Linspire Releases Controversial Version 6.0

christian.einfeldt writes "Today, Linspire releases version 6.0, its first new GNU/Linux distro in more than two years. With version 6.0, Linspire is betting that its business model of including licenses for proprietary software and formats such as Quicktime, Windows Media Player, Flash, Real, and Microsoft OOXML will win enough market share among mainstream Apple and Microsoft users to offset the backlash from opponents of proprietary software and formats. Version 6.0 also includes the highly controversial Microsoft patent coverage that has incited wide-reaching negative press coverage in the Free Open Source Software press, forums and blogosphere. But from Linspire's perspective, it's all about those new GNU/Linux users. '"Today we continue the Linspire tradition by offering the choice of a better overall experience for users new to desktop Linux,'" said Larry Kettler, President and CEO of Linspire, Inc. "Linspire 6.0 further bridges the gap between open source and commercial software, combining the best from each into a single easy-to-use, familiar and productive operating system."'"

Comments

Re:Wow that is a loaded story.

[Deagol]

I just don't get it, this need for compatibility with propriety standards. Why use Linux and then bitch that you can't use Windows-centric (or non-open) codecs/programs? It really makes no sense to me, nor does the push by companies like Linsipre and those commercial WINE forks. It's like buying a diesel automobile for the gas mileage and then complaining about some of the quirks of using such a vehicle, such as having to use a block heater. Or those people who want the 80% reduction in power usage from CF bulbs but then complain about the negligible flicker and different spectrum as compared to incandescents. You know what you're getting into (or at least, you should) -- you should suck it up and deal with it if you want the benefits.

Running FreeBSD/amd64, I can't run Wine, use the mplayer win32 codecs, or run any flash players. But I get by just fine. Yeah, I miss out on some of the dumb fun stuff (youtube -- well, I can use hacks like "youtube_dl" that d/l and convert), but that's the price I pay for using Free/free software.

"Friendly" == "admit they have MS property"

[khasim]

But Microsoft is willing to work with friendly Linux Distribution Makers too.

Microsoft is willing to work with ANY Linux distribution that will sign an agreement to the effect that they are including Microsoft "property" in their release.

You might want to look at Ballmer's latest words about suing Red Hat users.

Re:Wow that is a loaded story.

[mlwmohawk]

Sadly for today's society this seems to be a majority opinion. Who cares what's best for people, industry, and the world? All *I* want is blah blah blah.

And that, my friends is how freedom, democracy, and societies die. Apathy is exactly what allows the corruption of government, industry, freedoms, and society.

WAKE UP, YOU HAVE A CHOICE AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT. IT IS IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE POWER...USE IT.

It may seem to be just software in this discussion, but it far more reaching. Software patents are bad. Free, as in freedom, software is the democratization of information and the conveyance of knowledge. Let people control it, and they control YOU.

After 10 years, we didn't learn anything

[stm2]

I guess this post will be voted down into ovlidium. Anyway, I have to say this:
I've been using Linspire since their first beta (when they were called Lindows). It was a pretty decent distro, like a "moderm Debian, with KDE as default desktop manager". It had the "problem" with the root issue, but there was anything that prevented root to switch to a standard non privileged user. Lets go to today situation. This version is based in Ubuntu (instead of Debian), so it starts with all feature most Linux users wants (since Ubuntu is without dispute, the #1 Linux distro). Most people I know install over Ubuntu the "automatix" or some script to install Flash, JAVA and all codecs 99% desktop people use (remeber that a base Ubuntu installation don't even play mp3). I also use Ubuntu in another machine (have 2 notebooks and 1 server), but I bought a HP Pavillon dv5000 (Turion 64 model) and Freespire was the only distro that recognized the wifi card out of the box. You can make it work with Ubuntu and the Windows drivers, after following a 3 page step by step guide. I love Linux and love learning, but there is a moment when I want to do samething else than working for my computer.
The main difference now in Ubuntu and Linspire is the Linpire is defaulted to KDE instead of Gnome. CNR (Click and Run) is another important difference, but I guess Ubuntu will have day in the future).
So from a technical perspective, Linspire now is not so bad (in my opinion, it is even better, but this is debatable).
From a legal perspective, Linspire did a deal with MS not to promote MS claims on their patents as most people says, they did it to protect their clients (they are a commercial distro) and they use this fact to sell security (buy our distro, you won't be sued as some non computer companies were sued by SCO). From a commercial view, it was a smart move. I would like to see Canonical and Red Hat what they will do when MS lawyers go for them.
Regarding open source, Linspire did a lot contributions like Gizmo, Nvu, Lphoto and now the CNR (cnr.com), they are all open source (not just free). But the most important contribution is Freespire 2.0 (www.freespire.org) that it has also most of the propietary codecs, but without the Linspire brand (for what is worth).
IMHO, Linspire doesn't deserve to be treated as it were the LinuxOne stock scam (remember 1999?).

Re:And I was *so* enthused about their Click&R

[synthespian]

Hey, what's the name of that distro Stallman uses again? The one that's '100% Free Software'?

Oh, yeah, UTUTO.(accept phony certificate).

"El Proyecto UTUTO es un proyecto de investigación y desarrollo de tecnología informática de aplicación social, con el objetivo de incentivar y promover la generación y apropiación del conocimiento en los paises en desarrollo, reduciendo la (así llamada) brecha digital entre los países que lideran el desarrollo tecnológico a nivel mundial y aquellos que hasta hoy se limitaban a importar y consumir desarrollos extranjeros.(...) Declarado de Interes Nacional por la Honorable Camara de Diputados de la Nación Argentina" --- HOW-TO-BREED-A-LINUX-HATER-HOWTO.