Recently in Linspire/Freespire Category

The latest entry into the Linux-powered low-cost PC space is a Sears/Linspire box that features the Freespire version of the propretary-friendly operating system, with specs that seem to beat the $199 Everex PC featuring the gOS version of Linux and selling through Wal-Mart.

On the face of it, the Sears box has a faster processor, twice the memory, and a dialup modem -- important for the still-significant portion of the country that doesn't have broadband service via DSL or cable lines.

Though I've never used Linspire or Freespire -- both made by a company that courted controversy by signing an intellectual-property deal with Microsoft -- I have a feeling that Freespire is quite a bit more ready for prime time than is gOS, which in my opinion needs another year or so before it even has a chance to be "mature" enough for the average (not to mention totally new-to-Linux) user.

Sears is already selling the thing online. The price is $100 higher than you'd think because there is a $100 mail-in rebate (and yes, I hate mail-in rebates).

Given Linspire's recent "intellectual property" deal with Microsoft, by which MS agrees not to sue Linspire or its customers over so-called patent violations in Linux (and leaving the rest of us out to dry), should I continue to use the freelinuxemail.com service sponsored by Linspire?

First of all, I love the service -- run by fastmail.fm -- because it offers the IMAP protocol, has a super-fast Web interface and in the case of freelinuxemail.com (as opposed to the plain fastmail.fm version) comes with outgoing SMTP service for free (fastmail.fm wants you to either pay for SMTP or use your ISPs server).

All my mutt experiments during my Month on the Command Line were done with freelinuxemail.com, and while I'm not currently using the service, I still have the account there.

But given Linspire's recent actions, I'm feeling a bit squirrely about using the free e-mail. I'm a longtime user of Yahoo Mail, and I've never seen a conflict there -- if, as a so-called "journalist," I didn't actually use this stuff, how could I write about it?

But the Linspire thing has got me thinking. If I want IMAP mail, I could stick to the service provided by my ISP, DSL Extreme (which I pay for), I could upgrade my own fastmail.fm account, or find another provider entirely.

It's a dilemma. What do you think I should do?

Buried deep in his blog, Canonical head Mark Shuttleworth discusses his position on the whole Microsoft "intellectual property" claim regarding Linux and open-source software and what, as the man behind Ubuntu, he's comfortable and not comfortable doing with Microsoft. Here is his comment in its entirety:

Mark Shuttleworth says:

Neither Canonical nor the Ubuntu project have any interest in signing an agreement with Microsoft on the back of the threat of unspecified patents. We have consistently (but politely) declined to pursue those conversations with Microsoft, in the absence of any details of the alleged patent infringements.

Speaking for myself, I welcome Microsoft’s openness to the idea of improving interoperability between free software components such as OpenOffice and Microsoft Office, and believe that Microsoft’s customers, many of whom are now also Linux users, will appreciate Microsoft’s efforts in that regard. I have substantial reservations about the quality of the specification for Microsoft’s OpenXML document formats and do not believe that Microsoft will limit it’s own Office implementation to that specification, which makes the specification largely meaningless as a standard. A specification which Microsoft won’t certify as being accurate as a representation of Office 12’s behavior, and will not commit to keeping up to date in advance of future revisions to MS Office, is not a credible standard.

After many years of participating in the free software community I know that neither I nor any other free software programmer has any desire to infringe on any intellectual property (trademark, copyright or patent) of any other person or company. Many of us are motivated precisely to ensure that we work on platforms which DON’T cross that line. So it is somewhat offensive to be threatened with an allegation of an IP infringement. I’m sure Microsoft doesn’t realise that its actions are being received in that light, otherwise they wouldn’t continue. But it is getting rather tiresome. I would be very happy to see the details of any alleged patent infringement so that we can engage with Microsoft more constructively on the subject.

Mark

So there you have it -- Canonical welcomes any efforts by Microsoft to improve "interoperability," isn't a fan of OpenXML, doesn't want to infringe on anybody's patents or trademarks, thinks Microsoft's threats are ill-advised, a and would like to actually deal with the issue rather than respond out of fear.

But most of all, he's not going to sign any IP agreements with Microsoft, meaning one of the biggest dominoes in free Linux will not fall.

(Thanks to commenter Zeke for tipping me to this item)

In his Linspire Letter, CEO Kevin Carmony talks about why he decided to make a deal with Microsoft, trading some technological info for an assurance from Microsoft that the Redmond giant won't sue Linspire's Linux customers for "intellectual property" infringement.

Here's his reasoning, in part:

Today, Linspire announced our latest partnership, one with Microsoft, to bring even more choices to desktop Linux users, and together, offer a "better" Linux experience. Just as Steve Jobs announced in 1997 that "the era of setting this up as a competition between Apple and Microsoft is over," I too believe it's time for Linux to do the same. Rather than isolating Linux, I believe we need to understand, as Apple did in 1997, that Linux exists in an ecosystem and must work with and interoperate within that ecosystem. As unpopular as it may appear to some, Linspire is willing to take a lead in this effort. Some people booed Steve Jobs back in 1997, but if you trace the history of his announcement, I think it was an incredibly smart move for both Microsoft and Apple, issuing in a new era for both.

Nice ... get yourself neck-deep, then compare yourself to Steve Jobs. Even Steve Jobs knows he's a crazy f---. Or should know. Rich, cunning, possessing uncanny instinct, etc. ... but still kind of crazy.

Here's more from Carmony:

So about a year and a half ago, I contacted Microsoft and asked for a meeting to discuss how we could work together to make a "better" Linux. I was confident Microsoft would welcome my invitation, because I knew there could be an economic incentive for them to do so. As I had expected, they welcomed my call, and I immediately flew to Redmond for the first of many meetings over the following months, taking place in both Redmond and San Diego, culminating in this week's announced partnership.

...

(and here's the kicker, emphasis mine)

As good as Microsoft believes Microsoft Windows is, some people will in fact choose Linux. If Microsoft can contribute in a win-win way towards a "better" Linux experience, some people might be willing to pay a little extra for that. After years in the prominent position of desktop computer operating systems and applications, Microsoft certainly has many assets, which can be brought to bear to improve Linux (technology, interoperability, intellectual property, distribution channels, marketing, etc.).

About the "pay a little extra" part, Carmony addresses it again in the Q&A (again, emphasis mine):

How much more will I have to pay for this "better" Linux?

Nothing actually. Linspire has decided to cover the cost of these enhancements without raising the retail price of Linspire. Freespire will remain free, and the retail version of Linspire will remain at $59.95.

How bloody sporting of them ... and everybody who hasn't made just such a deal with Microsoft ... guess it's long-walk-short-pier time, eh, Mr. Carmony?

And what about GPLv3, which is supposed to nix (pun intended) this sort of thing? More from Carmony:

As I mentioned last week, hopefully the drafters of the new GPLv3 will take such options into consideration as they finish their work. It's important that Linux not be relegated to a 3rd-class player behind Microsoft's and Apple's operating systems, which do provide for this type of interoperability with the legacy desktop computer ecosystem.

I'm about to go all caps ... wait for it ... IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN ... NOT ... GONNA ... HAPPEN.

And here's Kevin Carmony's parting shot:

I'm sure some people who feel strongly about this will turn to other distributions, and I respect that. I do, however, think many more will end up coming to Linspire Linux for the enhanced experience they find from a distribution that works with as many partners as possible in an effort to make Linux work better. This announcement doesn't take any choices away from anyone; it just adds one more option. Choice is a good thing. I'm glad we have lots of them today as we choose a desktop OS.

It's NOT about an "enhanced experience," it's about worrying that Microsoft is going to chew you up and spit you out.

Now's not the time to get between the sheets with Microsoft. I couldn't disagree more with Kevin Carmony -- the Linux (or GNU/Linux, if you prefer) and general open-source community doesn't need Microsoft or Apple to help make "Linux work better." It seems as if Microsoft needs Linux ... or Linux companies, for that matter, to boost its own softening business.

And I resent Carmony bringing Apple into this whole mess. Apple isn't threatening to sue anyone, least of all the users and distributors of Linux. Would I like to see iTunes on Linux? For sure. Will Apple bring Safari to Linux. Maybe -- but, really, who cares?

As I've said in just about every editorial I write on this topic -- and since Microsoft is doing one of these deals just about every other week, I repeat it all too often -- let's just go to court and hash this thing out.

Microsoft and the Linux distributors it's aligning itself with need to remember that the Redmond-friendly Bush administration has a year and a half left in office. The next president and his Justice Department probably won't look very kindly on Microsoft's maneuvering -- and those of us using free, open-source software shouldn't do so either.

-----------------------------------

Linspire's press release on the deal.

Today it's Linspire agreeing to a Linux technology deal with Microsoft that includes "IP protection" for customers, with IP standing for "intellectual property," and Microsoft basically agreeing not to sue users of Linspire's Linux distro.

Curiously, Freespire -- Linspire's "free" version -- isn't included in the IP protection deal but will benefit from greater integration between Open Office and MS Office.

This follows Novell and Xandros' deals with Microsoft on the Linux-distro side, as well as royalty deals with key end users (whose names escape me momentarily), they truly are falling like dominoes.

But the Linspire deal has more far-reaching implications, since Ubuntu is set to begin using Linspire's CNR ("Click and Run" package management sometime in the future, and with Linspire beginning to base its code on Ubuntu. This seems to be putting Ubuntu's parent Canonical closer to being in bed with Microsoft -- something that would go down less than well with Ubuntu's growing, vocal fan base.

But the Linux distribution companies are going down like dominoes. If Red Hat doesn't bite -- and I can't imagine they will -- the apocalypse will not yet be upon us.

But one thing is clear -- crystal, mother-f'n clear. Microsoft is using a divide-and-conquer strategy with the FOSS (free, open-source software) community and hoping to make deals on their terms and avoid dragging this whole sorry, sorry mess into court.

But that's where it's headed -- and quickly.

(Addendum: For those who remember, Linspire used to be called Lindows until legal threats from Microsoft over trademark prompted the name change.)