Move over Ubuntu here comes Freespire

I've tried three Debian-based distros: Kubuntu, Mepis, and Linspire. Tonight I add a forth distro to my list: Freespire. Freespire 1.0 is really just Linspire 5.0 with a twist – CNR isn't mandatory!

What is CNR? CNR (Click-N-Run) is Linspire's Synaptic/Adept program on steroids. All the usual GNU packages are available in a slick interface. Pictures and descriptions accurately portray programs so that even “grandma” wouldn't have a problem doing installs. In addition CNR can also install pay-for-programs like Cross-over Office, Win4Lin and Cedega. System updates are also available through CNR. However CNR costs money. There are two subscription plans one for $20 and one for $50 a year.

CNR is a great service. No Linux distro to my knowledge has a package system as unique and feature rich as Linspire's. But the problem was a lack of alternatives.

And that in it's essence was the primary complaint I heard from non-Linspire Linux users. Linspire was charging for programs that are otherwise free on every other distro on the planet.

Freespire effectively eliminates that complaint.

Tonight I installed Freespire and was logged in to my desktop in 20 minutes. I opened up console and typed apt-get update and then apt-get install synaptic. The rest is history. I've installed all my favorite programs and apps: Amarok, Eclipse, Quanta, Kopete, Kontact, and more without dropping a dime. I also logged into my old Linspire account and was able to install programs like “DVD Player” which I had purchased over two years ago without renewing my CNR subscription. And it's my understanding that all *spire users can get system/security updates via CNR regardless of their subscription status.

Now for the icing on the cake.

Out of the box I could watch Flash animations, watch trailers at apple.com, browse and view at youtube.com in both Konqueror and Firefox – Freespire's default browser. The network browser detected my family WinXP network and I was able to mount it with out any trouble or touching the command line. Linspire has spent a small fortune making their KDE interface slick and attractive.

Unfortunately Freespire is running KDE 3.3 and boots horribly slow. Their Jack sound server is notorious for failing. Hardware detection is also beginning to lag, although it detected everything correctly on my system.

All that aside, with another planned release coming up before the end of the year featuring KDE 3.5, I'm quite certain Ubuntu will be getting some serious competition by year's end.

Here's my screen shot with synaptic. (Click on image to enlarge)