On 7/7/07, Earle Beason <Earle-Beason@kc.rr.com> wrote:

Linspire/Freespire

In response to watching videos on NBC

Wow, I evaluated this and I am not impressed, don't like the fact I have
to "PAY" for Linux programs that are normally free with other distros,
and I can't update anything with out becoming a "MEMBER" of the "CNR," I
would agree with those who are saying to go to another program. Fedora 7
quite large but google "Perfect Fedora 7 desktop" and voila, everything
needed for a good start. Then add caldega for your games, you should be
good to go. If your close to grandview you can come over and evaluate my
setup on a weekend.

Bet Linspire will emulate Microsoft s other ventures.................
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It at first does seem as if your evaluation of Linspire's "pay" CNR is valid. And rather Damning.
Then I took a moment to evaluate the elements for and against such a concept.
The initial judgement was a split decision.
Part of my thinking holds that direct demand of payment for "software itself" is not the best idea. DO note that the exceptions to  that rule are  "works for hire" and "non-public" sector.
Quibbling over those definitions will like as not start a flame way we'd better consider avoiding ok? The other split in the decision is that fees for" Pay CNR" and variants are a potential payment to the coders themselves for a change. IF schemes like  a  "pay" CNR were paying a % to the coders or  systems integration persons I would feel it a "Good Karma" tax and feel much better about it.

 Now a "free" marketplace using CNR functional equal tools?

The final verdict will be in the marketplace. As it should be.
Moving on from the Deep Thoughts on Karma Payments dept we look at the nuts&bolts zone. CNR does offer a "baby step" for gaining ground in liberating users from MS.

I offer a third path. IF we can make it so- The MS world currently has done one model element to be emulated. Plug-ins that have become closer to seamless no skill needed.
AS opposed to CNR et all that still mandate a user initiated search for a tool or application, we could have Linux distros generate a method of determining which plug-ins are needful for OhSay - Flash? And then seamlessly fetching, installing and using them.