excellent post
so true

While I'll concede that people bashing Linspire is stupid, this assertion about Ubuntu is simply not true. In fact, as a frequent lurker at the Ubuntu Forums, I can attest to the fact that the #1 frustration new users have with Ubuntu is that you need the command-line for almost every single tweak and configuration (things as simple as getting multimedia codecs or changing screen resolution or enabling extra repositories).

I happen to think Linspire is a great idea. I think Linspire, Mepis, and Ubuntu are three distros that will suit the needs of any newcomer to Linux, depending on what they want.

However, irrational though they are, people do have "reasons" for disliking Linspire. I don't agree with these reasons, necessarily, but these probably are the reasons:

1. Even though Mandriva "charges" for a subscription to their club, you can still use urpmi without subscribing. I tried apt-getting and using Synaptic in Linspire--it's a no-go. CNR or some weird hack to get software.

2. Many distros are user-friendly, but Linspire tries especially hard to be Windows-friendly, going so far as to make the hard drive called "My Computer."

3. Linux elitists have some weird notion that Linux must be difficult in some way. Even though Ubuntu and Mepis are extremely user-friendly, as is Xandros, they just don't have the polish of Linspire. I have to say Linspire is the only distro that recognized all of my hardware perfectly, straight "out of the box."

Now, again, I don't agree with these reasons. I don't think anyone should hate any distro, but I think that's why Linspire is targeted.

1. People are cheapskates (I'm a cheapskate, for example--I used a coupon code to get Linspire for free). Many distros that charge money also have free versions. Linspire's "free" version is either a live CD only or some sneaky coupon code. Then, CNR definitely costs money.

2. Many users are not just pro-Linux but also extremely anti-Microsoft, so a distro that mimics Windows will be bashed.

3. Self-explanatory.

People will be angry because they're angry. Don't act clueless as to why they're angry. They have their reasons--you just don't have to agree with those reasons. I don't. If people like Linspire, good for them... I just hope they don't always browse as root!

Free software updates.

You can use apt, but you must use debian SIDs repos, and you do not get any security updates for linspire unless you pay $$$ for CNR.

even windows gives free updates.

I could do everything I can do on Ubuntu with Linspire. I merely object to being forced to pay $50 for the priviledge.

When was the last time a Linspire employee held a gun to your head and forced you to do anything?

CNR is paying for ease of use, product development, quality assurance, bandwidth, etc. I used to leech, but I decided to support a distribution.

I pay $5 a month. $5 is not much of an issue for me. As long as I am a CNR member, installs and updates take almost no time at all, no troubleshooting and I get free OS updates when they release a new version of the OS. For example: since I subscribe to CNR, I got version 5 free.

Try that with SuSE, they make you pay for a whole new "pro" version on release.

They haven't had the opportunity, because I don't use Linspire.

Really, I would have thought you'd work that out from my use of the conditional in my last post...

~ Linspire develop no software except CNR and their only-semi-decent Linxxxxx software. The rest of the software called 'Linspire xxx xxx xxx' is simply slightly edited community software that Linspire are taking advantage of. Linspire internet suite? Mozilla Suite. Linspire AIM? Gaim. Openoffice.org 1.1.2 for $25? Don't make me laugh - even on Windows I can download version 2.0 for nothing. Linspire certainly don't do any debugging for the Gaim team, so you aren't paying for quality assurance.

~ With Ubuntu, installs & upgrades take a similar amount of time, no troubleshooting and they don't release new 'versions', but rather provide a new compilation every six months. Why should I wait for Linspire to release version 6 of "their" software for free when I can just click Upgrade in Synaptic and get the latest software instantly?

Try that with SuSE, they make you pay for a whole new "pro" version on release.

~ I don't use SUSE for the reason that it is RPM based, but I would not be using the Pro version anyway.

Even though Ben's original remark about being "forced" did not include an explicit conditional word, conditionality was implied, considering he said he does not use Linspire. The idea is that if I am to use Linspire properly, then I must subscribe to this thing.

I don't think anyone should be mocked for paying for Linspire, though. Some may not think it a value, but it's a value to the person who's buying it. It all depends what you're paying for. People who buy Linspire and subscribe to CNR are paying for the convenience of not having to figure anything out. When I don't save as much money on groceries as "the coupon lady," I'm paying for the convenience of not having to rummage through old newspapers to find and organize all the right coupons and make sure my shopping cart matches up with those coupons.

Sure, I could change the oil my car myself and save $35 every three months, but sometimes you just don't want to get that dirty. I have been cutting my own hair for almost a year now (with my wife's help to make sure the back looks okay), and that's saved us money, but I don't look down on people who go for professional haircuts.

When you pay for services, you're not paying for a product--you're paying for a service, a convenience, an immediacy. When people say "Linux is not ready for the desktop," I say, "Well, you get what you pay for." With Linspire, you pay money. With Ubuntu, you pay time and energy. I, personally, prefer to pay time and energy, but others would probably prefer to pay money. Maybe I would too if I earned more money...

Actually I meant 'if I did use Linspire', I could do everything I can do in Ubuntu. However, I would be forced to pay $50 for access to a product which does nothing Ubuntu doesn't.

Isn't that the same as my paraphrase except in the past tense?

I don't bash the fact that you're paying for the convinience, but there is _NO_ way to get security updates in linspire without paying. again, even windows does that for free.

Actually, SuSE 9.3 does the same thing...

Hello,

I am new to Linux and Linspire. I have used Windows since its inception. I am in the Telecom industry as a Project Manager, and would like to make several comments about this thread.

1. I am testing Linspire 5.0 at this time for inclusion into our remote user community.
2. I am a Windows Application Power user.

Ok, now let me start.

I guess I Don't hate redmond as much as the folks on this forum do, because everything I have used from Microsoft does what I expect it to do, and everyone I work with, clients, vendors, customers, users, everyone uses Microsoft products. I really have enjoyed Linspire, because IT DOES MIMIC MS Windows. It does things a USER wants it to do.

I am not a software designer, and have no desire to be one. In the past I have attempted to install dist. with no success. Linspire was the first Linux dist I was able to get loaded. On the other hand, I can get Windows to jump thru hoops on my home network and my office network.

I got the general sense that not to many folks on this forum really like Linspire, well, as a Windows user, thats to bad, the one thing it does provide to us Windows users is an alternative to Windows. The number one problem with Windows until XP was its stability. Linspire has been rock solid since I installed it.

The two major things I see stopping Linspire, actually Linux in general.

If your not PC savvy, Linux is not for you, and lets face it, most people out there are NOT PC SAVVY. They want a PC they can sit down at click and start working. Until Linspire,,,you did not have that.

Microsoft Office is globally the defacto standard office productivity tool. The Free OpenOffice and Sunoffice don't come close to what Microsoft Office can do in the hands of an experienced user. And I have found major compatibility issues with files saved in an openoffice app when you attempt to open it in Office. Remember, most of the modern world uses Office, if Linux is going to compete with it,,,it needs to be seamless,,,and not just duplicating Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Theres Visio, Access, Compatibility with Outllook on and on and on.

So all you Linux Gurus out there, don't trash a product like Linspire, considering the target client base, it performs as advertised, and ushers in a group users who would never ever consider loading "real Linux"dist.

Robert

I'm glad Linspire is working for you. I don't think people have to like Linspire in order to appreciate the fact that it exists. Having honestly tried Linspire, I can say I will probably never use it as my main distro. I'm very happy it's around, though, as an alternative to people who do want a Windows-clone Linux, for people who do want to pay for convenience and unparalleled hardware detection.

I'll keep using Ubuntu, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone.

That's what makes Linux so great--I have my distro; you have yours.

That's one thing Windows cannot offer. Anyone who says, "I have ME; you have XP" is living in a dreamland and just has to get XP. But I can have Ubuntu, and you can have Linspire. It's all about choice.