| Linspire may offer Ubuntu CNR service |
Mar. 02, 2006
Linspire Inc. and one of its biggest desktop Linux rivals, Ubuntu, are talking about collaborating to offer Linspire's CNR (Click-N-Run) application download service to Ubuntu users. CNR is a subscription service ($20 annually) through which users can install thousands of software programs with "literally" one click, CEO Kevin Carmony said.
Ubuntu, according to DistroWatch.com the No. 1 most popular Linux distribution (as ascertained by number of downloads), has nothing like CNR available for its users. Both Linspire and Ubuntu are based on the Debian kernel.
"Many have the misconception that CNR is simply a GUI for apt-get," Carmony said. "Not at all true. CNR is a lot more, and includes total software management features, complete updating management for your entire PC; 'Aisles' which allow for grouping of applications to be installed with one click; CNB's or click-and-buys to purchase dozens of commercial products such as StarOffice, games, etc., all with one click. You get user reviews, screen shots, and so on. If you're not familiar with CNR, you can learn more about it here, and you can browse through the CNR Warehouse here."
Carmony posted an informal poll ("Ubuntu+CNR: good or bad?") on the Ubuntu forum site Thursday in an effort to get some feedback from Ubuntu users on the idea.
As of 4 p.m. Pacific time Thursday, opinions were split this way among the first 110 voters: - No, I wouldn't use it, apt is all I need (33 percent).
- Yes, I'd consider using it for the added features and convenience (28 percent)
- I wouldn't, but I'd consider for my noobie friends to get on Ubuntu (25 percent).
- I'd love it. Please consider offering CNR for Ubuntu! (15 percent)
- No way! Linspire is evil and I want nothing to do with them! (9 percent)
"[Shuttleworth], like me, thinks it MIGHT be a good idea," Carmony told DesktopLinux.com. "But then again, it might not be. That's why I posted asking Ubuntu users what they thought of the idea. Whatever we decide, Linspire wouldn't do this if Mark wasn't OK with it. I know Mark will want to make sure anything that happens stays true to the mission and ideals of Ubuntu."
A Ubuntu user asked Carmony on the the forum whether "your company [would] consider selling a multimedia pack for distros like Ubuntu to provide a legal way to obtain codecs and other proprietary multimedia software? One of my major concerns is the fact I may be breaking the law just to have multimedia support under Ubuntu and I have been waiting for some one to step up and offer these at a reasonable price. Since your company already has contracts with the makers of these codecs and software it would be in the perfect position to offer this to the end users of the free distros who share my concerns."
"Absolutely," Carmony replied. "I've talked to Mark [Shuttleworth] about it. We both like the idea a great deal. We'd just make a way to apt-get the CNR client for free, then Ubuntu users could choose to simply use apt, OR, for those who want the one-click convenience of CNR, they could try CNR for free for 15 days, and if they like it, pay for the service [$20 per year].
"You can use apt or CNR with Linspire today. I think that would be a great choice for Ubuntu users as well. Having more choices is always a good thing," Carmony said.
Carmony said that it would be "very difficult for Linspire to offer CNR to just any distro, however, we have considered doing it for Ubuntu. First, they're supportive of the idea. Secondly, there are a lot of Ubuntu users, justifying our work to do this, and third, Ubuntu is Debian based, as is Linspire, so our CNR Warehouse model could be wrapped around Ubuntu," he said.
Carmony told DesktopLinux.com that he was hoping "my post on the Ubuntu forums wouldn't stir up a whirlwind of speculation. It's just an idea we've kicked around, and I was curious how the Ubuntu user felt about it. I personally think it has some merit, but at the end of the day, it's the Ubuntu users who will decide that."
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