MadPenguin reviews Versora’s Progression Desktop, and concludes: “Overall, this is a really solid product. It does exactly what it’s advertised to do, and it’s wrapped in a very user friendly package. At just under $30 [EUR 25] per desktop, the price is right too… And it’s even cheaper when paired with Linspire Linux 5.0. Whether you love it or hate it, Linspire is the best thing going right now in the Windows desktop replacement market, and paired with a tool such as Versora’s Progression Desktop… You simply can’t go wrong.”
Didnt we just do this about a week ago???
“Linspire is the best thing going right now in the Windows desktop replacement market”
I want a alternative not a replacement, you can keep the money hungry, subscription based, sell me everything, type of companies OUT of my OS please…
seriously, whats so wrong about a company wanting to make money? people gotta eat you know?
Linspire is not for everyone, they know that and WE know that.
Linspire, (then lindows) was the first linux system I ever ran, it worked for me, as I evolved and learned more about linux, it was great, I subscribed to CNR for 2 years, I gave it to family members to play with, they enjoyed it, my uncle still runs Linspire now, works for him.
I’ve moved onto other Distro’s, but for me, it all started with Linspire(lindows)
I like reading about Linspire, but the vicious backlash whenever it comes up is horrible, Cut them some slack, you don’t see any other Linux distro coming out and making a genuine attempt at the desktop like Linspire now do you?
Sheesh… maybe if people actually installed and ran the damn OS with CNR they would stop bitching about it so much, CNR is something every other Distro would kill to have, dead simple and wonderful.
~DevilotX
Well I certainly agree with you that bashing Linspire is silly, I wouldn’t call it the only genuine attempt at a Linux desktop. It’s really just KDE after all. But then perhaps you’re not aware of Xandros and Mepis just to name a few.
Oh I am, I love Xandros, but you don’t see Xandros showing up anywhere preinstalled on machines, or specialty machines for Xandros.
its not that Linspire is the best, its that they are making the most vocal and visual attempts.
I HAVE installed and run the software, and have had access to the Collect New Revenue warehouse as well. Ubuntu (which seems to be the next core for Lindows/spire, according to their folks) provides a synaptic setup which is as simple to use, and does not cost you anything. As to every other distro killing to have, I really doubt that.
“I gave it to family members to play with, they enjoyed it, my uncle still runs Linspire now, works for him. ”
You should carefully read the license for Linspire to make sure that’s actually not a copyright violation. I don’t see a lot of people sharing Linspire.
This wouldn’t be a problem with most GNU/Linux systems, but Linspire goes an extra step:
“Although the basic GNU/Linux system is free software, most of the GNU/Linux versions now available include a small amount of non-free software–just enough to spoil them as a way to attain freedom. But Linspire is in a class by itself; large and important parts of this system are non-free. No other GNU/Linux distribution has backslided so far away from freedom. Switching from MS Windows to Linspire does not bring you to freedom, it just gets you a different master.”
That’s why people don’t like Linspire.
“Cut them some slack, you don’t see any other Linux distro coming out and making a genuine attempt at the desktop like Linspire now do you? ”
There are many companies doing that, with greater success mind you. And even though most add proprietary software they don’t go as far as Linspire went.
If you think free software like GNU, Linux, X.org, KDE, etc, make a better operating system than Windows from a technical point of view only, and that’s all you care about, then Linspire may be for you. But for those who actually care about freedom and open source software Linspire is as acceptable as Windows.
“CNR is something every other Distro would kill to have, dead simple and wonderful”
Puuuullleeeeeezzzeeeee…..
And you think if they wanted this they couldnt create it? You think mandrake couldnt do something like CNR? What do you think CNR is besides a nice front to apt that you have to pay for. A one click GUI for installing packages is dead simple since you just script apt!
Pay for a installer that REQUIRES internet access and a subscription and doesnt work for the OS you purchased a year or two after you bought it….UH no thanks!
Plenty of linux companies do the desktop thing. I do not actually consider that a good thing until we can get hardware manufacturers to support linux better… I think it probably ends up being a bad thing for linux because people get a wintergreen pc with linspire and some of the hard ware doesnt work or next update the wireless card doesnt work or it is such a crappy machine that the whole experience is slow and bad so people end up with a bad impression of linux… And all this comes from the “easiest desktop linux” so I wonder what they think if they believe that was the easiest? All this from a linux that costs money, wonder what they think about those free distros if even the paid ones leave users with a bad experience?
And you think if they wanted this they couldnt create it? You think mandrake couldnt do something like CNR? What do you think CNR is besides a nice front to apt that you have to pay for. A one click GUI for installing packages is dead simple since you just script apt!
Yes, that’s where Linspire’s other advantage comes in : their slow release cycle. This means you can go on happily installing programs from CNR without having to wonder about compatibility (do I have libcX.XX ?) or fearing dependancy hell (install a new png.so and spend the rest of the day recompiling or updating seemingly unrelated programs).
Edited 2006-02-03 06:25
Yes, that’s where Linspire’s other advantage comes in : their slow release cycle. This means you can go on happily installing programs from CNR without having to wonder about compatibility (do I have libcX.XX ?) or fearing dependancy hell (install a new png.so and spend the rest of the day recompiling or updating seemingly unrelated programs).
Yes, but don’t package management systems like apt-get greatly decrease the occurrence of the kinds of dependency issues you mention?
Pay for a installer that REQUIRES internet access and a subscription and doesnt work for the OS you purchased a year or two after you bought it….UH no thanks!
That statement is not true at all. When users install material from CNR, the material is always available to that user, even if they do not renew their subscription.
I found this out by accident. In 2004 I took advantage of a coupon for a free copy of Linspire (then LindowsOS) and tred the 15-Day Trial.
After cancelling the trial, the items I installed during that time were still available to me, and still are!
While I wouldn’t be able to install new material or material I hadn’t tried during the Trial Period, I have full access to previously installed material. Even upgrades to the individual titles are available.
With this in mind, if you got the OS, had CNR for a year (or the 15-Day Trial), you can still install & use the CNR material you installed when the subscription (or Trial) was active.
My 2 Cents.
Oh, REALLY? What about all those folks who found out about the failure of their older versions to be updated/have access to the Collect New Revenue warehouse?
Something along the lines of “Sorry, your version of LOS is no longer supprted” I believe is the phrase.
yet another policy change! not anymore….
Second of all, what happens in a year or so when the versions in the warehouse does not work on your version of linspire? Worthless….
Nope, sorry, price of freedom
. If I could I’d keep out users who suggest that some ways of using gpl software shouldn’t be allowed.
What about printer settings? Does it handle those?
You can currently purchase a copy of Linspire Linux for only $49.95 USD, and then grab Progression Desktop from CNR for $14.95 (Gold CNR members can purchase it for $9.95), which will bring your total licensing cost per node to $64.90 (or $59.90 for Gold CNR members). The savings are really evident when you compare that to the current price of Windows XP at $261.99. Oh yeah, and don’t forget Microsoft Office, which rings in at $407.99 for the Professional version.
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My system : XP home /Debian pure/Freebsd6 /triple boot
I have 3 yr old desktop with XP purchased for $350 at that time. Based on HW config its present value is not more than $40. Now I want replacement for that old XP. What options I have???
get Blank desktop for ~$300 and add $65 to LS and verosa + 2yr x50(linspire fee?)=$465 total
or get ~$400 desktop XP preinstalled with same HW config.
I think we are paying not more than $100 for preinstalled XP copy(MS tax, check Dell online with/or without XP PRO prices) on any modern desktop. So the $600 figure for XP looks illusive. And on top of that my printer/scanner/wireless/modem etc software comes FREE with hardware saving my 30 hrs=$450 worth of TIME on HW installations I spend on figuring with debian.
There are enough FREE and legal softwares to use on home XP for average Joe and I use sygate FW/ AVG /easyofffice/openoffice/FFbrowsers/online mcaffee scanner/PIMS/utilities/adwareSE/spybot/DVD makers come with HW etc etc. I have NEVER purchased any additional win software for XP routine use.
and FW/AV/antispy/Firefox/Avant properly installed on XP is as good enough for Joe and is secure as any OS system. So why average joe will bother to Progress to OS?
Paragrpahs dude, that looks like a hexdump.
a. Family License: If You are a Family or Individual, You agree to the following terms of this Section 1.1.a: the Software is a modular operating system made up of individual software components (each individual software component and all accompanying documentation, enhancements, upgrades and extensions thereto are referred to herein as “Software Program(s)”) that were created either by Licensor or various individuals and/or entities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Licensor grants You a non-exclusive, non-transferrable license (without the right to sublicense) to use the object code form of the Software for Your personal use in accordance with the accompanying documentation. You may download and use the Software on multiple computers owned, leased or rented by You; provided, however, You and members of Your Household (a “Household” consists of those individuals that currently reside with You) are the only individuals with the right to use Your licensed copy(ies) of the Software. For example, if You have a desktop computer at home and a laptop computer with which You travel, You may download a copy of the Software on both machines for the personal use of members of Your Household and You. You agree that You are responsible for the members of Your Household’s compliance with the terms of this Agreement as though they were You and had agreed to all terms and conditions herein. Subject to Section 1.2 below, You may not (and shall not allow any member of Your Household or any other third party to): (i) copy, reproduce, distribute, relicense, sublicense, rent, lease or otherwise make available the Software or any portion or element thereof except as and to the extent expressly authorized herein by Licensor; (ii) translate, adapt, enhance, create derivative works of or otherwise modify the Software or any portion or element thereof; (iii) decompile, disassemble or reverse engineer (except as and to the extent permitted by applicable local law), or extract ideas, algorithms, procedures, workflows or hierarchies from, the Software or any portion or element thereof; (iv) use the Software or any portion or element thereof to provide facility management, service bureau or similar services to third parties; or (v) remove, modify or obscure any identification or proprietary or restrictive rights markings or notices from the Software or any component thereof. You shall keep a current record of the location of each copy of the Software You make.
Yes, but does his uncle leave with him? If not, then the combination of him and his uncle would not qualify as a household under the terms of Linspire’s family licence. Therefore, his sharing of Linspire with his uncle might still be copyright violation.
My Uncle does not live with me, but during the Linspire “Raise L” promotion, they gave away a bunch of copies to give to family.
he maintans his own CNR membership (mine has since expired and sits unrenewed)
He started out with the Live CD and signed up, in the end I gave it to him, but its his, the media is the same.