Page 1 of Freespire Linux

My story is thus: I bought a PC from a local dealer, who supplied Windows XP as part of the deal. For security, I switch the PC to Automatic Updates, which over a period of some time downloads Windows Genuine Advantage, which then decides I don´t have a legal copy of Windows. Computer has to be formatted, because I can´t do anything with it thanks to WGA. The dealer´s not there anymore, I don´t have a disc or a key (or even a receipt), so there´s no point even trying to explain it to Bill Gates. So, rather than pay out a small fortune for a genuine copy of XP, I´m trying out Linux. Because, really, I´m fed up of being treated like some master criminal.

I´m no computer expert by any means. I´ve tried Mandriva 2007, which is very good, but a sod for watching movie trailers etc. Luckily for me I have a PC literate mate who keeps giving me free linux discs. He knows I´m a PC simpleton, but I am pretty demanding. So he gives me a Freespire disc. And it´s the one I´m replacing Windows with.

It´s bloody great, and I just wanted to know if any of you have it and what you think. I´m still getting my head around the idea of codecs for things like trailers and MP3´s (my mate´s explained it to me, but I still don´t get it!), so if you have any tips and that let me know. If you are thinking about using Linux and you aren´t sure which to try, I really recommend Freespire. It´s a doddle, truly. Have a look for yourself here:

http://wiki.freespire.org/index.php/Welcome_to_Freespire

Sorry if this is a bit gushy, but I am genuinely thrilled to bits with it. Even the missus is happy to dump Windows now (though I still keep it as part of a dual boot system). Give it a go. Let me know.

lol,

I was about to post "There was a thread here a while ago about Linux, and realised you started that one to :)

I`m bad, despite getting a new hard drive, so I have 2 in my pc, and setting up partitions, I still didn`t get round to installing it.

I`ll add it to the list of ones to try.

So I`ve done Mandriva, Knoppix, Ubuntu so far, all from boot CDs. Was impressed by all of them, using them on work laptop Dell D610, and on my desktop.

codecs are something you need in windows as well.

to over simplify it

a DVD movie is say 4.5 GB, which is big
some-one uses a divx codec to encode the video, and mp3 codec for the audio to get it down to 698mb

to then view that movie, some-one else needs the same version or newer version of the divx codec to watch it.

where it gets complicated is that sometimes ppl use xvid, sometimes divx, for audio not everyone uses mp3, and then different ppl write different versions of xvid etc.

when using Windows media player, if it`s a standard wmv file, it will try and download the latest codec version for you.

I don`t use windows media player, so I have to manually download new codecs every now and again anyway.

Al

Honestly, if you´ve liked Mandriva and Ubuntu, you´ll love Freespire. I´ve got DVD´s playing with no bother. I´m ripping CD´s to MP3 with no bother. I´m watching movie trailers with no problems. These are all very simple things that have been long regarded as a pain in the neck with Linux, but Freespire has no trouble with them.

It uses something called Click ´N Run (or CNR for short). You sign up for the service (it´s free), and then you can download direct from Freespire any program you need. I´ve even got a Comic Book viewer from them. I was like a kid in a candy store when I first signed up!

It even looks fantastic too, which you´ll see for yourself in the wiki. Follow the screenshots link.

Do give it a shot admars. You´ll find it very surprising I reckon. :)

I may be wrong (usually so according to THO), but I think this is the Linux distro (with hardware) that WGIII & his happy (wealthy) bunch of lawyers objected to some years back when the whole package was called Lindows, then Winspire (IIRC) before satisfying the lawyers with Freespire.

I liked Ubuntu but found downloading & installing add-ons, codecs & varients for each build type a minefield.

I will give this a shot later today.



I consider myself an optimist, albeit an optimist with cynical tendencies and a dark side that Lucifer himself would find a little creepy. (Perhaps you've noticed.) You don't normally associate cynicism with an upbeat pov. But I have exactly that combination and will defend it.

Todays goal is to exceed yesterdays record level of totally unverifable productivity.

I don`t understand why people knock ASBO`s, they are good things as for most of the recipients, these are the only qualifications they will ever have.

This item was edited on Saturday, 30th December 2006, 10:17

Yeah, Lindows became Linspire, which is now the sister OS to Freespire, from what I gather.

I never tried Ubuntu to be honest. I was going to, but my mate said it´s a real sod to get working. Though if you have the time to dedicate to it, it can be just as good as Freespire. Myself, I didn´t really want the hassle as a beginner user. Maybe if I actually begin to understand the text commands that are used within Linux, I´ll give it a go. But why mess around when you just don´t have to?

If you do give it a go, don forget to use the CNR section. It´s brilliant.

Mark, (and anyone else who uses a version of Linux!) are you still using Freespire?

How is it going now?

I`m actually really honestly def going to put a Linux on my PII450, I have boot cds of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Freespire, and Knoppix.

given them all a quick go, to see if I can do what I want i.e. emule, bittorrent, play wmv files, mp3s DVDs, usual things PC is doing OK ;)

Running from live CDs wmv isn`t much good, as you need to dl codecs etc, so I was wondering what problems you had run into, and how helpful ppl on dedicated Linux forums had been if you had needed them?

that PC has 2 hard drives in it, and the main one is partitioned, so I can just install one on the 2nd hard drive and play properly

just want some-one to tell me which distro to use! It`s such a minefield, swings and roundabouts of 1 over the other. Xubuntu was going to be my Number 1 choice, as it`s designed for older machines

Cheers

Al

I`m using Ubuntu 7.04 now, though I would still recommend Freespire for a first timer. There`s a new version of Freespire out very, very shortly so you may want to hang on for that. Ubuntu is an absolute dream though so far, and I haven`t booted into my Windows partition for ages.

Codecs and Linux had been a real issue for me in the past. I found you couldn`t always watch the trailers you would like on Freespire for some reason. You got the video but no sound. And I couldn`t even begin to get it to work on Mandriva. But with Ubuntu it`s a complete doddle. If I remember correctly, to get the requisite codecs once I`d got my system up and running, I just downloaded Automatix2 from here. This has everything you need. The Linux geeks frown on it, but it`s definitely the easiest way for a newcomer to install the codecs. Once you download the Automatix2 file to disc, just double-click as you would in Windows to install. It`s Debian package, and that`s how they work.

If it`s trailer viewing that you are wanting, you should be fine with this. Certainly I`ve had no real probs. I`ve even had some that won`t work in Windows but do in Ubuntu! Occasionally the WMV ones play up a bit from Empire`s site, but there`s usually a Real or Quicktime alternative trailer to try. Bittorrent I can`t speak for since I don`t use it, but there`s definitely options to use one if you wish. And DVD and MP3 playback etc is all good, so no worries there.

Dedicated forums are great. The Ubuntu forums are the very best, and when I have had problems, more often than not I haven`t even had to post. Any issues I had were solved just by searching the site. There`s always someone who has had the same problem as you!

I say give it a go. I was toying with dumping my XP before I decided to dual-boot with Ubuntu, and certainly after using it for a while now I can say, "yes, I could have got rid of Windows and been quite happy". There`s a lot of discussion these days about whether Linux is ready for the desktop or not, but I would say there`s not even a discussion. Of course it is, and now`s a great time to make the move. You`ll have problems here and there, it`s inevitable. But people struggle with Windows too, don`t they, and they have to go on forums to find the answers. At least with Linux you begin with the most secure environment a PC can ever enjoy.

Let me know how you get on, and if there`s anything at all I can help with, please post up. I`m no expert, since I`m learning all the time too, but I`ll certainly try to help if I can. I bet you find it easier than you expect though!

IIRC the new Freespire is going to be based around Ubuntu.............

After reading that Dell will start offering Ubuntu with some of their PCs shortly I tried it out and was very impressed. It is easy to load, can be easily enhanced with codecs, arcrobat reader, official Nvidia video drivers etc through Automatix2 and it even automatically installed the correct drivers for a Kworld (Tevion clone) DVB card that was in the computer. This card is now working perfectly using Mythtv as the software package. It even has a 14 day EPG based on the Radio Times system. I set the digital TV card up more easily with Ubuntu than Windows XP! All software required can be installed using the Synaptic Package Manager software database which is part of Ubuntu. Give it a try you have nothing to lose.

wow, who would have thought a dvd reviewer forum would hide all these Linux geeks ;)

old pc is currently backing up stuff I`ll never need again, but you never know ;)

Ubuntu itself isn`t a great option, as PC is PII 450 with 256 MB RAM, and I want to get most out of the hardware.

so I may go with XUbuntu, since it`s designed for the older PC with its stripped down GUI.
That then got me looking at DSL Damn Small Linux, which is number 2 on my contender list :)

Freespire off CD was good, i.e. mp3s, wmv, divx all worked, albeit it v juddery. now a lot of that is `cos it was running off CD, but min requirements are 800MHz processor, so I`d prob be better off sticking with 2000.

Cheers

Al