonment of freedom? Far OUT.

So you never use or buy anything proprietary? You don't have a car or any electronics gear? What are you typing this on, I don't recall much computer hardware being OS/Copyleft/IP-free.

If not then how the hell can you or the Groklaw weenie justify that kind of pointless superfluous idiotic attack on someone who is trying to advance Linux usage, and OSS as a whole.

They aren't forcing anyone to go with them, but the ridiculous nearsighted self righteous bullshit that people like you come out with continues to hold it all back.

Ridiculous and counter-productive (is there any other kind) demagoguery. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 05:46:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (abdavidson) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117978 http://osnews.com/thread?117978 I think freespire's website is much better than linspire's... Tue, 25 Apr 2006 05:57:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (fakhar) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?117981 http://osnews.com/thread?117981 linspire products serve a niche. i am not that niche, but its nice to know someone is trying to capture the exceedingly novice users. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 06:16:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (theGrump) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?118018 http://osnews.com/thread?118018 "You've got to wonder; if one can get Linspire for free (or almost) without CNR subscription, where does Freespire fit?"

Well over the last few weeks I've noticed comments on the Linspire boards that Linspire was geared toward OEM machines with Linspire pre-installed. Then yesterday's announcement flat out says that in it. Linspire has everything to gain from this because they are far behind the other distros in terms of being able to support newer hardware. Their last "update" took them forever and a day to even acknowledge that they were behind and even that doesn't work on a lot of hardware. So basically they're hoping the community does their work for them and then the oem/retail versions will be based on what the community builds out of it.

Will it work? I don't think it has a cold chance in hell. Linspire ticked off and turned away too many Linux purists that pointed out their problems early on that they couldn't get them to hack on it if they paid them. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:01:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Robocoastie) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?118019 http://osnews.com/thread?118019 Lindows Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:04:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (hhcv) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?118039 http://osnews.com/thread?118039 Oh please, it's been said a million times by linspire that they make most of their money on OEM machines sold from WalMarts and Micro Centers etc.

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS4429877679.html

That is nothing new. The reason they are making Linspire more open (Something that had been in the works for over a year anyway) is so people like you have nothing to now pick at.

They are now just as open as everyone else, they offer the same things as everyone else and ether people will like them more or they will go away, simple!

They are following the same track as Sun, Novell, Red Hat and others. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:40:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Windows Sucks) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?118094 http://osnews.com/thread?118094 I doubt they use scripts,it's Linspire (remember ease of use) :-) Tue, 25 Apr 2006 16:31:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (netpython) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?118099 http://osnews.com/thread?118099 So you never use or buy anything proprietary? You don't have a car

You're a bit confused about the concepts of property and freedom. I have a car, and I can tweak it to do anything I want it to. I'm also free to use it for anything, including commercial use. The seller of the car doesn't get the right to impose restrictions on me. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 16:56:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (thebluesgnr) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?118122 http://osnews.com/thread?118122 "If not then how the hell can you or the Groklaw weenie justify that kind of pointless superfluous idiotic attack on someone who is trying to advance Linux usage, and OSS as a whole." Perhaps the same way someone such as yourself can sell your soul for temporary convenience at the expense of true freedom when closed binaries are "good enough" in the near term for those of similar sight? Accepting whatever scraps are tossed your way to appease you is NOT the way to advance Free software. Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:58:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (egon_spengler) Comments http://osnews.com/thread?118139 http://osnews.com/thread?118139 Yeah cuz we all know nvu is the only wysiwyg web editor for linux right? Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:50:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Lettherebemorelight) Comments