If I am willing to pay for a Linux Distro, what would be a good choice?

[wersdaluv]

I just saw Linspire's site and it's nice howto video tutorial and just thought of buying it to experience paid support. It seems to have more tutorials available for those who bought their products.

Don't get me wrong. The Ubuntu community's support is nice but I'm just being adventurous and I want to try to purchase a distro. Also I am a KDE user so I want a distro which runs KDE by default and I like the Linspire look.

Linspire claims that it is the world's easiest Desktop Linux. Do you agree with that?

What I am here for is ease for me to learn more about Linux. Do you think that Linspire is a good distro for begginers to start with?

[steven8]

I have used Freespire, and I'd say Kubuntu is just as good, if you want KDE. I understand the feeling of 'paid might be better', but the quality is here in the Ubuntu family of products as well.

[wersdaluv]

Another reason why I want to know more about Linspire is because there is a local Linspire Distributor here in my country. I have been having a hard time seeking for Linux users. I guess, those people who sell Linspire will be people whom I can bring my laptop to and teach me how to use the OS face-to-face. It's because, until now, I never met a Linux User. Even my University's Information Technology Center's people are not familiar with Linux.

[RAV TUX]

moving to the "Other OS" forum

[RAV TUX]

Another reason why I want to know more about Linspire is because there is a local Linspire Distributor here in my country. I have been having a hard time seeking for Linux users. I guess, those people who sell Linspire will be people whom I can bring my laptop to and teach me how to use the OS face-to-face. It's because, until now, I never met a Linux User. Even my University's Information Technology Center's people are not familiar with Linux.

I just Yahoo'd Manila LUG and came up with quite a few selections

here are a few:
http://www.ublug.org/news.php
https://www.linux.org/groups/2161_Mapua_Linux_User_Group.html

also more listed here:

Philippines Linux User Groups
Bluepoint Linux Users EliteCity: Mandaluyong City Web Site: http://www.bluepoint.com.ph (http://www.bluepoint.com.ph/) Contact: Magie Antonio Email: magie@bluepoint.com.ph Click here (http://www.linux.org/groups/1332_Bluepoint_Linux_Users_Elite.html) for more information
Mapua Linux User GroupCity: City of Manila & Makati City Web Site: http://mitc-lug.coretechnique.com/ (http://mitc-lug.coretechnique.com/) Contact: /s : Paulo Chavez, Edison Go Tan & Teejay Teodoro Email: mapualug@gmail.com Click here (http://www.linux.org/groups/2161_Mapua_Linux_User_Group.html) for more information
Pampanga Open Source eXchange (POSX)City:
Web Site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/POSX (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/POSX) Contact: group Email: N/A Click here (http://www.linux.org/groups/2182_Pampanga_Open_Source_eXchange__POSX_.html) for more information
Pangasinan Linux Users GroupCity: Pangasinan Web Site: http://www.plugz.cjb.net/ (http://www.plugz.cjb.net/) Contact: group Email: N/A Click here (http://www.linux.org/groups/2418_Pangasinan_Linux_Users_Group.html) for more information
Slackware Linux Users Group, PhilippinesCity: Quezon City Web Site: http://www.slugphils.org (http://www.slugphils.org/) Contact: Michael Balcos Email: slugphils[at]slugphils.orghttp://www.linux.org/groups/philippines.html

my advice is become friends with your local LUG....if you don't have an active one to join in your neighborhood....start one...invest your money here instead...perhaps pay a local dev to build you a custom distro...find out what your local LUG is using...go from there....

[loell]

in metro manila? linux users are probably just around the corner, you'll never know :)

you can visit , irc channel (ubuntu-ph) @ freenode and ask around or visit
http://ubuntu-ph.org/ , an ubuntu user maybe sitting next to you on a bus or a train, :lolflag:

I think PLUG members are even scattered in the metro.

[PilotJLR]

For a commercial desktop, check out Xandros.
http://www.xandros.com/products/home/home_edition.html

[MetalMusicAddict]

Ill give a +1 for Linspire. ;)

[steven8]

Another reason why I want to know more about Linspire is because there is a local Linspire Distributor here in my country. I have been having a hard time seeking for Linux users. I guess, those people who sell Linspire will be people whom I can bring my laptop to and teach me how to use the OS face-to-face. It's because, until now, I never met a Linux User. Even my University's Information Technology Center's people are not familiar with Linux.

That makes a lot of sense. Certainly can't blame you there!

[wersdaluv]

in metro manila? linux users are probably just around the corner, you'll never know :)

you can visit , irc channel (ubuntu-ph) @ freenode and ask around or visit
http://ubuntu-ph.org/ , an ubuntu user maybe sitting next to you on a bus or a train, :lolflag:

I think PLUG members are even scattered in the metro.

In the highway, I have seen red hat stickers on two cars so far. Also, I saw TUX in Ayala Ave. but that's all. I have not met a Linux user yet. Hopefully, I get to meet one soon. :D

[timcredible]

i've tried a lot of distros, and the ones you pay for aren't worth it. ubuntu, mepis, pclinuxos are better than red hat or suse or mandriva. it would be more useful for you to give some money to ubuntu, or the free software foundation, or the gnome project or the openoffice project or the firefox project or (pick your favorite app) so they can continue to develop that app than it is to pay for a distro.

[karellen]

agree with you, timcredible :)

[wersdaluv]

I just Yahoo'd Manila LUG and came up with quite a few selections

here are a few:
http://www.ublug.org/news.php
https://www.linux.org/groups/2161_Mapua_Linux_User_Group.html

also more listed here:
http://www.linux.org/groups/philippines.html

my advice is become friends with your local LUG....if you don't have an active one to join in your neighborhood....start one...invest your money here instead...perhaps pay a local dev to build you a custom distro...find out what your local LUG is using...go from there....

Thank you so much! I have realized once again that I underestimated the power of Yahoo and Google once again.

[wersdaluv]

What I plan to do now is to call the Local Linspire distributor and ask them why I should buy their product instead of using other distros. I guess that will help me decide. :D

[RAV TUX]

What I plan to do now is to call the Local Linspire distributor and ask them why I should buy their product instead of using other distros. I guess that will help me decide. :Dalso talk with Jucato (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=65488) he lives in Laguna, Philippines...he is not only an active member here at ubuntuforums.org but also very, very active in the KDE IRC channel.....freenode, #KDE

[wersdaluv]

also talk with Jucato (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=65488) he lives in Laguna, Philippines...he is not only an active member here at ubuntuforums.org but also very, very active in the KDE IRC channel.....freenode, #KDE

Thank you very much. This is the reason why I love this community. People search all those things to help others.

:guitar:

[wersdaluv]

i've tried a lot of distros, and the ones you pay for aren't worth it. ubuntu, mepis, pclinuxos are better than red hat or suse or mandriva. it would be more useful for you to give some money to ubuntu, or the free software foundation, or the gnome project or the openoffice project or the firefox project or (pick your favorite app) so they can continue to develop that app than it is to pay for a distro.

I am really planning to use PCLinuxOS but their 2007 version has been delayed for so long. I'm still waiting for it.

Maybe, it's also good to try Mepis since I think it's also running KDE by default and I like KDE.

Donating to those organizations really makes sense. I'll try to do that. ("try" because I don't know how to donate. I'm just a 17-year-old college student with no credit card. :D)

I'm just attracted to Linspire because of those "newb-friendly" stuff they have. Their tutorials were so comprehensive and they had those tutorial videos.

[wersdaluv]

i've tried a lot of distros, and the ones you pay for aren't worth it. ubuntu, mepis, pclinuxos are better than red hat or suse or mandriva. it would be more useful for you to give some money to ubuntu, or the free software foundation, or the gnome project or the openoffice project or the firefox project or (pick your favorite app) so they can continue to develop that app than it is to pay for a distro.

I am really planning to use PCLinuxOS but their 2007 version has been delayed for so long. I'm still waiting for it.

Maybe, it's also good to try Mepis since I think it's also running KDE by default and I like KDE.

Donating to those organizations really makes sense. I'll try to do that. ("try" because I don't know how to donate. I'm just a 17-year-old college student with no credit card. :D)

I'm just attracted to Linspire because of those "newb-friendly" stuff they have. Their tutorials were so comprehensive and they had those tutorial videos. Also, I can't forget the support I can get from the local distributor. :D

[deanlinkous]

The last linspire release was in early 2005.....which is ancient in "linux years"

As Kevin Carmony himself said be a Linux OS for OEMs and to be pre-installed (not downloaded and installed)

I do not consider it any more "easy" than most distros nowadays.

[justin whitaker]

I am really planning to use PCLinuxOS but their 2007 version has been delayed for so long. I'm still waiting for it.


It's been delayed from the end of January to "when the bugs are squashed." You have been waiting 18 whole days.

I know Linux moves at the speed of thought, but let's try to keep some perspective. :)

There is a second RC out...I haven't downloaded it yet.

[wersdaluv]

I just called the local Linspire distributor. I asked what I would get out of Linspire that I could not get from other distros like Ubuntu and Kubuntu.

I was not satisfied. The man whom I talked to made almost no effort of convincing me. His answer to me was, Linspire is pretty much similar to Ubuntu and Kubuntu. So I asked him if it will be worth buying their product. His reply was, there is CNR for Linspire. I said that there is Synaptic for Ubuntu. Therefore, it's pretty much the same. Also, CNR only had 2000 pieces of software while Synaptic has about 16,000 if I'm not mistaken. So I asked him again if it would be worth it, he said it was up to me. He said that, if I want to try it, then I buy it. Damn!

The people in these forums are even more aggressive than him considering that selling Linspire is his day job!

I'm frustrated.

[dasunst3r]

if you like Ubuntu, I would recommend donating so that costs would be covered and the developers can continue to innovate. I've set aside $5/mo to donate to an open source project.

[loell]

I just called the local Linspire distributor. I asked what I would get out of Linspire that I could not get from other distros like Ubuntu and Kubuntu.

I was not satisfied. The man whom I talked to made almost no effort of convincing me. His answer to me was, Linspire is pretty much similar to Ubuntu and Kubuntu. So I asked him if it will be worth buying their product. His reply was, there is CNR for Linspire. I said that there is Synaptic for Ubuntu. Therefore, it's pretty much the same. Also, CNR only had 2000 pieces of software while Synaptic has about 16,000 if I'm not mistaken. So I asked him again if it would be worth it, he said it was up to me. He said that, if I want to try it, then I buy it. Damn!

The people in these forums are even more aggressive than him considering that selling Linspire is his day job!

I'm frustrated.

plus CNR will be available in ubuntu in the coming months so the difference will be almost NULL, maybe the guy knows his product too well , hence the reluctant attitude towards prospects who knows other distributions ;)

[picpak]

Back when Linspire was giving away free coupons I tried it. It was so shiny I could see my reflection in it. It also bugged me to pay for a lot of stuff (CNR, document and audio support). I removed it later that day.

Really, just stick with Ubuntu.

[aysiu]

If you want to pay money, buy a Ubuntu DVD from Amazon. (http://www.amazon.com/Ubuntu-6-10-PC-Edition/dp/B000K2P4WW/sr=8-3/qid=1171855776/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-5357499-6829412?ie=UTF8&s=software) I didn't see a Philippines store, but maybe you could use the US store and ship to Manila?

Free Linux distros are the same quality as (or better than) pay-for distros.

Or if you have some cash to burn, buy Linux preinstalled:
http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/23168/

[Adamant1988]

The last linspire release was in early 2005.....which is ancient in "linux years"

As Kevin Carmony himself said

I do not consider it any more "easy" than most distros nowadays.

Ubuntu on my laptop:

Failed to recognize my wireless card, graphics, or any other bits.

openSUSE 10.2 (my personal favorite):

Same problems

Freespire 1.013

Wireless and graphics detected and working right out of the box. No problems.



The *Spire distributions are undoubtedly easier than any other distro I've had the pleasure of using.