I need a version of linux that is free, stable, and supports the netzero.deb file. I simply need it for my boss's computer at work-he has dial-up. please don't be a politician and take a rabbit trail-I don't have much time to play with.

So you've narrowed your choices down to those two OSs? I'm just trying to understand here, it sounds like you are after a Windows OS, so why not just use windows? your second issue is the dial up, now does your bosses IP activly support Linux? if not you may be in for some trouble there

if your after Free, go freespire if your confident enough to do the administration yourself. if you are looking for active support then I suggest you use Linspire

for your situation I suggest Lindspire, it costs but will give you active support

Jake

Do you have experience with either of these distros? They are by far the slowest distros I've ever used(or a close second to Mandriva). If you have a debian file of Netzero, shouldn't it work with Ubuntu?

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=143472

The community support you can get w/ Ubuntu is far superior to the *spires. I've found most of my questions are answered via Google, many can be answered with a search/post here at LQ, and a couple times, I've went to #ubuntu channel on irc.freenode and gotten answers.. Its all really gonna depend on your dial up modem, and will Linux recognize it, or require a ton of configuring. You're best bet is to try a live distro(runs from the CD/DVD w/o installing) and see if you can setup your modem under whatever distro you choose. I think Freespire is a Live CD and I know Ubuntu is..

Just a suggestion...

IGF

my boss is used to windows-but it crashed on him twice, taking all financial records with it. thats why he doesnt want windows again. netzero actively supports linspire as is advertised on their site (you cant see it unless you have the username and password). When you open the .deb file, it has a different response than ubuntu. i would like to stay w/ubuntu but i cant find where netzero is. (it installed but i doesn't show in any menus. heres the file i got:

http://savefile.com/files/516670

i'm posting again to keep this in the 'new threads' area-i need to know an answer soon...

are there any coupons that still work for the linspire 5-0? and what is CNR?