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Ltorrent is a very cool new application for managing BitTorrent downloads. As far as I can tell, it's based on the console only btqueue, and is currently a Linspire only application. With the rise of BitTorrent, it's a nice inclusion. However, since there is no FTP client installed by default, I think it's odd that this application is included. Seems strange to me that one would assume a Linspire user would need a torrent tracker but not an FTP client. This seems to be a poor choice. Since the app, which is a nice app, by the way, was developed in house, they bundled it. My feeling is that it doesn't quite fit. Linspire suffers from an identity crisis here. They can choose to be slimmed down and provide an experience akin to that of Windows, or they can bundle some more advanced applications. However, they can't bundle just a select few advanced applications and expect people not to complain that fairly standard Linux apps are missing.

On that front though, Linspire has improved over their previous versions. This version includes OpenOffice.org, the screenshot tool, the standard proprietary tools (Flash, MP3, Real Player) preinstalled, and gaim for IM'ing amongst others. However, again, and this has been a complaint for many versions now - Linspire is still light on software when compared to other Linux distributions. Although clearly the goal is to lure people away from Windows, Linspire is not established enough to not view projects/products like Fedora, Mandrake, and SUSE as competitors. In this sense, the value is simply not realized. It's not fair to only consider, say, Xandros and Lycoris as viable desktop Linux alternatives. Here's my proposed solution: If the goal for Linspire was to keep it slim to improve install time and disc weight, there should be an obvious portion of Click-N-Run that stores a number of free applications. There's no room for another OS that doesn't offer the basics. OS X comes with iLife now. To compete with Windows, you'll need to offer not just more, but better and easier.

One thing that I found strange was the choice as Mozilla proper (Seamonkey) as the default web browser. It has been rebranded "Linspire Internet Suite." While Firefox is available in the Click-N-Run store (along with Opera, Galeon, and others), I find it plain annoying that Mozilla is present as the default. Nearly everyone I know uses Firefox, even people on Windows, and I would think Windows users contemplating a switch to Linux would be more at home with Firefox, which they may well be running already, versus Mozilla, which, truth be told, feels like a mess. I haven't actually used Mozilla since Firefox was still Phoenix, but going back makes me remember why I ditched it in the first place.

Of course, no Linspire review is complete without mention of Click-N-Run. These days, the CNR method, pioneered, or least least first delivered, by Linspire, is more common. Xandros Networks is pretty much the same concept. However, the way Linspire has chosen to split software into subcategories and organize the menus similarly into "aisles" is a pretty good idea. Though not new to Linspire Five-0, it is a good holdover concept that I think it great. The only problem I see is that there is no obvious way to uninstall software, which seems like something many users would one day want. In addition to there not being any visible menu editor, and the right-click disabled on the "Launch" menu, there's no way to get unwanted programs out of the menu. If one were to go crazy one night in the Click-N-Run warehouse, they might find themselves stuck with a fairly bloated menu.

Continuing that thought though, it's not very hard to turn Linspire into a fully functioning Debian Sid machine. By simply opening /etc/apt/sources.list in KWrite and uncommenting two lines, you unlock quite a bit of power. A few minutes later I had Firefox, gFTP, Bluefish, and Synaptic running with no effort and no subscription. Installing them via apt-get from the terminal, they showed up with no effort in the Launch menu. A simple apt-get remove xmms removed it from my system as expected and from the Launch menu. Of course, once you have resorted to using raw apt-get, what's the point of Click-N-Run?

I'd like to note that while Linspire attempts to mount NTFS partitions, it did not properly mount my largest NTFS partition on a second hard drive, yet strangely, Linspire Live!, the fully functional if not slower live CD portion, did. Very frustrating, as a minute or two of tinkering with mount and umount still left me with an apparently "blank" drive.

One can't use or review Linspire without a little knowledge of the company itself and what it does. There's a strong community around Linspire, there are active forums, and there is even support line you can call (which I did and I reached a recording with several useful tips on the weekend). Linspire has contributed to Wineconf, and this just last week was a sponsor of the Linux Desktop Summit. Linspire is doing a lot to push desktop Linux, and I think it's important for many to realize that recently, Linspire has probably delivered more via new desktop applications than most other distributions.

To sum up: Linspire Five-0 is definitely a good base from which to build. The lack of well rounded applications when compared to other OSes in its class leave me wanting more, however, a slick look, some powerful Linspire specific apps, and a non-crippled undercarriage remain appealing.

Linspire Five-0 is definitely an exciting distribution. While this beta version has plenty of snags, it's one of the most exciting distributions out there, because it delivers so many unique experiences. A custom theme, several new and powerful apps, a solid Debian base, and ready and friendly support should make Linspire an attractive option to new Linux converts. For the seasoned, Linspire brings an easy and familiar desktop and great new apps, and should be worth the value if you forgo the CNR membership in favor of apt-get and the Debian repositories.

Installation: 8/10
Hardware Support: 6/10
Ease of use: 9/10
Features: 8/10
Credibility: 7/10
Speed: 8/10

Overall: 7.66

1. "Linspire Five-0, Part I"
2. "Linspire Five-0, Part II"