There's a lot of talk lately about how to make Windows less "open" to malware by getting rid of the default root (admin) login. The problem is, since Windows was originally designed for a single-user environment, the vast majority of s/w on the market assumes you have admin privileges. So, if you try to practice safe computing by using the "limited" account in Windows, you probably won't be able to use most of your programs.

I agree that logging in as root isn't smart. I think Apple has the best implementation; you can create limited accounts easily, with just as much access you needed for normal, day-to-day work. Whenever you need to install something or do something that requires root power, a dialog box pops up allowing you to immediately enter the password and continue. You aren't continually root (like Windows) but you don't have to stop what your doing, get root access, and try again (as I've found in LInux).

Regardless of how it's implemented, not having root access by default prevents many of the problems w/ viruses, spyware, crackers, etc. since nothing can be installed w/o root power, meaning you know exactly what's going on in your system.

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whats a via c3 processor? I wish they offered pentium4 laptops without any OS!
they don't even ship to canada! have you been to canada walmart website? they don't even have a damn search box! Only thing you can look at is the damn store flyer, which has all the baby stuff this week, I had to go through 15 pages of baby crap, and after that women stuff started, so 6 more pages of that crap, and then after that it was useless stuff anyway so it was a waste of time!

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I have not actually gotten to play around with it much, as I have been very busy the last several weeks. But from what I saw, linspire looks user friendly. I do not think it would be an attractive software for me, as I see no advantage in getting something that I need to "subscribe" to the software as in their CRM program. Basically their one click install is a lot like an rpm in redhat, but much easier.

So, for now my linux systems will use redhat or suse (just because I am used to it ;-) I do not believe that linspire is designed for developers.

Who Linspire appeals to, is those who want simple computing that entertains them. I have learned that the president of Linspire is also starting a new mp3 download service. What they should do, is combine the mp3 service with the CRM (software update service). That way they would really appeal to those looking for simple computing that entertains them.

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I'm a Linspire user who migrated from Windows 2000 pro. I can most certainly testify to the effectiveness and reliability of Linspire. Not only has it been extremely easy to use, but I have had not a single crash or problem since I first replaced "Win don't". Sure, I've had a few moments of excited overzealousness that might have locked up a program (none require more than two clicks...oops), but there is a function that allows the termination of a program in such an event.

Since it is both my personal and professional computer, it has so far been able to do everything that I have ever needed a computer to do without having to deal with reboots after installing every piece of computer software. On personal use, I have not needed to download any codecs for videos. Strangely enough, I didn't even need to install drivers for my ethernet, video, sound, or USB. Linspire covered it all during install.

If you switch to Linspire, simply tell it to take over your C partition, where you have windows installed, and you will still be able to access your other drives that utilize the FAT32 file format system.

Migration has been completely painless, and I have stopped yelling at my computer since.

Thanks DarHalen for that review. (and welcome to GIDForums™ btw).

I think that the reason that Linspire gets such a knock from the Linux community is that there is a segment of Linux users that don't think that linux should be mainstream. The problems and frustrations in windows stem around the fact that it is developed for anyone to use it. In order for Linux to go mainstream, it needs to follow a similar path. I for one would not like to see this.

The great thing about Linspire (and thus Linux in general) is that it can be several different things. For users who just want a windows type OS without the messy windows, Linspire is perfect. It is easy to set up and doesn't take an in depth knowledge of Unix to use. For people like me, there is Slackware (or whatever) that allows me to have Linux for what I want (a hardcore *nix machine).

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I can understand the idea that there are some Linux purists out there, but the purpose of Linux was to be a mainstream alternative to Windows as well as a response to the monopolizing practices of Bill Gates. Though Windows remains at the top of the sales charts, Linspire, in my opinion, is a much less expensive and better functioning OS for those just learning how to use a computer. As they get more and more practiced, they will eventually move up to something else, maybe even to a pure Linux system like Red Hat.

The reason I use Linspire is because of hardware compatibility issues. Eventually, I will build a new system and go to a pure Linux system. For right now though, I am learning how use Linux through Linspire.

Excellent point and I like your way of thinking. You fall into a different group of people than the every day user. Most people (and they probably are no where to be found at GIDForums™) just want the computer to work. They don't care how or why, they just see it as a necessary evil. There is nothing wrong with this at all. Computers have taken over the working world. There are very few jobs that do not require the use of a computer.

For computer enthusiasts like us, we want more out of a computer. I am also a car hobbyist as well. I think this is a good comparison. Every day people, just want to turn the key, get from point A to point B. A car hobbyist though will spend hours and hundreds on just getting that last few horse power out of a car.

I like to see competition and I do hope that linspire does well and at the same time lead more people down the path to computer literacy.

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