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Re: Linspire: Consumer-Friendly Windows Alternative

Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> Consumer-Friendly Linux Distro Found in Linspire Five-O

Keep in mind that Linspire was previously named Lindows, and was such
an effective competitor against Windows that Microsoft filed a
trademark lawsuit - and Lost.

Lindows changed it's name to Linspire because they decided they didn't
want to be held back by the past legacy to Windows.  THEY decided it
was too much like Windows, which they now viewed as inferior to their
offering.

Lindows has a really great business plan and offering plan.  For about
$90/year you get the core Linux image, you can either order the media
kit or download an ISO image and burn it.  Then you get to go
"shopping" in their "mall" for your applications.

One of the big problems with Linux is that there are thousands of
applications but most people don't know what those applications are or
what they do.

Linspire actually "Markets" these applications, giving full
human-language descriptions of each application, some ratings, and some
additional information about where to get more information.  If the
user wants the application, they can download it at any time.

Some commercial applications like MoneyDance and CrossOver have
additional costs, but often the prices are 1/2 to 1/5 the cost of the
same commercial software directly from the provider.

The other advantage is that you don't have to have a full-blown DVD and
try to select which of the thousands of applications you want - all at
once.

This "one at a time" approach seems to work very well for Windows users
who often like to download shareware.  The difference is that the
Linspire applications have all been kept up to date and have been
tested with the core Linspire system.

The other advantage this gives Linspire is that it gives them one of
the best ways of keeping track of exactly how users are using their
Linspire systems.  By knowing which applications are being downloaded,
Linspire can make efforts to offer more selection of the more popular
offerings.  Linspire can also tell the casual users from the veterans,
and make sure that the beginners get more support initially.

I purchased and installed Linspire in a VMWare VM, and I have really
liked it.  I would be very tempting to make it my primary operating
system on one of my machines.

Kudos to Linspire for yet another excellent offering.

> ,----[ Quote ]
> | If you want a rock-stable operating system that is highly unlikely
> | ever to become a victim of viruses or other malicious applications,
> | Linspire Five-O Linux is an attractive alternative to Windows. Linspire
> | is also worth considering if you think you may want to dig deeper into
> | Linux and start writing your own software.
> `----
> 
>                 tp://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/51705.html


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