OSS PING
If you are interested in the OSS ping list please mail me
Posted on 04/29/2006 11:34:36 PM PDT by bigdcaldavis
Linspire Announces 'Freespire' Version of Their Popular Linux Operating System
Freespire Community Project to Offer Unique Mix of Both Proprietary and Open Source Options in Free Linux Operating System
SAN DIEGO, April 24, 2006 - Linspire, developer of the popular commercial desktop Linux operating system of the same name, today announced plans for a no-cost version of their operating system called Freespire. Kevin Carmony, Linspire's President and CEO, unveiled the Freespire project in his keynote address this morning at the 4th Annual Desktop Linux Summit, running today and tomorrow in San Diego. In his remarks, Carmony explained how Freespire is a community driven and developed project, but unique for open source Linux distributions in that it will allow users the choice to download a version that is 100% open-source or one that includes proprietary software.
Freespire is venturing into new territory by offering a free community Linux operating system that includes the option for legally licensed proprietary software pieces in the core distribution. The Freespire community project and Web site are now live at www.freespire.org, with the first beta release of the operating system to be made available for download in August. The release will mark the first time Linspire is making such a free version of their Linux operating system available to the public. For more details on the Freespire project or to sign up for the Freespire community mailing list, visit www.freespire.org.
Linux has found broad acceptance on servers but has met with some resistance from desktop and laptop computer users, in part from its lack of native support for some hardware, file types and multi media formats. Freespire addresses this hurdle by offering proprietary drivers and software as a choice, and gives desktop Linux users the option of "out-of-the-box" legal support for MP3, DVD, Windows Media, QuickTime, Java, Flash, Real, ATI drivers, nVidia drivers, Adobe Acrobat Reader, third-party fonts, and so on. Other Linux distributions do not include these pieces of proprietary software in their core free distributions.
Once released, a list of all the different proprietary codecs, drivers and software used in Freespire will be available at www.freespire.org/home/trademarks, along with the detailed licensing information needed to help assist others in the modifying and redistribution of the core Freespire open source code.
In his remarks at the Desktop Linux Summit, Carmony discussed how the open source Linux community needs to become better educated on how to legally and successfully incorporate proprietary licensing in those instances where there are not yet good open source options available.
"Freespire is about choice," Carmony said. "The user should be free to decide what software they want to install on their systems, be that proprietary or open source. Linspire fully embraces and supports the open source model, but if Linux is to gain mainstream acceptance, it needs to work with iPods and DVD players, and fully support hardware, such as 3D graphic cards, Wi-Fi, sound, and printers. Until there are viable open source replacements, Freespire sets out to at least provide the option of legally and easily using certain proprietary codecs, drivers and software."
According to Carmony, the Freespire project has six major goals for the advancement of Linux and open source software:
1) Provide users freedom of choice by making available a "free marketplace" for all Linux software, including proprietary, open source, free and commercial products, plus provide easy access to this marketplace with open sourced tools such as CNR and apt-get. When necessary for the user experience, include proprietary software as an option in the core distribution, which will always be available for download at no cost;
2) Offer a very easy-to-use, yet powerful, Linux distribution;
3) Provide exceptional "fit and finish" with a professional and polished operating system;
4) Create a Linux that can expand more broadly to the masses;
5) Create an active community of developers and users;
6) Include worldwide language support.
A more detailed discussion on the Freespire mission can be found at www.freespire.org/about/vision.
As part of the Freespire project, Linspire's flagship CNR (click and run) technology (a one-click download and install software management system), will be open sourced to facilitate the building of a truly "free marketplace" for all Linux software, including proprietary, open source, free, or commercial. Many proprietary codecs, drivers and software will be offered in Freespire's core distribution, while a few that have a larger per-unit licensing fee, such as DVD, must be purchased and installed via CNR.
The Freespire project will be open to community development, comment and contribution. A community forum is now live on the Freespire Web site, and the community project will be governed by a Leadership Board that includes prominent members of the Linux community. For more about the Freespire Leadership board, visit www.freespire.org/community/leadership.
As a company, Linspire will continue to develop and release new commercial versions of its industry leading desktop Linux operating system Linspire OS. While Freespire is more accessible by developers and those in or curious about the Linux community, Linspire will continue to be geared towards the consumer and novice computer user, offering more ease of use and premium support. In addition, the Freespire project will help to improve the commercial version of the Linspire operating system, as many of the improvements to the Freespire operating system will be incorporated into future releases of Linspire.
A detailed FAQ on Freespire is available at www.freespire.org/support/faqs.
About Linspire, Inc.
Linspire, Inc. ( www.linspire.com) was founded in 2001 to bring choice into the operating system market. The company's flagship product, the Linspire operating system, is an affordable, easy-to-use Linux-based operating system for home, school, and business users. Linspire pioneered CNR ("click and run") Technology, which allows Linspire users access to thousands of software programs, each of which can be downloaded and installed with just one mouse click. The more than 2,400 software titles available in the CNR Warehouse (www.linspire.com/cnr) include full office and productivity suites, games, multimedia players, photo management software, accounting tools, and more.
For more information, please contact:
Heather MacKenzie Linspire, Inc. 858-587-6700, ext. 263 858-587-8095 Fax p...@linspireinc.com
ib4ge
OSS ping
Back around the turn of the century, when any Linux-related IPO was red hot, I wrote columns for some fairly major outlets that covered Linux issues. My perspective was not that of a hard-core propeller-headed Linux geek, but rather a proponent of a movement to make a user-friendly Linux distro, something the average computer user could actually install. I encountered a lot of hostility from the Linux proponents who wanted to keep the whole Linux environment as basically a private club for those smart enough to work with it. It took a few years, but something like Linspire (fka Lindows) is exactly what I was talking about. Nice package.
MM
OSS PING
If you are interested in the OSS ping list please mail me
The majority of people who dislike linspire dont do so because its 'too user friendly'. My beef with them is that when I have used it it performs worse than nay other distro I have seen..
Uh, does this mean I'll need a former fry cook to authorize it's use, ala Big Brother XP? 
That link seems to take a pretty hard line view on things doesn't it? All software must be free?
PJ may be very good at assembling all the information on the SCO/IBM case, but she is an open source zealot, a "Stallmanite" you might say.
BTW, notice she gets beaten up pretty well by her readers on this issue.
Yep. Way over the edge. Too bad more don't speak out against it, but instead most either just let it slide, if not post links to it.
Yeah. People who constantly post links to leftist zealots like Stallman really pi$$ me off.
Look at the link. She's getting blasted on her own board. And I know for a fact that she removed some even harsher non-troll posts.
Now as far as everybody speaking out against it, remember that's your battle. We really don't care about the Stallman types until they try to damage the practicality of open source software, such as PJ trying to keep OSS and closed from mixing, and Stallman trying to make signing keys public.
Other than actual issues like that, they can make themselves looks as stupid as they want and it doesn't bother me. As far as them making OSS look bad, the only people who care are trolls like you, so we definitely don't care.
What a load! The first time I remember the flamer posting to these threads he was quoting Stallman's website. He's now trying to claim he's done a 180 since everyone knows Stallman's a radical leftist, but flamer still uses his software, and attacks me for pointing it out.
You didn't read. I quoted the GPL one time, because you failed to understand it. That's hardly quoting "constantly", like I said and like you do.
Before and after that, no one can hold a candle to you on the number of times you've referred us to Stallman.com.
Besides, you're the only one here that does quote Stallman.com constantly. Go back and look at my posts, if you doubt me. Want to count up the numbers for both of us since that post? (I think it was in the thread on RedHawk linux, right?). I'll do it if you won't.
You probably send more traffic directly to Stallman.com than anyone else on Freerepublic. Want proof? Here ya go.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1612495/posts?page=73#73
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-backroom/1612495/posts?page=17#17
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1609606/posts?page=453#453
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1609606/posts?page=25#25
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1608304/posts?page=44#44
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1607069/posts?page=96#96
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1607069/posts?page=64#64
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1527747/posts?page=84#84
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=221#221
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1592292/posts?page=220#220
I fully expect you to post your list of the instances where I quoted Stallman or referred anyone to his site. Other than the one explaining the GPL (which did no good anyway, because to this day you fail to understand what I was talking about), I don't think you'll find one. Could be wrong, but I know I quote or even talk about Stallman a lot less than you do, sugar.
And so do you, but you rationalize the cognitive dissonance.
Get real, you guys live for GNU-Linux and the Stallmanite at Jokelaw is one of your favorite sources.
I knew there'd be no proof. When I call on you to back up what you say with facts, you just fling more accusations. Good job, Democrat.
Put up or shut up and prove what you say with specific examples, instead of engaging in character assasination (you won't, you'll just repeat the accusation, probably in all caps or bold print or something, like you do when you're really in a tizzy).
Funny, though, and proves my point.
LOL you know good and well ShadowAce and others constantly link Jokelaw, and one of your first posts to me ever was you linking your master Stallman's site. Give it up Flamer, even though you constantly lie you still haven't gotten any better at it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.