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| Developer | Linspire, Inc. |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux |
| Working state | Current |
| Latest release | 14[1] / December 18, 2023; 14 months ago (2023-12-18) |
| Update method | CNR |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Default user interface | GNOME,Xfce |
| License | MainlyGNU GPL and otherfree software licences; as well as someproprietary software licenses. |
| Official website | http://www.linspire.com/ |
Linspire, also known asLindowsOS (alsoLin---s, pronouncedLindash), is acommercialLinux distribution based onDebian GNU/Linux (Ubuntu).[2] Linspire is sold by Linspire, Inc. and is focused on ease-of-use for the average person, rather than catering to advanced needs. As of 2007-10-10, the most recent stable release of Linspire is version 6.0 which was released in October of 2007. Linspire is available to download and costsUS$ 50.
Based inSan Diego, California, Lindows, Inc. was founded in August 2001 byMichael Robertson with the goal of developing a Linux-basedoperating system capable of running majorMicrosoft Windows applications. It based its Windows compatibility on theWineAPI emulation layer. The company later abandoned this approach in favor of attempting to make Linux applications easy to download, install and use. To this end a program named "CNR" was developed: based on Debian'sAdvanced Packaging Tool, it provides an easy-to-usegraphical user interface and a slightly modified package system for an annual fee. The first public release of Linspire was version 1.0, released in late 2001.[3]
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Linspire's CNR (originally "Click'N'Run") is a software distribution service based on Debian'sAPT. It is designed to serve as a GUI-based, user-accessible means of downloading and installing various applications, both free andproprietary. The service allows users to install available applications using a single click. CNR also includes a set ofClick and Buy (CNB) software, which includes many commercial applications to members at a discounted rate. Currently CNR has over 38,000 different software packages, ranging from simple applications to major commercial works such asWin4Lin andStarOffice.[4] CNR was originally subscription-based with two tiers:basic service cost $20 annually, andgold, featuring discounts on some commercial applications, $50. In 2006, Linspire announced that thebasic service was to be made available for free.[5]
CNR.comArchived 2008-06-20 at theWayback Machine also provides access to thousands of Web-based Applications, providing the Linux community with the option of local Linux and Web Software, available through a single source (as of February 2008).The same capabilities to browse and search the library of products with additional capabilities planned to improve the Web Software experience (bookmarking). The community will also have the capability to add new products to the already extensive library of applications available.
In August 2005, Andrew Betts released aLive CD based on Linspire and namedFreespire.[6] Linspire, Inc. offered users a "free Linspire" (purchase price discounted to $0) by using the coupon code "Freespire" untilSeptember 92005. OnApril 242006, Linspire announced its own project named "Freespire".[7] This follows the model of community-oriented releases byRed Hat andNovell in the form ofFedora andopenSUSE. Freespire is a community-driven and -supported project tied to the commercial Linspire distribution, and includes previouslyproprietary software from Linspire, such as the CNR Client, while other elements, which Linspire, Inc. licenses but does not own, like the Windows Media Audio compatibility libraries, remain closed-source.
Linspire has drawn some criticism from thefree software community. This has included anger for includingproprietary software, withGNU founderRichard Stallman commenting: "No other GNU/Linux distribution has backslided so far away from freedom. Switching from MS Windows to Linspire does not bring you to freedom, it just gets you a different master."[8]