Linspire

One open-source project dies while another is reborn: Linspire vs. Chandler

You may have noticed late last week that Linspire was officially retired. Or perhaps you didn't. No matter. Given Linspire's rocky history with the GPL and its inability to get traction with consumers, it's an unsurprising move as Xandros seeks to consolidate its assets.

Of perhaps more note is the fact that the Open Source Applications Foundation finally released version 1.0 of its Chandler program. Glyn Moody tries to put a happy face on the release, but the fact is that it's several years too late. It was a good idea back when it was … Read more

Linspire getting swallowed by Xandros

Linspire, the Linux company started by high-tech entrepreneur Michael Robertson, is ready to fully assume its place as a footnote in operating system history.

As previously noted, the company is being swallowed by Xandros, another of the smaller Linux players. The deal is expected to be officially announced Wednesday.

"The Linux business is going through some healthy and necessary consolidation, which will give resulting companies greater assets and size to deliver on larger initiatives so Linux can touch more people," Robertson said in a statement.

Linspire is best known for its Linux distribution, once known as Lindows. Robertson … Read more

Linspire + Xandros = Anything of value?

In math, two negatives make a positive. In the fledgling world of desktop Linux, unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the case.

According to reports from OStatic and others, Xandros is buying Linspire. Who cares, you ask? Certainly not the former CEO of Linspire, Kevin Carmony, who had this to say as to the importance of the acquisition:

This will end up being a completely insignificant event for Linspire shareholders, and the end for Linspire customers. I predict this was done to: 1) help [Linspire owner and founder Michael] Robertson drain the company of its cash and resources...2) help … Read more

Founder of MP3.com starts business-info wiki

Serial entrepreneur Michael Robertson has started a new business-information site called Dealipedia.

Robertson, founder of such companies as MP3.com and Linspire, is relying on the wisdom of crowds to supply information on IPOs, mergers, acquisitions, closings, bankruptcies, and investments. He said that Wikipedia has proven that allowing the masses to provide and edit information works.

Dealipedia is a "combination (of) news, reference and perhaps a bit of gossip for business deals," Robertson said in an e-mail to CNET News.com.

At Dealipedia.com, I clicked on the site's "Who Made the Money" section to … Read more

Another sub-$200 Linux PC?

Shuttle turned a lot of heads with the announcement of its $199 Linux PC at the Consumer Electronics Show last week. Now Linspire is looking to tempt retail customers with its own version of the sub-$200 PC.

Starting Thursday, Linspire, maker of Linspire and Freespire desktop Linux configurations, and PC maker Mirus Innovations will sell its Mirus Linux PC on Sears.com for $199. But there is a catch: a $100 mail-in rebate is required. Otherwise the full price as of this writing is $284.99. (Sears is offering a $15 discount through Saturday.)

In comparing Linspire's version … Read more

When you fail at Linux, there's always dating

Kevin Carmony, former CEO of Linspire, couldn't make a viable business in Linux. Perhaps, however, his attempt to marry Linux to Microsoft inspired his next move: an online dating service.

The fact that Carmony's dating service has nothing to do with Linux may bode well for its success. Reading through the press release above, it's difficult to see how Carmony's service (Dating DNA) is much different from other dating sites, except that this one has trendy names like "social networking" thrown in, but perhaps it will finally help Carmony to match up like-minded groups. … Read more