Here is the link to the IBM transitioning information...
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerwork...l-roadmap.html

And there is quite a large number of links at this (started but incomplete and slightly out of date) website if you look down the two outside columns. The few tips that got written up refer to Linspire 4.5 although the intention is to get it more up to date when opportunity presents itself...
http://linspire.homelinux.org/

More associated links in the section entitled OffSite Modules: Articles etc.

Thank you very much eagle-lair for that link, it is very useful and everyone else for your advice. I have now tried lots of live versions of these OSs. Although I find some of the others more comfortable and more robust (linspire feels less stable for some reason?), linspire was the only one to boot up with all my laptop hardware properly identified and configured. I think the CNR is a bit of a rip off and I do worry about installing something myself and then fucking up CNR but I think it is a very good introductory linux environment. I think I will stick with it for a bit, then maybe mandrake and then who knows? I guess the lesson learned is that OSs are just like any other product; you have to try a few and then decide which one you like best. Someone should tell Microsoft users that (and Coca-Cola drinkers ). Cheers

Lindows...or Rather Linspire now..! isnt really all that bad. I think some have missed out on the new Linspire live cd, now its so you can test out all aspects of linspire, comes with most of the things you'd find in Knoppix and other cd run distros...office games chat etc.. Now I think its missed its calling.

As a test CD for those wondering ...if they should try it or not.. I suppose its fine. However, If you think about it... Its the ultimate in protection for the very young and stupid... 1) its not installed on the HD.. 2) you can browse the net reasonably safely... 3) you can chat with gaim on it.. 4) its going to be real hard to get a virus ...since its on a finalized CD..!
5) it has extensive how to's... now the main point its kids or newbies cant s.c.r.e.w it up...cant download and install all that lovely malware one gets with windows.

So for the really concerned distros like Linspire, knoppixs are really the ultimate in defence. Parents can rest easy that their credit card No's are safe... and the happy little sods ... learn to surf without actually falling for the usual .... get your spyware and malware here... look it go'd neeep neep and has some lovely smilies... hey this web search is cool...! We've all seen it I've cleand it of many a computer for people...

Although I don't think I'd use lindow/linspire /knoppix on my HD as a full install I do now use it with newbies... and kids.. It shows them ... there is life before and after windows... and if its kids .. you don't have to worry about them getting on the computer when you don't want them to,,, just take the CD out. Don't give them access to windows all they really want and do is on the CD..!

For the idiot who cannot be bothered to look up a package name, prefix it with 'apt-get install ' and insert it in a shell, or even use Synaptic, which is easier even than that, then CNR is fine. I think that it's a credit-taking load of rubbish (they make it seem as if Gaim and Mozilla are unique to their distro) and I would despise being forced to pay for free software, but for the average idiot who can be bothered to spend $50 in GBP a year on it, it's fine. For anyone with a brain, I'd recommend apt-get, but CNR is fine for 'users'.

As for making the users confortable, I see no reason to let anyone turn a computer on, and without ID, delete every file on the system, all in the name of emulating the all-powerful Windows. User-friendliness is fine. However, explaing to users gently (rather than cryptically) that they need to set up passwords etc is far more useful than not telling them they need to.

Also, this needless application dumbing-down (Internet Suite, for gods' sake) would really annoy me: why not call Mozilla Mozilla like everyone else? Calling it 'Linspire Internet Suite' implies that Mozilla is not only exclusive to Linspire, but also written by them as well.

Lastly, asking users for money for a Linux distro is not a good idea. One of the many Linuxs' major selling points is that they're free. I don't expect to spend whatever $50 is in GBP just to take it home and find that the OS is actually much the same to Mandrake.

I hate Windows because, although it's not the main reason, the Beast from Redmond has allowed complete idiots to use computers with no training. My I.T. teacher thinks that the switch in her cupboard is a 'file server'; I have heard directories called 'areas' by the same person; CPU is a common synonym for 'case' in my school. I mean, if people actually knew how to use the system properly, we wouldn't have this problem. If Mr Sandercock (and his colleague) had ever been told how HTML works, I wouldn't have to watch him squint at IE's <IMG> 404 symbols when he gets web pages over email.

To summarise:

- For idiots, CNR's fine; otherwise, use apt-get with Ubuntu.
- Linspire are almost alleging that Mozilla and Gaim are unique to them. This is clearly wrong.
- Commercial home-use Linux is not good.
- The sort of idiots who can't work out how to use synaptic shouldn't be allowed to use computers anyway until they've been traind up a little.

Throw abuse my way. This is just my opinion, based on what I think is honourable in GPL software, and what happens every Tuesday and Friday geography lesson.

Oh yes, and:

Em, properly configured real distros are invulnerable to attack by small childs too. This is due to a Security model. The distros have security models in order to stop users from buggering the whole thing up.

Linspire is not concerned about security, it's concerned about making Windows lusers comfy.

Why? How does using a livecd make SSL any stronger? Ugh..

Virii and spyware don't exist on Linux anyway. Although they soon will if people like Linspire keep on giving root access to children. I mean, root??? For children??? Good grief.

Erm.. first fair point I've seen. However, proper user management will let you do this in Real distros.

Additionally, when are you lot going to learn to type, and spell? It is really annoying, the level of apparent illiteracy in this and other forii (or forums, depending on your American-ness.)

this coming from a guy who uses forii instead of forums?

Yes it is. Forum is a Latin word, so we should use the Latin plural. Also, the first words in English sentences are capitalised. Stop proving my points, and deranicate yourself.

"Forums" is correct, as is "fora", but not "forii"

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Wow, this is a tough room.

Peace....

this is just an overall bad topic, that's been here for like 6 months.

but in response;

Linspire runs on the linux kernel and therefore it is linux, even though i wouldn't ever use it or recommend it.

hehe...
i just found out what CNR means:

Click'n Runtoarealdistro



egag

Ben Goodger wrote:You don't need abuse, Benny: you need Anger Management

But not psychological advice from an American.

I don't like Lindows. I got Lindows 4.5 free with a Linux magazine. I think it is more based for the n00by user as it is very easy to change setting and has a very simple interface.

A question, for all these so-called “Linux Experts”.

What is it that you cannot do on Linspire that you can on
other Linux distributions?

Make sure you do your research before talking out of your a$$.