I link Lindows/Linspire. I've tried Mandrake and Redhat. I've been using Linux for a bout a year. I decided to try Linspire. It was easy to install. Installed in just minutes. No problems with finding hardware, or drivers.

You can't use Get Apt with Lindows but who would want to? Lindows uses CNR an application that comes bundled with Lindows that allow you to install and manage applications. It's very easy to use and you don't have to touch the commandline. You just click and boom, it's installed...

I'd reccomend this distro for anybody who wants a desktop but doesn't want to tinker with the system. If you like tinkering get Mandrake, Gentoo, or Debian. Lindows is not for you. But if you just want a Linux Desktop with no hassles -- Linspire is a great choice.

Full automatic install with no choises to make. Just sit back and watch. And if found and set up all hardware on new laptop, and set up a dual boot with Windows XP. Neat automatic updates, and easy software install with "Click and run" feature.

Only problems are booting, printer, and wireless. Boot up often hangs on laptop (not on desktop). Requires some fooling around to boot. No printer driver or wireless driver for my particular hardware, but that's not really a Linspire problem as much as a general Linux problem with new gear.

Pros:
1.Easy install.
2.Easy installing software with Click and Run (CNR)
3.Lot's of neat wallpapers for download
4.Good for migrating MS users
5.Discounted commercial software available through CNR
6.Default web server has plugins already installed
7.Network file sharing is setup to see MS stuff
8. Free LiveCD available for trying it out.

Cons:
1.Linux geeks won't enjoy this distro.
2.Install is fast because there's not much to it. Stuff like source code, man pages, gimp, ssh, screen capture not in install like other distros.
3.Boot up is slower.
4.No installing, deleting and sizing partitions during install.
5. Not enough to encourage installer to make normal users after install.

couldn't even get it to boot, I got a refund.

A few months ago, I decided to try out Linux, so I did the logical thing and Googled it. I found a site called http://tryoutlinux.com/ that recommended Linspire. They said it was great for Linux newbs. Damn were they wrong. Linspire, Inc. is worse than M$. They cheat Linux newbs out of their money by charging for the OS, OpenOffice.org, and "CNR" service. The thing is, if you Google something in the CNR wearhouse or chances are you'll find a free download for it and OpenOffice.org is free from their website. Oh yeah, it isn't very good with USB drives either.

This is Linux, but NOT GNU.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I got linspire for free and i still think i over payed for it.

Ok. If you want an OS thats simple to use, and installing programs is dead simple and you want good security. Get linspire... BUT. Be prepared to pay money for software that is free. be prepared to go through a battle with your computer every time you want to install software, god , you may as well stick with windows ......

I really dont recomend this, even to linux newbies, really, save yourself the time and download Fedora Core 3, Mandrake, Suse or Even Knoppix... (knoppix is great for new users)

I tried this,(I got a free copy with a coupon code giveaway) when I was a linux noobie, and blah, it was my second tried distribution, does not set a good impression of linux for the beginner.

the best thing about it was when I formatted the partition, and installed something else.

It was very slow, incredible slow, (requires very high requirements, i was using a 1200 mhz, needs too much ram (on the machine it had 256) it was slow, CNR, requires some monthly fee i believe, and it is not nearly as powerful as portage or apt, maybe even YaST (which also allow you to get tons of apts, except they are faster, and more lightweight.

It also includes no c compiler, g++, etc. The second i found that out, it was off my computer within 20 minutes.

Every distro I tried was better than this one, the list is below.

* Fedora C1 (my first linux OS)
* Redhat 9
* Mandrake 10
* Fedora C2
* SuSE 9.0/9.1 Pro
* Lycoris
* Lorma RC5
* Debian (Sarge and Woody)
* gentoo stage3 and stage1
* Ubuntu 5.4
* Mepis 3.3 (Current)

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I used a lot of beginner operating systems, which helped me get the knowledge I need to run systems I have, like woody, and gentoo, which are both fairly complicated operating systems to install.

I don't like the hard install (but I can do it) processes, I search for something that is small, fast, and is fully equipped with everything you'll ever need.
If you're the same way, Lindows/Linspire, IS NOT FOR YOU.

I bought a frys GQ for $150 and linspire came with it pre- installed. You can't configure anything for it, I wasn't able to do much about anything with it. Its great if all you want to do is surf the web, even for someone new to linux I don't suggest this os. I ended up chunking the recovery cd for it in the trash.