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75 Comments
- JC4P, on 10/12/2007, -3/+30holy crap! +dugg!
Now I have it'll be harder to decide between Linspire and Ubuntu. - chakkaradeep, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20This is yet another brilliant move taken by Linspire Inc.
I really love to hear these kinda BIG moves. Now, I can see people who were telling CNR is not free boss, why should I pay, I will use Synaptic, scratching their heads on whether to move to CNR or stick with Synaptic
IMHO This is a great move !
Thanks Kevin - Mejogid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Competition's a great thing. Ubuntu's really rocked things about in the whole user-friendly-linux Arena. Although I'm perfectly satisified with Ubuntu myself, I'm sure there are others who could benefit from the more Windows like approach to things.
- merreborn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14It's actually a lot easier to install many applications in linux than it is in windows.
Debian:
apt-get install mysql-server
Windows:
Go to mysql.com.
Click the download link.
Find the right package.
Download it.
Double click it.
Click through a bunch of installation prompts...
Granted, none of this is really *hard*, but it's a hell of a lot more clicking.
Sure, you have to deal with the occasional dependancy issue in the linux model, but it's not that windows doesn't have those: windows just doesn't *tell* you when there's a dependancy issue, and ***** just stops working. - stonyhill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Michael Robertson's no open source messiah. But he is pragmatic, and quickly realized that the open source community was rallying around Ubuntu. He may be too late to catch up with Canonical, but with Freespire, and now the free CNR, he's making a valiant effort.
- atdigg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11Now, let's see Windows troll saying that's hard to install applications in Linux.
- aNoble, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10When Lindows first came out it seemed laughable but these days they are really starting to look like a serious competitor. If they can manage to get Linspire pre-installed on some new PCs as a Windows alternative, I think we could see some huge growth.
- speel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Wow I wish i could digg this like 10 times.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7 So very true...I did a lot of research on various distros before leaving Windows earlier this year.
I settled on Linspire because of it's ease of use, handsome GUI and of course,CNR. Seeing I'll be able to get CNR free from mow on really puts a smile on my face big time!
My wish is for CNR to become standard for all Debian Linux flavors. In fact, Kevin Carmony even brought up the possibility of allowing Ubuntu to use CNR.
I do hope this happens...You Ubuntu folks will really like CNR...I promise!
- chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10"So how exactly is this different than Ubuntu Synaptic which already comes free."
Because CNR is quick, simple, easy and very polished, whereas Synaptic is designed for power-users who are manually installing various dev libs.
This is a great move. A CNR style package management is probably one of the single most important things to bringing Linux further mainstream.
"Now I have it'll be harder to decide between Linspire and Ubuntu."
The choice is rather simple. Whatever you do, don't run as root: http://digg.com/linux_unix/PC_Magazine_Reviews_$159_Linspire_Computer#c1194599
"Last time I checked, Linspire was still running regular users as Root or Power Users.
Linux isn't secure in code (it has to deal with security issues just like Windows does). The reason it, and Mac, BSD, etc. are more secure than Windows is because of better design and defaults. Such as forcing regular users to run as regular users, and use either their password (sudo) or the Root password to make any system-wide change.
Any distro that deviates from very basic security designs is asking to be hacked as easily as Windows. Sure I could lock it down and make it secure... but that is one of the main reasons I use Linux - because I don't have to waste very much time making the system secure.
Linspire is probably not the best choice for a family. What happens when little Johny decides to delete this strangely named folder? Linespire would share some of the same stability issues as Windows. Any user-error translates into a major system problem."
Linux can be very secure, why Linspire chooses to see that as a fault and not a feature is beyond me. - dukeinlondon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8CNR with its reputation of polish and reliability might turn out to be the big break for Linux at large now that it's open sourced. At least we'll be able to check it out.
- Avian00, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Smart move! Linspire has really done some smart things lately. Personally, I still wouldn't use their software, but I definitely don't dislike them like I used to.
Keep up the good work, Linspire! Maybe someday you'll win my affection! - subgeniusd, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8This shameless Xandros fanboy just checked out the CnR warehouse and am very impressed at the selection and clear explanations. Thumbs up Linspire - Linux market expansion lifts all boats .... right? [as the grumpy Slackware crowd shake their heads in disapproval]
- belibem, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I sense a multimedia enabled ubuntu comming!
- MasteRR, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Hey now, they might take that as a challenge and I for one don't want to have to read it all.
- uberon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Great news!
I stopped using Linspire because CNR was open to subscribers only. I think it's much better than K/Ubuntu's Adept. - manitoba98xp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Do you know what WINE stands for? Wine Is Not an Emulator! It isn't, really!
You aren't running Windows XP under WINE, you're:
a) Running XP under QEMU, VMware, or a similar app
b) Running Windows applications under WINE [this is probably what you mean] - Shadowman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Good call by Linspire. For Windows users that want to try out Linux I think Freespire is a much better choice than Ubuntu. Multimedia support without having to install additional packages or run scripts. A more familiar looking desktop and no hideous brown/orange theme. And now with CNR it's even better.
- mackdaddy187, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Linspire may be simple to use but its interface is so glossy and ugly. Ubuntu is simple and nice looking.
- adam.skinner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Last I knew, CNR didn't play friendly with Super Cow Powers.
- atdigg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4actually the best thing is that I linux you can upgrade all programs with one command: apt-get upgrade
In Windows the steps that you detailed has to be applied for (almost) all programs and you have to remember to check their sites for updates. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"Last time I checked, Linspire was still running regular users as Root or Power Users."
How many years ago was that?
And no one using any other distro ever runs in root/ power user except those poor folks who are"forced" to by Linspire? Oh, good one.
You believe that and I have some great ocean front for you in Arizona.
Go to the Linspire and Freespire forums and ask how many run as root.
I don't and most users don't.
I have a root password and a user password.
"Linspire is probably not the best choice for a family."
Sure it is...The" running as root " *fact* sure gets old.
You know,I think if Linspire saved the world from an asteroid people would still bash it.
"What happens when little Johny decides to delete this strangely named folder? "
You can say that for anybody running as root,including the millions of Windows users.
Any sensible person will give Little Johnny a user account. It's no biggie.
if an accident happens, one contacts support,it's not the end of the world.
OK, say you were right,even if the little kid hosed the OS, reinstalling is quick, fast and easy and they can pop into CNR and download everything that was gutted with one simple click.
"Linespire would share some of the same stability issues as Windows. Any user-error translates into a major system problem."
Would it? Hum, it's based on Debian Linux...
Well, I'm ever so pleased this has come to pass...And I'm sticking with what works for me.
My day has been made and then some!
- TKDWILSON, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Just one step closer to Windows being replaced. Now, if linux could run pretty much anything windows runs that easily then windows will be gone in a few years.
Eric Wilson - lane.montgomery, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3They will be open-sourcing the client, this means that in all likely hood you will be able to "click-n-run" on ubuntu as well.
IIRC, there was an interview with Shuttleworth about this very idea several months ago. - Robotsu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Awesome! I really really love Linspire's aim for simplicity.
Now I think a few other people might join me in wondering how long it will take Ubuntu to pick up CnR after it is open sourced?
I hope not long! The more dummied-up features Ubuntu includes like Linspire's CnR, the better it will do in the desktop market. - Mejogid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Although it has that reputation amoung Windows users and some regular linux users, the developers still prefer the package manager approach (and to be honest a web based front end has few obvious advantages). Furthermore, a web pased front end doesn't actually solve the package installation problems which still needs to take place on the client side.
- daeken, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Linspire offers a lot of high-end software for sale in CNR, such as Win4Lin, Cedega, etc. CNR isn't just free software.
- codenoise, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3They are already pre-installed on OEM machines on walmart.com, CompUSA, Frys, Best Buy, and others that I can't recall. They aren't the high end, fantastic machines, but they're on the shelves nonetheless.
- einfeldt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Whenever someone criticizes Linspire for default root installations I immediately tune them out, since Linspire stopped doing that a long time ago.
- wallclimber, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2atdigg: "Now, let's see Windows troll saying that's hard to install applications in Linux."
=========================================
Oh oh! Let me let me! I can do a great imitation of a Windows troll...Imitation FUD can be fun!
Let's see...a good Windows troll would start with something like this:
--------(begins imitation FUD post)-------------
"Don't get me wrong, I love Linux to death, I run it all the time myself..."
(and THAT sentence would of course be followed with a big "BUT"...don'tcha know, you can always recognize trolls by their big BUTs ...as in):
"BUT, I think this is a bad move for Linux in general, if Linux ever wants to be more than a toy, it has to be easy for 'granny' to use, and it just isn't ready for the big time yet. If this Linspear thing makes Linux look good and a lot of people leave Windows and Linux gains in popularity, it will become the target of just as many security invasions and viruses as Windows. Especially since the last I looked it forces innocent users to log in as root."
(And what always comes after that?...wait for it :o)
"Now, I hate M$ as much as the next Linux fanboy, but you have to give them credit for being good at what they do, and Bill Gates gives a lot of money to charities and should be applauded."
=========================
So, how'd I do? :o) - Quash, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The talk in July/05 by Shuttleworth at DebConf5, where he mentions Linspire.
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1165754797197197496&q=shuttleworth+debconf
And a picture of Mark and Kevin at Canonical's London offices in July/05:
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=47436
Kevin's post:
"Mark and I are trying to find ways to work more closely together for the betterment of Linux and open source. For example, how to get their Rosette project and our IRMA project more closely aligned and helping each other.
We view Ubuntu the way Red Hat view's Fedora...it's a wonderful open source "lab" where development can freely take place. Linspire can then add the necessary things required for distribution by the commercial channel (licensed codecs for mp3, real, quick time, flash, jave, etc., as well as polish, ease of use, support, sales team, etc.).
Ubuntu and Linspire compliment each other very well, and we're excited to have forged a new relationship and work together.
Kevin" - rtfx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2People always maligned the Lindows/Linspire approach of pandering directly to existing Windows users, but I sensed that they really had the right idea of how to approach the market. Now it looks like they've finally broken through their old rep....I'll probably still use Ubuntu though.
- Xilon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I fail to see the big deal. Correct me if I'm wrong (please do), but isn't the CNR thing just a derivative of the Debian Pakcaging system? I've never tried Linspire (it gives me chills for some reason), but I always thought that Linspire was a commercial rip off of Debian witha KDE frontend that resembled Windows...
- einfeldt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is truly an incredible piece of news. I am surprised that this has not made the front page of Digg yet. Linspire's CNR service is nothing short of revolutionary. For those of you who might not know it, Linspire's CNR service takes the power of the Debian Pool of free open source software (FOSS) applications, and makes it dirt simple for the end user to install.
I support a public middle school with FOSS applications, and I've gotta tell you that the primary complaint that most end users have is how to install applications on the Linux desktop. This news single-handedly eliminates that problem. IMHO, this is one of the largest digital tipping points in the software industry since bootable CDs. This news takes away significant barriers to adoption of GNU and Linux on the desktop.
Even Mac and Windows users will be amazed at the quality of CNR. Simply put, all you have to do is login to the Linspire website, type a search for a general type of software that you need (such as "video editor", for example) into the search field on their CNR Warehouse page, and boom, you have multiple choices for software that is free as in freedom and free as in beer. The CNR software then installs an icon onto your desktop, and you literally just Click and Run (hence the name, CNR). I have PAID for this service for years, and really enjoyed it. You really have gotta check this out.
Proprietary stuff you will still have to pay for, but that is how Linspire is able to stay in business. I have met most of the Linspire staff, and they are friendly, funny, interesting people who are actually earning a living working on desktop GNU/Linux.
BTW, I am an attorney practicing law in San Francisco, California, and I do NOT work for Linspire in any way shape or form, and I do use Linspire Linux in my law practice.
Christian Einfeldt - Quash, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2There is a possible closer relationship between Linspire and Ubuntu than you may think. About six months ago, Mark Shuttlworth, in a video-taped speech at a DebConf, make a comment about Linspire being based on Ubuntu one day, as both are Debian-based. He wasn't giving away a secret, but rather using it as an example of how Ubuntu's regular release schedule could benefit a distro like Linspire vs. Debian's more erratic schedule. Looks like Mepis was listening.
Then, a few months ago, with Shuttleworth's approval, Kevin Carmony started a thread on Ubuntu Forums (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=785265&postcount=2), feeling out the community about offering CNR to the Ubuntu community via apt. The thread got a lot attention but nothing has been heard since. But, it's clear that Shuttleworth wants to resolve some of the media issues with Free (libre) distros that remains a stumbling block in adoption. CNR could be his ticket.
Linspire's revenue stream is mostly from OEM, so moving to Freespire wasn't a big deal for him in terms of revenue loss. And opening up CNR to other distros can only increase his user-base and revenue stream either through direct charge or ads. Remember: he's only getting rid of the subscription fee for CNR. He will still charge for some programs and CNR even charges for some programs they "modify" that are freely available elsewhere without pointing this out to their customers.
Clearly, Shuttleworth and Carmony are in a dance with each other and what we're seeing here could be a prelude of something much bigger to come.
I'm not much of a fan of Carmony but creating Freespire, killing the sub fee for CNR and open-sourcing the CNR code for other distros is something that certainly merits attention. - byte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If they now implement the root user, etc. in Linspire/Freespire, I predict Ubuntu will have a serious fight on its hands.........
- whiteguysamurai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Well, there will always be a place on my hard drive for windows, i do believe both windows and linux can co-exist, and should.
There are strengths to each platform. - noamsml, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3This is huge news. I'll probably not be the only Ubuntu (or Mandriva, or OpenSuSE, or any other user-friendly Linux distribution) user rethinking Linspire/Freespire.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2hate to double post but i also remember that CNR has a rating system, and a popularity system, so you could sort by ratings, how popular an app was, etc, this was great
- LanMan66, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"Last time I checked, Linspire was still running regular users as Root or Power Users."
I just installed Freespire 1.0.13 yesterday. The DEFAULT in this distro is to create a user account that has admin privileges. It automatically sets up sudo rights for that user so that you can execute things with root privileges when the need arises without having to actually log in as root. As a matter of fact, the actual root account is DISABLED unless you manually go in and enable it for login. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1 And I do wonder if Linspire and Ubuntu are working on something together behind the scenes...As it has been said elsewhere,these two distros complement each other very well.
It will be interesting to watch both over the coming years. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1 Then change it.Settings> Control Center>Look Feel> Themes.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Christian, I have to agree with you...And yeah, this did make the front page of Digg, but only briefly.
CNR is so easy to use, it's just mind boggling. It's easier than Microsoft's install/uninstall method.
I find it rather ironic that Linspire has finally opened CNR up (Which is what it's critics have been complaining about for YEARS! "Ohhh,selling free software! The cads")
And yet people are STILL bashing them...Such people are oblivious as to how this bashing looks to Microsoft people planning to leave..It in fact, puts the Linux community, but especially the basher and his ilk in a very bad light...And they just don't get it..Linspire/Freespire are on the right track,(bringing Linux to the masses) and folks either don't get it, or they do get it and it worries them.
I have to wonder if they bash just to make themselves feel better,or they resent having learned the command line and such, and here comes a company with the audacity to make a version of Linux so easy ANYONE can use it!
And what's even scarier is the biggest thing they have done (CNR) has the potential to be the standard on all distros,even their special one that is heads and shoulders above all the rest.
I dropped Windows in Jan. of this year and installed Linspire after using the live CD...I was frankly amazed at how stable it was and how well CNR worked.
Linspire deserves some credit and a round of applause for what they have done, not more ridicule.
- jer2eydevil88, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1When Linspire was up and coming I invested in one of those $100 lifetime accounts, from time to time I go back and download the latest and greatest to give a try. My account has Click N' Run plus I get all the Michael Roberts emails.
Over the past year it seems like Linspire has been going no where, to be honest I hadn't even heard anything about them for months. I am pretty sure this opening of Click N' Run is more of a way to generate buzz than to actually help the community. No offense but Michael Robertson isn't all about open source, he's about making money, sometimes the two things intertwine and other times he'll steamroll through. - chubbymidget, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How have they changed their business strategy now that they're less commercial and less revenue? Product winding down?
- twtmc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Linspire is now, imo, the most user friendly distro out there. Even if you prefer windows, there is no reason not to have linspire on a second harddrive for backup. A few months ago, my windows crashed, and I had to wipe my harddrive. Before I did that, I went into linspire, grabbed all the data I really needed (it can access ntfs drives), and copied them to my linux drive. After the reinstallation was done, I made a fat32 partition and copied it all over. It's saved my ass a few times now.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Not at all...In fact,there are 449547 registered users .
If you had read this you'd know:
http://forum.linspire.com/viewtopic.php?t=425457 - TKDWILSON, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1NOW their are stengths for both. Hard telling on the future.
Eric Wilson - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1 And Linspire's servers have been hammered all day long...Hummm,wonder why?..
- Loie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1puppy linux or damn small linux, there are some other tiny distros but I like those two the best. either will run fine on that setup if you install it to the HDD.
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