From LQWiki

Linspire is designed to appeal to people who run Windows and decide to try Linux. Linspire is aimed at the general public rather than Linux enthusiasts, so it would be a very good choice if building a computer for a non-technical user. Normal office, internet and multimedia tasks are included and easy to access.

Linspire 6 runs a Ubuntu core in order to achieve a known support cycle. Ubuntu regularly releases twice a year and they also have a Long Term Support (LTS) release. Future versions of Linspire will use this packaging model. Linspire 5 runs on a Debian core and has a clean interface with KDE 3.1.

One main feature is the "Very User Friendly" Click-N-Run, or CNR, a subscription service which simplifies the installation of software from the Linspire repository. With a few mouse-clicks new software is automatically installed to your system. As of Dec, 2nd 2006, there were 12,047 CNR Programs ready to install.

Linspire sells itself as the affordable choice, and sometimes comes preinstalled on budget computers. In the USA some of Wal-Mart's Linux PCs come with Linspire.

Linspire with CNR (Click-N-Run) is ~$50 (digital download).

CNR 'Gold' comes with Tech Support, Discounts on the few Click-N-Buy items, other free special programs that you would normally pay for and Forums is ~$50 a year.

There is an evaluation version which boots from a "LIVE" CD - this is free.

A great choice for a First Time "Windows-to-Linux" user.

Naming issues

LindowsOS is now know as Linspire, after it changed its name due to legal pressure by Microsoft, who claim 'Lindows' infringes their Windows trademark.

The name was changed two days after a US judge refused to prevent Microsoft taking Lindows to court outside the US. If the name had not been changed Microsoft would have been able to sue Lindows in many countries, the legal costs of which which almost certainly have put them out of business.

Lindows argued that windows is a generic term for a GUI technique, and as such the use of a similar term is valid. Obviously, the name comes from Linux and Windows, but many other projects also have the word window in their name.

Lindows plan to reinstate the original name. A trademark battle started December 2001 is still ongoing in the US, in which Microsoft has lost two injunctions so far. If Lindows win they may use the old name again in other countries too.

Links

www.linspire.com
www.freespire.org
www.cnr.com