Ubuntu-Linspire joined at the hip

The big news in the Linux and open-source world is the agreement between Canonical -- the company/entity/I-don't-exactly-know-what-the-hell-it-is behind super-fast-growing community-rich Linux distribution Ubuntu (and Kubuntu, Edbuntu, Xubuntu and Fluxbuntu) and Linspire/Freespire to bring their distributions together.

This means that Linspire and Freespire will be based on Debian-centric Ubuntu rather than Debian itself. Besides all the bells, whistles and other knickknacks that Ubuntu builds onto Debian, the 'Buntus are released in six-month development cycles, with support continuing for each distro for three years.

In exchange, Ubuntu gets Linspire's CNR (Click and Run) package installer, making adding new software and configuring hardware easier than ever. A key part of this is CNR's amassing of proprietary drivers that promise to make more hardware -- and especially more forms of video -- work in Linux without too much geekery on the part of users.

And as Ubuntu grows in massive leaps and bounds -- it's got to be the go-to distribution for people looking to move beyond Windows -- this will only help Linux in its quest to grab a larger share of the desktop market and, in turn, create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for the user.

Thanks to Desktop Linux for this news, and read their analysis for more:

Jeremy White, the CEO of CodeWeavers, publisher of the popular CrossOver Linux, a program that enables Linux users to run Windows program on their Linux desktops, said, "I have to confess that I've clearly been around too long. I'm just now shaking off this sense that this Ubuntu 'fad' is just a flash in the pan, like many others before it, and Linux enthusiasts are soon going to be moving on to the next 'new thing'."

"But that's clearly wrong; Ubuntu is clearly the 800 pound gorilla in the Linux desktop space, and I don't see that momentum slowing much anytime soon," White said.

"But this is all just good. Ubuntu isn't winning primarily on the basis of marketing (okay, having a billionaire backer allowing free CDs doesn't hurt), but the core reason for their success is simple: they write great software. And that can't help but be good for users," continued White.