For some reason I have a groovy musical surfing intro playing in my head. Linspire 5, known as Five-0 has been released. It has “enhancements in every core application” and “a completely revised and streamlined graphical interface, improved laptop and hardware support, [and] significant Internet optimization.”
anyone know if they arebreaking even yet?
screen shots?
“cnr is basically an apt-get front-end”
yes but its the best and most easy way to intal anything on linux u have ever seen. though i do hate the idea of paying to use it, but its the best out there for what it does
http://www.linspire.com/lindows_news_gallery.php?image=screenshot
Check them out here:
http://www.linspire.com/lindows_news_gallery.php?image=screenshot
As for the “CNR BS” comment. Stop trolling the boards. Linspire’s target market isn’t the technical savvy folks. CNR is GREAT for the casual computer user and for anyone who wants their computer to work for THEM and not the other way around.
i’m glad about what they are doing for the comunity..they do pay a lot of money (they get from customers) to opensource projects and put some into research… i’m glad with ubuntu, but if someone doesn’t mind paying some bucks a month and want’s to get into an OS not crashing every 5min i’d either recommand a mac or running linspire on i386
@dam0
Their mission is to make “the worlds easiest desktop linux” and thats what they deliver. ever tried to explain apt-get to you dad? i did. hes 60 and a clever guy but he will never get it. and why should he? now he can choose from 1600 apps just with one click. if you dont get this simple idea, you dont understand whats the problem for linux since years: being as easy as it can get.
Linspire fulfills ( I dont own it nor am I tempted due to price, so I can’t verify this ) its contract with end users, but if they have not fixed the respository problems with regards to breakage on installing certain software , ( that you can not get in CNR ) then its not going to appeal to power or even semi power linux users such as myself.
They may not care since their target is clearly not power users but it would have been nice to see this issue cleared up.
Downloading now…
I can’t wait! Despite the running by default as root, linspire is a very good OS.
Downloaded it, installed it, love it.
At last Linux has become a viable OS for the average user.
As for $5 a month for the CNR, this is the equivilent of 23 minutes worth of salary, For 23 mins pay I save myself hours of heartache trying to install so called FREE software. Remember, your paying for the conveniance, NOT the software.
Anyone willing to spend ages installing FREE software rather than pay $5 a month to do it in just 1 click really needs to re-assess their life.
They released their KDE-based desktop distro the same day KDE released their Greatest Version Yet. Ouch! 🙂
have to say, looks like a pretty good desktop os considering its linux. thats not anything against linux, but that this is prob the closest anyone has come making an easy to use consumer desktop with linux.
They explicitly tell you it’s a good idea to make a user account and use that instead. Happens during the install. Been under a rock for the last year or two? 😉
Using ubuntu and synaptic is just as good as using Linspire/CNR from what I can see. Synaptic might not always add menu entry but hey its free and it comes out of box installed with ubunut and no other distro does that afaik. I am not saying CNR isn’t grrreat ( as I know it allows you to setup CNR for various computer stations: whatever thats called ) but its certainly not the be all end all of such devices, and I just wanted to point that out.
I”d love to try it but I”m not paying $45 for the esteemed priviledge 😉
cheers
nl
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and say that synaptic or apt is just as good when they then admit they’ve not tried CNR?
Yeah well I know my Toyota is just as good as a Rolls Royce. Sure I’ve not driven one but my Toyota does just about everything that Rolls does.
KDE 3.4 isn’t released yet. So Linspire 5 was released containing an up-to-date KDE version at time of release. 😉
How about reviving the old tradition of Free Copy For OSNews Readers
Firstly:
You do not run as root by default, you are asked to create a user account during the install. From then on in you are using this account, not root.
Secondly:
Click and Run is not a front end to apt-get
well, it is… but it isn’t
what it is, is a simple way for users to get software. approved software for Linspire that has been tested by Linspire. This is what you are paying for.
This is exactly the same way Apple vet programs before supporting them on OS X.
Although I do not use it, I regularly get an invitation from Linspire to download the software to try it out. I have installed the last few versions and I thionk Linspire should be applauded for what they are trying to do.
I have tried CNR before and thats how I know its not that much better than synaptic when you consider the price tag involved.
I know there are features it has that synaptic does not atm but those features are mainly going to be appreciated by cooporations ( and that is fine ).
I meant i’m not about to try the current CNR as i’m not paying for the priviledge and I know from using both that synaptic for most day to day needs is just as good period.
cheers
nl
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Is there any iso for download? (not flaming, just curious)
Victor.
Sure there is. Just go to http://www.linspire.com/ and purchase the downloadable version for $50.
How exactly does the Linspire business model work? From where does Linspire get it’s steady income? Is it a profitable company yet?
Also, is company supporting wine development, or has that goal been dropped?
Ever have a problem with a repository being down? Just plain slow or times out several times a week? Where are most of those repositories? A few corporations and a majority of universities all of which have no service level agreement to keep the repository up to date or up for that matter.
Ever apt get a application that broke several other things?
Does synaptic even have package names in english? Lots of cryptic mumbo jumbo that joe linux will never figure out.
How many applications can you apt get and have it install proper menu entries (yeah I know this is slowly becoming less of a problem)
Each and every item in the CNR warehouse is tested to work, tweaked to look right in Linspire and not out of place with new features added in some cases. They place proper menu entries or icons on the desktop if that’s what you prefer. They dont break other applications because they are tested.
Your money pays for the bandwidth used to download the applications so the CNR servers are maintained to perform as expected.
There’s a developer community that has a way to get new apps into CNR with the same level of quality control before the app is available to the general user base.
For 5 dollars a month you can have this. And if that’s what is keeping you away from Linspire because you actually have to pay for Linux in some fashion then just skip a big mac meal once a month and you’re covered. Your heart will thank you and your brain can get a break from dealing with the inadequacies of Synaptics/Apt-get.
FYI CNR members get free upgrades to the OS so in general you also subscribe to the OS.
So your price to pay is pulling out your hair while eating your way to a early grave
or you can relax and use a Linux OS that works, support a company that contributes to Linux in many areas, and put a extra nail in MicroSoft’s coffin while you’re at it.
You know i was talking about free iso’s. I’m not flaming, i was just wanting to know if they provide free iso’s.
Now another question:
In the buy section, you can buy it with or without the CNR. If you buy it without the CNR, what’s the way to install software?
Victor.
Ever have a problem with a repository being down? Just plain slow or times out several times a week? Where are most of those repositories? A few corporations and a majority of universities all of which have no service level agreement to keep the repository up to date or up for that matter.
————–
<reply> nope so far I have never seen them go down.</reply>
Ever apt get a application that broke several other things?
<reply> nope </reply>
Does synaptic even have package names in english? Lots of cryptic mumbo jumbo that joe linux will never figure out.
<reply> I get english ‘here’ cause I installed ‘english’ </reply>
How many applications can you apt get and have it install proper menu entries (yeah I know this is slowly becoming less of a problem)
<reply> I admitted this is one weakness in synaptic ‘atm’ </reply>
Each and every item in the CNR warehouse is tested to work, tweaked to look right in Linspire and not out of place with new features added in some cases. They place proper menu entries or icons on the desktop if that’s what you prefer. They dont break other applications because they are tested.
Your money pays for the bandwidth used to download the applications so the CNR servers are maintained to perform as expected.
<reply> most apps are tested in debian and you surely know that:: tweaked to look right is personal :: menu item already admitted to and is being fixed :: no breakage here:: rare ( for me never ) server downtime </reply>
There’s a developer community that has a way to get new apps into CNR with the same level of quality control before the app is available to the general user base.
<reply> nice but we have similar way of doing it via forums </reply>
For 5 dollars a month you can have this. And if that’s what is keeping you away from Linspire because you actually have to pay for Linux in some fashion then just skip a big mac meal once a month and you’re covered. Your heart will thank you and your brain can get a break from dealing with the inadequacies of Synaptics/Apt-get.
<reply> :: its not just $5/mo but also the cost of Linspire ownenership that I ‘can’ avoid by using ubuntu:: ( and I am NOT detracting from perceived quality of Linspire AT all ) rather large departure from your current trend of stating facts. Inadequacies is VERY subjective and in this case hardly that relevant if at all </reply>
thx for chat
nl
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I agree completely, CNR is well worth the $$ for the convenience and customization that it provides. Remember, in addition to effortless updates, a CNR membership allows the user to download new updates to the O.S. free of charge. If that’s not worth $50 per year (especially for Windows and Mac converts), then I don’t know what is. Slackware advocates need not apply, it’s too easy for them…. 🙂
And, once again, Linspire does NOT require you to run as root! That urban myth has lasted too long and should be put to a well deserved rest. DR
Like David Ross said. CNR notifies you when any of the apps you have are updated. No looking around or waiting for some web page to tell you there is an update. And that includes updates to the LinSpire OS. App-get doesn’t do this. App-get is all manual. CNR for $5 a month is click once and get your updates.
“CNR is no better than app-get.” is a garbage statement. As everyone who ever says this BS they continue on to say they’ve never used CNR. That right there speaks for itself.
I agree about root. Anyone that still thinks LinSpire has you login as root has had their head stuck up something for a couple of years. The default user is a “user”, not admin and not root. DUH!!!
I know that the list of new features in Linspire 5 mentions that ReiserFS 4 is supported. However, it fails to mention that if ReiserFS is the *default* filing system. I’ve searched through the Linspire site with no conclusive answer. Does anyone know? Thanks!
For those who may think that CNR is not worth $5 per month or $49.95 per year, consider that there are MANY Linux distros that have retail versions costing, on average, $30-$80.
I’ve noted that there have ben many instances where Linspire (and LindowsOS) was given away either for free or for $10.
All the user has to pay is the CNR Membership.
Is CNR that horrible a deal? Not al all. If a SuSE user purchased SuSE 9.1 Pro for $79.95 and six (or eight)months later that same user purchased SuSE 9.2 for another $79.95, that’s $159.90……
If that same user wanted to upgrade to the newest SuSE 9.3, he/she will have to fork out another $79.95 for the latest copy. This brings the total to $239.85; possibly in as little as 15-18 months. With the Personal versions of SuSE at $39.95 per copy, three versions will cost a user $119.85 over a 15-18 month period..
Many folks balk at ‘purchasing’ SuSE Pro versions, but SuSE has always prodided the best manuals & docs with their Linux packages.
With Linspire, if you find one of their frequest Coupon Codes for a free or reduced-price copy of the OS, with CNR you’ll be ligh-years ahead of folks and may only have paid $49.95 for a full year of CNR after getting the OS for free (or reduced in price). That same $49.95 CNR membership comes down to $4.17 per month.
The Linspire users also seem pretty impressed with having access to the point-ugrades in ISO format as they become available. Not a bad deal at all.
So unless you’ve actually used Linspire, it may seem out of the norm. However, when you take everything into consideration, it seems like a pretty good deal.
Granted there are many free & hobbyist distros out there, but support, stability & ease of use probably wont be found in the hobbyist or home-grown distros.
“Does synaptic even have package names in english? Lots of cryptic mumbo jumbo that joe linux will never figure out. ”
Joe Linux is not goint to use synaptic.
Thats why Linspire CNR is for.
If you’re about to use apt-get havily then go for pure Debian.
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“Also, is company supporting wine development”
I don’t know but yes you can run WINE ( and you have to configure it as and user not as a root).
Anyway productivity applications available for Linspire ( Scribus 1.2 , Open Office, KOffice , TextMaker , GIMP 2.0 etc ) are quite as good as commercial brands.
______________________________________________________________
You can find Linspire 4.5 OEM version for $9 at Microcenter
stores in USA. It will run happilly on Celeron 466 MHz with 128 Mb SDRAM and this post was made on such one low end system : Compaq Deskpro SFF
____________________________________________________________
I’ve installed Linspire 4.5 on my 13. Gig HD same day I’ve reinstalled new copy WindowsME just to satisfy my curiosisty but then , WHEN WIN ME WENT BELLY UP AFTER PATCHING IT WITH MICROSOFT KB891711 SECURITY UPDATE (see: http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win98/Q_21347679…. ) LINSPIRE 4.5 WILL REMAIN THE MAIN OPERATING SYSTEM RUNNING ON THIS CPU. Goodbye Microsoft- You killed your child !
Thank to WINE i’m now running MS Application from withing KDE and not in dead WinME which now resides on my /disks/fat32 partition. But not for long that’s for sure.
And I’m running Linspire as root , but only temporarily, since I want to finilize 200+ applications download over my only dial-up (JUNO) internet connection.
Linspire 5.0 will soon be the main resident on my 1 Gig box at work since I found Ximian Evolution perfect match for my PIM , email and calendaring.
good luck
Nope, I’ve never had Ubuntu’s repository not be down and regularly get 300kB/s downloads.
I guess this stuff is good for the newbies and hopefully someone will eventually make money off of linux.
Linspire 5-0 sets a new high water mark for ease of use in a Linux OS. Plus, it’s drop dead gorgeous. It’s worth every penny they charge (and then some)…
For the person asking about ReiserFS 4, it is available in 5-0, but it is not the default. It is, however, very easy to turn on under the advanced settings install. I’ve done so, and have not had any problems.
Just finished trying it :
Cons
– Still install as root by default. ( you can add user after the install is done )
– Still as less software by default then any other Debian.
– Still dont offer Apt-get by default. ( you can download it from CNR )
– Still cant build a CNR depot for local use.
– Still cant get in the box source code for many software who are GPL.
– The Commercial software included in CNR are still pricier then the one or same from windows.
– Still no real offer for those who DONT have internet or broadband.
– Still no server included.
– Still no choice of windows manager and windows environment.
– Less Free fonts then all other distribution.
– Less commercial software.
– No corporate support.
– No Brand name oem ( HP , IBM , Dell ) as them on there computers.
– Wallet who will keep password even if dont whant to on your computer ( same as passport for windows.
– pre-configured firewall , with no easy acces to change default settings.
– No Free anti-virus solution.
– AOL dialer
– User manual as an option
– Older KDE and no way to upgrade, or install side by side.
– built in older Bittorrent support
Company cons :
– Not available in a computer store near me.
– The company is still copying something from Windows ( box color )
– Only did a Internet release
– No computer company offering 5-0 yet or joining in the release effort.
Pros
NONE ! 😉 ( just kidding )
From Linspire
– Lassist suite ( probably a group of renamed Gnu/Linux software as usual with Linspire , dont know wich yet )
– Enhanced “How-To” Tutorials with voice narration.
– Diagnostic Reporting directly from desktop to Linspire’s engineers
– Lsongs2 Music Manager ( Not much visible improvment)
– Lphoto2 Photo Manager ( Not much visible improvment)
From the Gnu/Linux community included in 5-0
– Drop shadows and consistent theme throughout
– New 2.6.10 Kernel
– Reiser 4
– X.org 6.8.2
– New 802.11g support
– easy-to-use wireless control panel
– WiFi Profiles
– WiFi Access Point Locater
Conclusion : If you got money to burn and waste on a failing product and company this is for you.
I unstalled it , I get more for cheaper out of Debian , Mandrake , Ubuntu and Fedora Core.
I respect the opinion of its user , they dont know any better yet , they will like most people switch to something else when they get more knowledgeable.
I will say that it refused to install on one of my Notebook
for some reason but I think its because it as too much new hardware. It installed fine on 3 others older notebook.
I will be downloading 5-0 when I get home from work, but can anyone verify that the boot time is *actually* faster than v4.5? I’m a lifetime member of CNR and love Linspire, but I’m hoping 5-0 will boot much faster.
They don’t offer a free ISO of their installable version, however they DO offer a free download of LinspireLive (their -bootable- LiveCD). But as far as I know, LinspireLive Five-O is not out yet.
I dunno about the CNR question… good question though.
I disagree I have been running Linux since the mid 90s and been using it as a desktop OS for more years than I care to count and I love letting Linspire setup my notebook so I can use it to work not work on it.
apt-get is installed by default the sources.list is commented out. Just uncoment the Debian files and add whichever ones you like and apt-get away.
It could cause issues so remember to use caution.
Actually there are many distros that have Synaptic pre-installed on them, Mepis, and PCLinuxOS just to name some, but I think the convenience of automaticly knowing of updates, and what not, is worth the $5 a month.
Oh and also if you buy just the regular version of 5.0 without CNR, that means you will have to subscribe to it later on, for 49.99, so why not just buy the version that already has it, and get a ten dollar discount? Unless of course you just want to try it out and then subscribe later.
I also heard that it was built to be more friendly to use with apt-get and synaptic, as in it wont break as easily as it did before.
Does Five-0’s 802.11g capability include WPA encryption?
Linspire Five-0 boots in half the time as 4.x did on my computer. The Internet Suite (based on Mozilla) also seems a lot snappier.
I’m very technical and think Linspire is a fantastic product. For those of you who think it’s too expensive. Don’t buy it. Go roll your own if that’s your thing. Stop wasting everyone’s time by spreading FUD. Free DOES NOT EQUAL GOOD in all instances.
My computer works for me… not the other way around.
i just downloaded it and got 330K via BitTorrent. It installed in 7 minutes on a laptop that has been troublesome for Linux in past. This time it recognized my 802.11g card and has a nifty new wifi control panel with home and work settings. Cool.
CNR is fantastic. With one click of my mouse, I installed 16 programs from the CNR warehouse which I like and have used in the past. That’s great. Nothing like synaptic where you hunt for libraries one by one with no screenshots and whacky names. It has auto-resume if something fails, works well over modem, much faster and the software always seems to work which is not the case with synaptic. Plus all the software works much better together. If I do file sharing or music or video or photos or whatever, everything is defaulted to nice categorization in /my documents.
5.0 does great at video which no other Linux does. I just played inline 300K windows media video from Fox News in the middle of a web page! Sweet. Blake not guilty? I think it’s impossible to be convicted of crime in LA. It does quicktime too – also embedded in web page. No longer will Linux desktop be 2nd class video citizen.
Here are some other features:
– VNC – easy to setup
– Best SAMBA implementation I’ve ever seen. One click to share a folder!
– Best GUI – pleasing icons and nice combination of mozilla, kde and gaim to make them all look similar and consistent
– Inline spell checking in email and web
There’s lots more. I’ve only been playing with it for 2.5 hours.
I’m sure Linux religious nuts won’t like it because it makes Linux one click easy, just like everyone dismissed AOL. But they’ve done a terrific job. Maybe now Linux can grow beyond 0.03% share or whatever it has.
At least try to be factual if you’re going to criticize Linspire. Here, let me help you see what a fact looks like:
> – Still install as root by default. ( you can add user after the install is done )
Uh, every Linux installs as root because you have to write out system files.
> – Still as less software by default then any other Debian.
Yes, they don’t have 6 IM clients. Just one that actually works and does voice which no other Linux has. They have the best music manager, photo manager and html editor. No need to include 5 of each. If you want the others, they are one click away in the CNR Warehouse.
> – Still dont offer Apt-get by default. ( you can download it from CNR )
Get your butt to Barnes and Noble for a book on Linux. Apt-get is included by default – it’s Debian. They do comment out the repositories because you can break your machine installing from different repositories.
> – Still cant build a CNR depot for local use.
Finally something that is true, but nobody does this. CNR is amazing. It’s one click up today the OS, one program, by a game, install 50 applications, update one or all your applications. It even remembers what you’ve installed in the past so you can add them to new machine.
> – Still cant get in the box source code for many software who are GPL.
Since they’re not shipping the boxes (digital only) not sure how you could know this. Oh, got it. You made it up like everything else on the list. You can download the source code digitally just like you got the OS. But you wouldn’t know that because you didn’t download or actually use it.
> – The Commercial software included in CNR are still pricier then the one or same from windows.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. StarOffice is $80 for XP and $29 for Linspire.
> – Still no real offer for those who DONT have internet or broadband.
Huh? Linspire 5.0 is first Linux to ship with AOL dialer! And netzero. And juno. And speakeasy and nethere. You’re drunk.
> – Still no server included.
They are desktop Linux. You want a server they will tell you go get fedora.
> – Still no choice of windows manager and windows environment.
True, but they default so that everything is seamless and works well together.
> – Less Free fonts then all other distribution.
They include COMMERCIAL fonts which are far superior to random crap on the net. I’ll take quality over quantity. Probably why Linspire installs in 8 minutes!
> – Less commercial software.
Huh?
> – No corporate support.
They offer email and phone support. Real live phone support. Only Novell offers phone support.
> – No Brand name oem ( HP , IBM , Dell ) as them on there computers.
My prediction is this will change once they see 5.0.
> – Wallet who will keep password even if dont whant to on your computer ( same as passport for windows.
Wrong.
> – pre-configured firewall , with no easy acces to change default settings.
Limitation of all Linuxes I think.
> – No Free anti-virus solution.
You can install anything you want.
> – AOL dialer
Included.
> – User manual as an option
There is one with boxed software.
> – Older KDE and no way to upgrade, or install side by side.
They ship with latest KDE. If something newer comes out, you can one click upgrade using CNR. Have you ever tried it?
> – built in older Bittorrent support
They are first to include Bittorrent support out of the box. Not sure if it’s old or not.
This message is one of the worst examples of anonymous posting. It’s littered with complete inaccuracies probably from a competitor like lycoris.
Well, I must make some things a little more clear to many of you… so I will tell you my story with Linspire…
I bougth a machine with Lindows 3.0 preinstalled a few years back. I registerd it trough its CNR and got the junior memberchip… at the junior section of CNR there were about 11 apps, (yahoo messenger, realplayer, kword, digicam…) of which I got almost all installed… I, having registered my Lindows, have been able to get the new OS for free, OEM version… And I was lokky to get the Developer edition of 4.5 when it was offered here in OS news… Guess what, now I have ALL versions of the OS not just OEM, I got Developer edition, live, full, linspire espanol… well I own them and I now can get Linspire 5-0 as well… and I don’t even have a PC anymore (economical situations made me sell the PC… but I removed the OS before selling it, the kid was not up to it anyhow nor I had the time to get him to try linux). I am really happy to see the new version come up… I will by a PC soon, hopefully… I plan on opening an PC store and offer linux alternatives at my place…
But what I want some of you to understand is that:
-Once you have Linspire, preinstall (OEM ver.) or you bougth it (Full ver. or Developer ver.) You will be entittle to download the new version totally free… you don’t need CNR for that, you will get acces to the new .iso’s when they become avaible… for life, as long as you have the account with them, which is free for registering the OS… for a comercial distro, this alone makes it well worth it…
-You can use apt-get, to get sinaptic, and use it instead of CNR… if you know what you are doing you will be fine, if not, you can get help on how to set up apt and sinaptic if you deside againstr using CNR… even then CNR is a good service…
-You can make user accounts easy… if you run as root it is because of you not because of Linspire, you are advice to make user accounts.
-Linspire gives support, its forums are good… you can always find people willin to help you out… (Though I would like they make it easier for you to post even if you are not an CNR member, nicknames are for CNR members only aparently, I have not check in a good wile… I hated to see my email been use insted of the nickname because of me not been CNR’ed…) … there are other forums… just avoid the “aflicted 1″…
-Linspire is a good start for anyone interested in linux, you can jump to an other distros once you learn a bit more and start to understand why linux is how it is…
Anyhow… I am a bad story teller… I should just let others explain better…
and keep getting more distros… Am a distro junky… 
I’m a current 4.5 and CNR user. And I am totally happy.
I rarely have to venture into the terminal.
I’m only going to get happier. I have high expectations.
I will upgrade to 5.0 soon, but I’m too busy at the moment being a computer user. (regular user not a superduper user). Can’t wait!
BTW, I have tried two other distros (only 2), but Linspire worked best for me.
I’m going to download this right now, it’s looking to be a fantastic release!
It should have default firewall rules in place… (I know 4.5 did, anyway)
Someone asked about Reiser4.
After you choose install – opt for advanced. It will show your partitions. Under file systems – right click and it should allow you to choose Reiser4. There have been some issues with Reiser4. Mainly with multiple OS systems. Some folks also report that other OS’s cannot read Reiser4 yet so if there is trouble you may not be able to retrieve your data. I’ve been using 5.0 with Reiser4 and have had no problems. I don’t multiple boot either.
The update option is awsome.
Linspire did an excellent job with this release. We’ve been testing and working on it for a little while now and to see it come together is awsome. I’ve seen the release of a few versions now. This is the first one I’ve been a part of and I have to say it has been impressive seeing it come together. Lots of work went into this.
I like to tinker – so I use several different Linuxes. My preference is Debian Based Distros. Linspire is the only one that succeeds at finding and setting up my hardware. Usually there is something I have to configure.
Congratulations to the Linspire Engineering team. They have done an excellent job.
hey, guys, anyone noticed? Linspire is on the bleeding edge – the first distribution (I know off) that supports ReiserFS4!!! even gentoo doesn’t want to include it in any official kernel…
Nice job, Linspire!
now I hope they don’t get bitten by it
but thanx to them, the most amazing and most advanced filesystem for linux will get some serious testing and attention.
Linspire looks very nice but their is no PPC (Mac) edition… It would be nice!!!
Although I personally prefer Mepis, it’s nice to see a distribution for people who just want things to work–with a minimum of tinkering and configuring.
Some people I know call Linspire and similar distros “dumbed down” Linux. I think a more appropriate description is “automatic” Linux.
Marytee
At the begin of linspire, I didn’t like the company. (Remember some years ago ? Lindows – linux that can run window application ? )
At the beginning, it was only vaporeware.
But they took their time, put a lot of money in it, and they worked together with the opensource community. This is also a very important point to explain their succes and their acceptance in the linux community.
Even if they are shipping a commercial closed OS, their helped the opensource community. LPhoto, LSong are OpenSource, nvu too. (It’s only a shame, that the dependencies of Lsong and LPhoto are so difficult to install … I still didn’t found a way to install it under gentoo )
So, now I have a question for some Linspire user :
How is the Developer edition ?
For the moment, I’m using gentoo, I love it, because it’s very nice to develop software. Of course, if you want to install application, you have already to compile it, that’s why gentoo is no nice for developer : libraries, compilers, parser … everything is allready on you box, and you can also access very easily to the sources
How is Linspire developement Pack for developping with mono/Java/C++/sml/lisp? Which software is included in the pack? Not really that I want to switch – I have gentoo now, and it’s so stable on my desktop, update works allways fine – but I would perhabs use something else if I buy a laptop that is easier to install.
“Yes, they don’t have 6 IM clients. Just one that actually works and does voice which no other Linux has.”
If they didn’t make their gaim patch so flipping monolithic and updated it regularly, it’d be a lot easier for other distros to include it. The latest source they made available for PhoneGaim is a huge monolithic patch against gaim 1.0.2, which fails to apply against current 1.1.4 in a big way (over a thousand chunks don’t apply). In fact, from their website it seems they haven’t updated PhoneGaim since then, even for 5-0, which would seem to suggest even they are having problems managing that horrible patch.
“They include COMMERCIAL fonts which are far superior to random crap on the net. I’ll take quality over quantity. Probably why Linspire installs in 8 minutes!”
No, it’s because they have no package selection – everyone gets the same software, so they can just dd an image over to the hard disk (I’ll bet you this is what the installer actually does, behind the scenes). Simple solution, makes sense for their product, it’s what I would do if I were them. But it’s not a fair comparison to distros which allow more flexibility.
Seems to have problems with Nvidia cards. I have tried to install on 2 computers with different Nvidia cards. Both times the install failed on X. Even running the live version. (Their install CD is also a live CD)
Will try on another machine or video card.
I’ve used (exclusively) nVidia cards for years, and Linspire in my experience has *never* had a problem on *any* version of Linspire, including Linspire 5-0!
I always recommend nVidia cards for anyone intending to run Linspire or any other Linux, again through poor experiences with other video cards.
Yea I have a Nvidia Vanta-18 video card. The install craps out on that card. I hit F-2 to look at the output of the console when it’s starting up and you can see that it craps out at the start up of X.
(I am not sure of the name of my other Nvidia card)
Here is a link to the iso that u can download (http://www.torrentspy.com/search.asp?mode=torrentdetails&id=194782), it is a torrent.