Is it me, or does the word "proprietary" pop-up in this press release a bit more than one might expect?
Linspire, Inc., developer of the Linspire commercial and Freespire community desktop Linux operating systems and CNR.com, a free Linux software delivery service, today announced the immediate availability of Linspire 6.0, the latest commercial release of the desktop Linux operating system. Building on the best of open source software using Ubuntu as its base line, Linspire 6.0 adds licensed proprietary drivers, codecs, and software in its core distribution to provide a better user experience. The first commercial release from Linspire, Inc. in over two years, Linspire 6.0 continues its traditional focus on ease-of-use and bundles proprietary software where there are no viable open source alternatives, providing improved hardware, file type, and multimedia support, such as MP3, Real, Java, Flash, ATI, nVidia, WiFi, and many more. Linspire 6.0 is also the first commercial release to incorporate several technologies from Microsoft including Windows Media, True Type Fonts, as well as Open XML translators that allow OpenOffice to open and edit Microsoft Word .docx formatted documents.
"Today we continue the Linspire tradition by offering the choice of a better overall experience for users new to desktop Linux," said Larry Kettler, President and CEO of Linspire, Inc. "Linspire 6.0 further bridges the gap between open source and commercial software, combining the best from each into a single easy-to-use, familiar and productive operating system."
Linspire 6.0 is the first desktop Linux operating system to bundle the CNR Client (beta), providing one-click access to thousands of open source and popular commercial applications such as Sun's StarOffice, Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's Crossover Office, TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games and many more.
"If you are genuinely interested in finding an OS alternative, Linspire 6.0 will show you how far desktop Linux has come" continued Kettler. "We have put everything into this latest commercial release to make it our most complete offering to date."
Linspire 6.0 begins with Ubuntu (Version 7.04) as its base line and then adds software from six broad categories, further expanding Linspire's capabilities:
CNR Client (beta) provides free one-click access to thousands of open source applications, as well as commercial software such as Sun's StarOffice, Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's Crossover Office, TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games and many more. Linspire 6.0 users will be able to automatically update the CNR Client when future versions are released.
KDE is added for an easier-to-use and more comfortable interface, with a more familiar look and feel for Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows users.
Enhanced applications and features are added for superior usability and ease of use, modifying software applications such as Firefox and Thunderbird, and along with the inclusion of Linspire-sponsored open source software like Lsongs and Lphoto.
Proprietary software is added when necessary, such as Java, Flash, and Adobe Acrobat, in order to provide overall increased interoperability and enhanced user experience.
Proprietary codecs are added to expand multimedia compatibility and provide a superior overall computing experience so users can listen to MP3 files, play Windows Media files and much more.
Proprietary drivers are added to expand hardware compatibility and provide optimum 3D graphic card support, better WiFi support, and more.
Version 6.0 is also the first commercial offering from Linspire to provide customers with Microsoft patent covenants. In June of 2007, Linspire and Microsoft entered into a broad interoperability and technical collaboration agreement to facilitate interoperability between Windows and Linspire, which included intellectual property assurances. The agreement promotes customer choice and strengthens the bridge between the Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.
For a detailed list of Linspire 6.0 features, please visit http://www.linspire.com/newfeatures.
Availability and Pricing:
Linspire 6.0 is available immediately via digital download at http://www.linspire.com/buylinspire for $49.95. For more information or to purchase Linspire 6.0, please visit http://www.linspire.com.