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Press Releases From Linspire.com

Mirus, Linspire and AOpen Introduce $399 Mini Linux PC

"Mini Koobox" Linux Desktop Comes Pre-Installed With Full Office Suite and Multimedia Software

SAN DIEGO, June 28, 2006 - Linspire, Inc., developers of the leading consumer desktop Linux operating system, along with AOpen and Mirus Innovations, today announced the availability of the Linspire Mini Koobox, the first small form-factor Linux machine on the market. Starting at just $399 after $100 mail-in rebate, the Mini Koobox is based on an Intel platform built by AOpen and comes with the easy-to-use Linspire Linux operating system, which includes full Microsoft file-compatible office suite, DVD player and DVD-playing software, music and photo management software, Internet applications, e-mail and instant messaging capabilities. The Linspire Mini Koobox is now being sold online through Mirus Innovations as part of its Koobox line of desktop computers. For more information about the Mini Koobox, visit www.koobox.com.

"As the prices of desktop computers continues to drop, consumers are starting to bring multiple computers into their homes," said Kevin Carmony, president and CEO of Linspire, Inc. "However, low cost isn't the only consideration. As you add more computers to more rooms, space and aesthetics also start to become factors. Buying a low-priced Linux machine usually means you'll have to sacrifice on style and select from a limited supply. We developed the Mini Koobox with Mirus and AOpen because we know there is high consumer demand for ultra-compact home computers that not only look great and perform well, but also don't cost a fortune."

Measuring in at just 6.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches and weighing 3.0 lbs., the basic configuration boasts a brushed matte-platinum case with clear blue plastic accents, slot-in slim CDRW/DVD combo drive with DVD-playing software,integrated Ethernet card, and is based on the Intel 915 chipset. To add to the streamlined aesthetic, ports are located in the back of the unit, including two USB 2.0 ports, one IEEE 1394 port (Firewire), speaker-out, S-video, and mic. The Mini Koobox also has a DVI monitor connector and includes a DVI-to-VGA adapter so that it can be connected to plasma-display or large-format monitors. Inside, the machine checks in with 256 MB DDR2 RAM, Intel Celeron M 370 1.5 Ghz processor, and a 40 GB hard drive.

Upgraded versions of the Mini Koobox are also available, including a version priced $499 after mail-in rebate with Intel Celeron M 370 processor, 512 MB RAM, 60 GB hard drive, and a CDRW/DVD combo drive. For $50 more, a third model priced at $549 after mail-in rebate includes an Intel Pentium M 725 1.6 Ghz processor. All Mini Koobox units come with a 15-day free subscription to Linspire's CNR software download service, plus keyboard, mouse and speakers. These Koobox models are aggressively priced, considering the Mac Mini starts at $599 for a basic configuration that does not include a keyboard, mouse, or speakers. Complete system specifications and a comparison chart on Mini Koobox options are available at www.koobox.com.

The Mini Koobox features the stable and secure Linux-based operating system from Linspire, which comes complete with major desktop applications, including OpenOffice.org (a Microsoft file-compatible office suite); Web browser, e-mail and instant messaging clients; multimedia viewers; photo and music managers; calendaring tools; and more. Access to additional software and applications is available through Linspire's innovative CNR ("click and run") Warehouse, a software library where users can download and install thousands of Linux and open source programs. For more information about Linspire, visit www.linspire.com.

"Right out of the box, you can use the Mini Koobox to do everything you've been doing on your existing Windows machine - without buying extra software," Carmony added. "Average home computer users don't need to spend thousands on a fancy computer just to browse the Internet, send email, share photos or do basic office functions. The Mini Koobox is the perfect second, third or fourth computer for your home, apartment or dorm."

In addition, consumers who are interested in switching to Linspire Linux from a Windows system can take advantage of several tools to make the transition, including software such as Win4Lin and Crossover Office, which allow key Windows software to run under Linspire Linux, and a desktop migration tool called Progression Desktop from Versora that allows easy transfer of files, bookmarks, and programs from Windows to Linspire. Win4Lin, Crossover Office and Versora are all available for Linspire users through the CNR Warehouse (www.linspire.com).

The Linspire Mini Koobox, like other Koobox computers sold by Mirus, includes a 90-day warranty, but for $29 consumers can purchase an optional premium warranty with toll-free support and replacement parts. Other expanded warranty options are available as well, including on-site technical support. For warranty details, see www.koobox.com.

Koobox computers are built by AOpen, manufactured and shipped directly by Mirus, fully certified by Linspire and tested by quality of standards that are ISO 9001 certified and 100 percent compliant with industry standards.

Pricing and Availability

The Linspire Mini Koobox is now available through Mirus as part of their Koobox line of desktop computers. The basic version is $399 after $100 manufacturer's mail-in rebate, and upgraded versions with enhanced memory and hard drive capacities are available starting at $499. Details on all available specifications and information for system builders who are interested in selling the Linspire Mini Koobox are available at www.koobox.com.

About Linspire, Inc.

Linspire, Inc. (www.linspire.com) was founded in 2001 to bring choice into the operating system market. The company's flagship product, the Linspire operating system, is an affordable, easy-to-use Linux-based operating system for home, school, and business users. Linspire pioneered CNR ("click and run") Technology, which allows Linspire users access to thousands of software programs, each of which can be downloaded and installed with just one mouse click. The thousands of software titles available in the CNR Warehouse (www.linspire.com/cnr) include full office and productivity suites, games, multimedia players, photo management software, accounting tools, and more.

About Mirus Innovations

Mirus Innovations, a value-added manufacturer of computer products, strives to bring innovative digital lifestyle experiences to end users. Its products for consumers and small businesses include high-value, low-cost personal and mobile computing solutions, as well as On-Site and Life-Time Tech Support options. Its products are installed in hundreds of thousands of households and small businesses throughout North America.

About AOpen

Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, with AOpen America's headquarters in San Jose, California, AOpen Inc. is the world's largest total PC component solutions manufacturer and a member of an $18-billion technology group. Leveraging more than 28 years of technology manufacturing experience and more than 1,000 Group patents, AOpen designs, manufactures and markets high-quality, state-of-the-art motherboards; housings; small-form-factor bare systems; VGA cards; white-box notebooks; optical drives; multimedia headsets and headphones; multimedia and network solutions; as well as numerous other PC component products sold through VARs to institutional, corporate, education and government customers, and via retailers to small business and end-user customers.

For more information, please contact:

Linspire, Inc.
858-587-6700, ext. 283
858-587-8095 Fax
pr@linspireinc.com


Copyright © 2001- 2006 Linspire, Inc. All rights reserved.

posted by ThatBlackGuy @ 6:43 AM 0 comments

The Consumer Linux

Linspire is configured solely for use on desktop and laptop computers, particularly for consumers. True they don’t offer server or enterprise products, they believe there are already plenty of great Linux products out there for those areas that need it. Linspire supports MP3, DVD, Windows Media, QuickTime, Flash, Java, ATI and nVidia drivers, Bitstream fonts,and so on. It is ideally suited for the non-technical computer user who would like to use Linux on their desktop or laptop, and have everything just work from the moment they turn on their computer.
Now I know that it's stylish for many in the Linux circles to always down Linspire. However many in the traditional Linux community don’t know much about Linspire, or what they do know is very inaccurate.

Myth #1 Linspire Runs as Root

This is no more true than saying that PcLinuxOs.92 or SuSE run as root. In both of these distributions, you are required to add (or not add) users at some point during the first install. True in Linspire, you do initially log in as root, but if you follow the wizard, you are encouraged just as much as in the PcLinuxOs.92 at install to add a user.

Myth #2 Their greedy over at Linspire. They don't give back

Linspire funds a lot of initiatives and helps to advocate Linux in markets where it has had trouble. Linspire has invested over $35M to date into GNU/Linux and free software.
Open source is about contributing where you can, and doesn't “always” mean contributing code. Pretty much everything they do over there is open source and contributed back. Now sometimes those other projects are slow to include or adopt Linspire Inc. changes. On Linspire Five-O, they have the Mozilla browser that corrects your spelling on the fly, in-line, and offers suggestions. Again those changes were put in the upstream, but I don't believe that the Mozilla project ever has accepted their changes for in-line spell checking. But hopefully we’ll see that in the Firefox core soon.

Im not saying every one should love Linspire or use Linspire, but the traditional Linux community has to under stand that most people, I mean “most-people” want everything to just work from the moment they turn on their computer. “The average user is not going to want to go to the forums and search for an answer on how to get their media player to work with what format file they are trying to view or listen to.”
The Linux community should promote distros like Linspire Five-O, as a means to showing people there is another way other than Windows® or OSX®. For this to happend, the buying public must see Linux based computers, OpenOffice.org, Firefox and other applications side by side with the other guys (Windows® or OSX®) in mainstream retail establishments. That gives any product market acceptance.That means more OEMs are going to be willing to provide hardware, software and technologies for “all” Linux users. Linspire definitely has aided overall Linux adoption. To succeed at competing with Microsoft the Linux community needs a Linspire as much as they need the Linux community. They need to make money, they must make profits to get a sales force along with advertising, hardware support, Linux pre-installed computers, Linux support from Independent software vendors, developers, certification, etc.....

IDC estimates that 9 million Linux PCs will be shipped in 2006, with that number growing to 17 million in 2008. So less than 4% of PCs expected to be sold in North and South America in 2008 will come with Linux.

"If developers are paid for their work, they can do it full time, rather than as a hobby they do on evenings and weekends because they need to have another full-time career to put food on the table. OpenOffice.org and Firefox are wonderful open source software programs, but they wouldn't be nearly as good if many of the engineers who worked on these products hadn't been able to work full time on these projects because they were being paid by AOL, Sun, and others. Nvu, Lsongs and Lphoto are as good as they are because Linspire pays engineers to work on these projects full time, and we can afford to pay them because we charge a fair price for our products and services.
If Microsoft ends up fighting only those engineers who can donate evenings and weekends, they'll win. If there is a way to inject a FAIR commerce model into the open source equation, then you'll find open source programs to rival Microsoft, as we've seen with Firefox, OpenOffice.org and Nvu."

Kevin Carmony

Now that there is a Freespire, maybe, just maybe they (Linspire Inc.) will get some respect.

This site is not endorsed by Linspire, Inc. or Freespire.org. To visit the official Linspire or Freespire site, please go to Linspire.com or Freespire.org . Linspire is a trademark of Linspire, Inc. Other company and product names on this website may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

posted by ThatBlackGuy @ 1:33 PM 0 comments

Rebel advise

Love Linux /But need Windows: Dual-Boot
By RebelSaid

To install Linux on a Windows PC, you need to create a second OS partition to make room for it. If you have a factory-installed version of Windows on your PC, chances are it uses the whole hard disk as a single partition. So if you have a hard drive that is 40 GB, this means that your PC with the 40GB hard disk, has a C:\ drive that is roughly 40GB in size.You can use a commercial partitioning utility like........more here

Run Windows programs inside Linux?
By RebelSaid

Back in sept. I talked about CodeWeavers’CrossOver Office 4.2 allowing you to install your favorite Windows productivity applications and plugins in Linux. more here

Building a powerful yet low cost desktop with OS
By RebelSaid

Building a desk top is not as hard it would sound. You just need the right parts...more here

posted by ThatBlackGuy @ 2:18 AM 0 comments

The road to Linspire 6.0

Freespire has announced a development roadmap leading towards version 1.0. The distribution's first beta is scheduled to be released on 1 August 2006, with the final product following one month later. The release of Freespire 1.1 will be followed by Linspire 6.0, the company's commercial product, also due in the 4th quarter of 2006. For Linux to begin to make serious desktop market share in the US it is going to have to be at least as convenient as Microsoft's stuff. The average user is not going to want to go to the forums and search for an answer on how to get their media player to work with what format file they are trying to view or listen to. Lets face facts people, most users out there don't want to spend all their spare time tweaking their computer. I'm sure most don't mind installing the apps they want, but codecs and players are necessary to enjoy the internet. MP3 support, RealPlayer, Acrobat, online streaming videos from places , Flash, wireless and multimedia etc all vary in difficulty of installation. The average user need these things to work out of the box. For simple usability “out of the box” nobody gets it like Linspire. I have hope that Linspire 6.0 will be a early October release. It will give the OEM's like Koobox a chance at new pre-installed Linux base systems for Xmas.

posted by ThatBlackGuy @ 12:41 AM 0 comments