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 launched but, as Glyn writes, as a "very definite, but *abstract*, idea" it failed miserably.
Note to other open-source projects: "Abstract" worked for Picasso. It won't for you.
Perhaps the lesson in both Linspire and Chandler is just how hard it is to build a strong consumer-facing business. For those who pooh-pooh Microsoft's success as "mere marketing" I have a suggestion: You need to get into this "mere marketing" business. It has a way of driving adoption. It matters.
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 Robertson save face by issuing a "Linspire Acquired by Xandros!" press release, instead of living with the public humiliation that Linspire failed under his leadership...3) Give Xandros (also seemingly on life support) a press release, and perhaps some way for them to spin this to investors to raise money.
Carmony then goes on to declare that this merger may well be a merger of equals, but they're both equally weak. This is not a merger of which the open-source world can be proud. It's something to learn from and then move on.
Learn what? Well, perhaps we could learn from this that "partnering" with Microsoft on patent immunity is no excuse for a good business. Xandros' deal with Microsoft didn't do it any favors. Ditto for Linspire. To be fair, this patent foolishness was just the tip of the iceberg on Linspire's and Xandros' problems, but it sure didn't help.
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. Carmony, who tried to be all things to all people at Linspire (and fittingly left Linspire to work on Mitt Romney's campaign, a man also accused of trying to play both sides on crucial issues), now has the chance to start afresh.
Linux and Microsoft through a patent marriage? Bad start. But let's wish Carmony luck in his new endeavor.
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