DesktopLinux.com reviews the Freespire release candidate, and concludes: "In short, I found it to be a fine Windows replacement desktop for home users. Without better network support, however, I still must recommend Xandros for business users who want a Windows-like experience, and SLED 10 for Linux friendly or heavy-duty office users."
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Member since:2005-07-12
"Once again another post that implies OSS/GPL is all about fiddling and making things work whereas proprietary just works. I honestly would be using windows if I felt that way."
Not saying that at all. For me, most OSS stuff works quite easily and quite well. But when you get to stuff like Flash, MP3, NVidia or ATI 3D, many digital cameras, WiFi, many USB devices, sticking to pure OSS becomes much more difficult. Particurarily for people not used to downloading stuff, tweaking this, changing that, apt-getting the other thing, etc. Lispire, and Xandros, and Mepis, and Mandriva, and a host of others, package the proprietary stuff so that the non-technical end user gets the complete, out of the box experience, and doesn't run away screaming.
I essentially agree with RMS, in that this is a hard comprimise for the sake of convenience. But really, I think losing a small, temporary proprietary vs OSS battle helps win the larger OSS expansion war.
"Last time I checked though Linspire still didn't actually make any money - just red ink. 
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Very good point. But they are trying very hard to make money.
Member since:
2006-06-19
Ok, so you love GPL, OSS and proprietary? So do you think that as long as
I think that was 20 million. A company that takes a 20 million payoff and the people who call that a win - well I don't agree with either. Sorry.
Once again another post that implies OSS/GPL is all about fiddling and making things work whereas proprietary just works. I honestly would be using windows if I felt that way.
No not evil to make money at all. Last time I checked though Linspire still didn't actually make any money - just red ink.