I installed it and found very user friendly -- downloaded free offerings and then thought I would like to install some of the things that come packaged with other distros and lo and behold I would have had to pay to get them. Sorry, I want to leave XP because of the cost of updates and the like so I uninstalled it -- my choice I understand but they might want to look at what they include in the initial base install.

Yes, the Base install of Linspire is very limited. The idea behind it is that it's very easy to add stuff with CNR and also if you look at most other distro's they come with a bunch of tools that do basically the same (like 10+ text editors and 4 or 5 mail clients) Linspire decided to include only the basic stuff (1 internet suite with browser, mail client, ... Open Office for office work). for people who want to use their PC for the basics (at least what Linspire thinks is basic use) like e-mail, Surfing, writing with Word (or a word replacement), Instant Messaging, ... The base installation is enough but if you want more then you'll have to use CNR to get it.

If you don't want to use CNR, there are enough distro's out there that have an easy installer (like mentioned in another thread (or maybe even here) there are a lot of Debian-based and non-debian based distro's that use Synaptic (with APT) to install software (and that's almost as good as CNR).

So depending on what you want (easy to use distro like Linspire or 100% free (as in speach AND as in beer like Debian GNU/linux)) there are many diffrent distro's to choose from.

I would personaly advise to get Debian (it's a bit harder to install then most other modern distro's allthough the installer got a lot easier with their latest stable release (Sarge)) since most popular distro's are Debian based and why go with a Debian based distro when you can use plain Debian instead

Offcourse a more userfriendly distro like Mephis (I hear it's very compatible with standard Debian and user friendly but I never uded it) might be better for a newbie.

thx for your reply -- yes, Linspire was easy to use for a newbie, very classy. I have tried many distros Mepis being one of them unfortunately I found it a bit flakey. I did an update on one of the packages I had and on doing a reboot I had the debian desktop lost all my setups which I had worked hard at. I hadn't thought of installing Debian but I will go to their site and have a look see.

I installed Linspire V5 3 weeks ago, last week I threw all my Microsoft software in the ebay pile.
LINSPIRE JUST WORKS, Installed on an HP E-PC 1ghz, 20mb HDD, Installation was flawless, my network card, video card were automatically configured, all I had to do was adjust the color depth. Java was automatically installed (Ino pesky command line install required) When I plug in my Digital Camera it automatically mounts and allows me to browse the image folder on the camera. When I plug in my USB jump drive it is automatically mounted and I can browse its folders, I chose to install SAMBA and I can still share files with all of the Windows users on the network. I ran the add printer wizard and My HP PSC1210v was ready to print in less than a minute. The only thing I haven't managed to get working yet is the scanning function on my HP PSC1210V.

I also purchased the online CNR service which I used immediately to install GIMP and EVOLUTION (which I consider to be the best email program I ever used)

All in all I hope Linspire survives the next 10 years as I see more promise in Linspire than any operating system since Macintosh was born in 1984. Not only does it work but it is not plagued with bloating, viruses and spyware, (ala Windows) nor overpriced Hardware (ala Apple).

One thing that would make Linspire absolutely perfect would be the addition of an application like ACD's CANVAS which combines a professional drawing program, image editor and PDF editor among its hundreds of great features. Unfortunately Deneba/ACD tried and failed at porting to LINUX in the late 90s.

I've been using it on our primary desktop where it is used by all members of the family and replaced Mandrake. What a doddle to use, I've used plenty of distros, and still have debian on my server, Ubuntu on my laptop and vectorlinux on my libretto. To be honest it can be a relief to just go back to the ease of use not having to do anything but click and leave it.
Points to note,
1. effortless networking with any distro, even easier than XP
2. Pretty good hardware support, although still fairly dissapointing with USB based equipment (webcams, scanners primarily) but no more than any other distro.
3. The only distro I've used to detect and install the correct 3d graphics drivers for my ATI card. Without having to do it myself! Granted these are proprietry and Mandrake, for instance, does allow the use of them but I've found them a nigtmare to get sorted and sometimes life is too short.
4. A little slower than some distros, the email and internet browser can take upto 20 secs to get started.:-(
5. I was lucky enough to get a "free" version that linspire periodically offer out, however I was happy to pay for the CNR service as;
a. it contributes to a distro that is attempting to be competitive with windows directly.
b. installation of anything is such a doddle it's a pleasure to use + you make up your app list, using "my aisles", so reinstallation is a piece of cake as all your apps will be ready to download and install in one! This means you can tailor your distro for every computer in the house, and it takes one more layer of pain out of the whole business.

I think the "pay for what is essentially free" thing is what sticks in most people's craw, however I prefer to think of it as paying someone to take the effort out of software installation, + I want to contribute to Linux and cannot do so in any other way than via cash to be fair and some light evangelism. Linspire is easier to evangelise to some people as a real alternative to windows.
It's probably the closest thing to "desktop ready linux" out there at the moment. However, saying that I have only tried Mepis once, so I can't vouch for that. I have used Suse and Mandrake before for extended periods of time, and Linspire is streets ahead in User friendliness than either of them.