Linspire Releases Freespire 2.0 Linux Operating System

Freespire 2.0 Enhances the Popular Ubuntu Distribution by Adding

Proprietary Software, Drivers and Codecs

    SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Linspire, Inc., developer of the
 Linspire commercial and Freespire community desktop Linux operating systems
 and CNR.com, a free Linux software delivery service, today announced the
 immediate availability of Freespire 2.0, the latest version of the free
 desktop Linux operating system. Building on the best of open source
 software using Ubuntu as its baseline, Freespire 2.0 adds legally licensed
 proprietary drivers, codecs, and applications in its core distribution, to
 provide a better user experience. Freespire 2.0 (http://www.freespire.org)
 also continues to offer users the ability to choose what software they want
 installed on their computer, without limitations or restrictions, as a
 result, making available proprietary software where there are no viable
 open source alternatives.
     Freespire is able to provide improved out-of-the-box hardware, file
 type, and multimedia support, such as MP3, Windows Media, Real Networks,
 Java, Flash, ATI, nVidia, WiFi, and many more. Freespire is also the first
 desktop Linux operating system that will include a CNR plugin for the soon
 to be released new CNR Service (http://www.cnr.com), providing free
 one-click access to thousands of open source applications, as well as
 options for legally licensed DVD playback software, Sun's StarOffice,
 Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's Crossover Office,
 TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games and many more. "Version 2.0 is the
 first Freespire based off of the popular Ubuntu distribution," explained
 President and CEO of Linspire, Inc. Larry Kettler. "Freespire 2.0 picks up
 where Ubuntu leaves off by adding proprietary software, drivers and codecs,
 to make for a more complete turn-key solution for mainstream desktop
 computing."
     Immediately available for free download through the Freespire.org web
 site (http://www.freespire.org), Freespire is a community-influenced,
 Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that is designed to be powerful enough for
 sophisticated Linux users and developers, yet easy enough for someone new
 to Linux. Freespire was created specifically for use on desktop and
 notebook computers and designed to offer a new level of polish, attention
 to detail, and ease-of-use in a free Linux distribution.
     Freespire 2.0 begins with Ubuntu (Version 7.04) as its baseline and
 then adds software from six broad categories, further expanding Freespire's
 capabilities:
     CNR plugin provides free one-click access to thousands of open source
 applications, as well as options for legally licensed DVD playback
 software, Sun's StarOffice, Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's
 Crossover Office, TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games, and many more.
     KDE is added for an easier-to-use and more comfortable interface, with
 a more familiar look and feel for Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows users.
     Enhanced applications and features are added for superior usability and
 ease of use, modifying software applications such as Firefox and
 Thunderbird, and along with the inclusion of Linspire-sponsored open source
 software like Nvu, Lsongs, and Lphoto.
     Proprietary software is added when necessary, such as Java, Flash, and
 Adobe Acrobat, in order to provide overall increased interoperability.
     Proprietary codecs are added to expand multimedia compatibility and
 provide a superior overall experience so users can listen to MP3 files,
 play Windows Media files, and much more.
     Proprietary drivers are added to expand hardware compatibility and
 provide optimum 3D graphic card support, better WiFi support, and more.
     "This is by far our most advanced desktop Linux system we've released
 to date," said Kettler. "Everything is cutting edge, utilizing the latest
 core technologies, from the Kernel to KDE, with the infrastructure in place
 to keep Freespire updated and current, moving forward."
     Freespire 2.0 also provides users with enhanced Microsoft Word document
 interoperability by including Open XML translators that allow OpenOffice to
 open and edit Microsoft Word .docx formatted documents.
     As a company, Linspire will continue to develop and release new
 commercial versions of its industry leading desktop Linux operating system,
 the Linspire OS. While Freespire is more accessible to developers,
 enthusiasts, hobbyists and those in or curious about the Linux community,
 Linspire will continue to be more geared toward general computer user, OEM
 and the retail channel by offering more ease of use and premium support.
     About Linspire
     Linspire, Inc. (http://www.linspire.com) was founded in 2001 to bring
 choice into the operating system market. The company's flagship product,
 the Linspire operating system, is an affordable, easy-to-use Linux-based
 operating system distributed primarily pre-installed on PCs for home,
 school, and business users. Freespire (http://www.freespire.org) is a
 community-involved, Linux-based operating system that combines the best
 that free, open source software has to offer (community driven, freely
 distributed, open source code, etc.), but also provides users the choice of
 including proprietary codecs, drivers and applications as they see fit.
 With Freespire, the choice is yours as to what software is installed on
 your computer, with no limitations or restrictions placed on that choice.
 How you choose to maximize the performance of your computer is entirely up
 to you. Linspire also pioneered CNR Technology, which provides free access
 to all Linux software through CNR.com, allowing one-click installation from
 over 20,000 software programs, packages and libraries. Free to use, both
 free & commercial software is available at CNR.com (http://www.cnr.com).
     For more information please contact:
 
     Linspire, Inc.
     858-587-6700 ext 183
     858-587-8095 Fax
     pr@linspireinc.com
 
 

SOURCE Linspire, Inc.