Re: Interview with Linspire CEO Michael Robertson

[Kenyon Karl]

Surfing the Web probably comprises 70% of my current usage of this machine, E-mail is perhaps another 5%. Thus the Mozilla Browser/Mail/Composer package that Linspire supplies as part of its operating system takes care of 75% of my needs. Old fashioned letter writing is another 5% of my usage, and the Open Office software that comes with the operating system likewise takes care of that requirement. Note that all of this stuff was 'factory loaded' onto my Asus A2500H laptop by my vendor (Sub300.com) as part of the purchase price . The Click-N-Run membership (CNR) costs me $49.95 per year, but that annual fee takes care of all of my support requirements (via e-mail), all future upgrades and patches to the operating system, and almost any of the 'free' software I might want from the Debian Distribution. If I see some piece of Linux software that I want to use, I simply go to the online CNR catalog, click on the install button, then wait very patiently for the all of the pieces of the software to creep  across my dial-up connection, and finally install itself on my system. Occasionally, one or more of the pieces of the download will arrive 'broken', and thus the software will not self-install. In that event, all I have to do is select the software from the catalog a second time, and the download process figures out just what pieces are broken or otherwise missing, and takes care of the final installation process. Closely associated with the CNR service is the Click-N-Buy (CNB) service for the purchase of selected items of 'commercial' software. Like the 'free' software, every item in that catalog likewise comes 'ready to download and self-install' on my machine. Once more, the CNR/CNB software checks the software loaded on my machine against the catalog once or twice a day, and automatically downloads any software upgrades or patches that are required for trouble-free operation. The retail price of the Linspire operating system, plus the annual cost of the CNR service will seem like 'a bit much' to a Linux guru that has a broadband connection to the net, knows just where to get whatever he wants, has a rather good idea where to 'kick' his software download to get it to work correctly, and can find a more experienced guru to consult with when absolutely necessary. But in far off Wentworth, NH (14 miles NW of Plymouth), I must be grateful for sufficient electricity to keep my laptop battery charged up, and a toll-free dial-up connection to the Internet. I seriously doubt that there is anybody in the area that can spell L-I-N-U-X without making a mistake, and even U-N-I-X would be a severe challenge. Accordingly, the e-mail 'support' that is part of the Linspire 'system' is absolutely crucial to my current 'success story! Note that the various other Linux software offerings available at Linspire's CNR/CNB catalog are likely to take care of perhaps 10% of my estimated needs. That means that I am still reliant upon that well known operating system for the remaining 10%. Note that Win4Lin is also available in the CNB catalog with a discount for CNR members, and is likewise set up for easy installation on my Linspire system. This alternative isn't cheap, but I don't envy the folks that were able to get this 'scary' concept to work as well as they have. But note that my alternative was to abandon the vendor installation of Linspire, and begin the hair-raising process of creating from scratch, a dual-boot installation of Windows and Linspire. The only saving grace is that the  Linspire OS can handle the process (with only a few frightening moments) if it is the second OS to be installed, and you have an unused partition (or an entire hard drive) for the purpose :-( ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Sconce wrote: On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 21:25:32 -0500 Kenyon Karl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: As a relative newbie Linux user on a desktop replacement laptop machine, I am very enthusiastic about Linspire and its CNR service! Note also that I run Win4Lin on top of Linspire (using a legal copy of Win98SE) for my legacy Windows software. And it sounds like it's working for you? I (we?) would be pleased to hear how a new user of a Linux desktop feels the transition is going. Also, your feelings about win4lin (of which I'm also a grateful user). Any idea of something like percentage of your time spent running emulated stuff, and how you think that will trend? And a specific "geek" question: does Linspire specifically support installing win4lin? (Every win4lin installation I've done has required a kernel recompile, which is hardly something for Granny!). -Bill _______________________________________________ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss