[bigdcaldavis]

So has South African pinko-commie globalist Mark Shuttleworth sold out to the almighty dollar?

[sionnsar]

ping

[sionnsar]

Ubuntu, in turn, gets supported access to Linspire's Click n' Run (CNR) install/update toolset.

I remember playing with CNR, and there was something about that made me want to run away, real fast. Ubuntu's "Adept Manager" is about the best manager I've seen yet.

[NRPM]

I could not help but cynically wonder if the move by Linspire to an Ubuntu code base was an effort to just get to a code base that had a more predictable schedule.

Why is this cynical? It's a valid point about Ubuntu vs. Debian, and not a trivial one. Debian's "we'll release it when it's ready" policy is reasonable, but it can result in years between major releases.

If there's a loss of confidence in Debian, it's Debian's fault.

[ShadowAce]

Also check out Ubuntu? Not for me, thanks from IT Wire.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

Interesting article. About the codecs - The commercial codecs are easy enough to download and install after the OS is built - I can play WMV and other proprietary formats in Linux movie players. I can also play DVD's in a window or full screen.

More interesting is the part about the overall impact on the Linux movement

Disclaimer: I run Ubuntu on my desktop and laptop. I am pretty typical in my views of many, not all Linux desktop users, and I think what I have to say may be surprising to those who have never actually used Linux, or who briefly encountered it in the past, but don't have a lot of real insight into the mindset of the Linux user without reducing it to an abstraction.

I really like that Linux doesn't have complicated OS licensing issues - I can install it on as many machines as I like and upgrade them without having to call the OS vendor to get the license unlocked, as Vista users may have to. I also like UNIX more than Windows, but that's a personal preference as I am a long time UNIX guy.

There is great free software that does a lot of what I need, but I also use commercial software. I use Crossover, which is the commercial version of WINE. It's not perfect but it does run Word, Excel, and Powerpoint 2003 for me with no more problems than under Windows. I can also run IE 6 under Linux, including Windows-only plugins.

It looks like Click n Run is the only thing being ported into Ubuntu, but I don't see what the license for that component will be. Of course I am always free to not install or use it.

[B Knotts]

I'll stick with Debian.

[goldstategop]

No. Linspire is commercial but its open source version, Freespire is absolutely 100% free. Try getting Vista for free from Microsoft.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus