I'm still looking for an easy to use version of Linux - I've just been playing with a free copy of Linspire which runs from CD - it's on the latest cover DV of Computer shopper if anyone's interested. I'm very impressed and one thing I've been reading about is being able to install applications 'with one click' rather than the relatively long-winded method of other distros. Does anyone here use Linspire? Are apps easy to install? How does it compare with other distros? I'd like to get into Linux but I have not got the time/enthusiasm to learn some of its anachronistic ways. TIA John "I know that I'm mad - I've always been mad..."

I used Linspire for a short while but took it off because my film scanner doesn't have Linux drivers. Fry's Electronics has a Linspire system on sale for $170 so I think I'll be picking up another system today. http://shop3.outpost.com/catreq/3388 If you want the look and feel of Windows on a Linux system, then Linspire is the best I've seen. The “one click” install is nice but from what I remember you need to subscribe to their service and pay an annual fee and you're limited to the apps that they have available. Also, you need to pay for most of those apps, even the ones that are free open source packages.

Thanks for reply - have just found out they were giving Linspire away free up until Sept 6th - never mind!! They advertise a lot of free apps on the Linspire site (it looks like you need to join up for $20 a year to get the CNR stuff) but if they're decent I don't mind paying - no different from M$ really. Is driver availability a big issue with Linux generally? - I tried the CD version on a laptop & it wouldn't recognise my wireless card - are hardware drivers, when available, easy enough to install? Thanks again "I know that I'm mad - I've always been mad..."

or you could go the free way. google "ubuntu linux" www.linuxteens.com

Thanks for that Eskiled - downloaded the 'live' version to try - it's not as user friendly as Linspire (which even automaticaly logged on to my Windows network - dead impressed!) & I haven't yet found out how easy it is to install new apps - my main gripe with Linux generally, but I'll give it a bit more of a testdrive as I like the intentions of ubuntu, but if I need to pay a bit for a user friendly Linux then I'm happy to do that. Just as an aside, I've been working with computers on the hardware side for over 20 years now & I have fond memories of completing tedious sheets to produce cards which were fed into mainframes at University, the aim of which was to produce a program to do very simple arithmetic. Come back the following day to find it failed due to one dot in the wrong place - I swore then that I wouldn't use a computer until it was able to speak my language, or as near as we could compromise on. Unfortunately Mr Gates has provided such a tool & I don't want to have the retrograde step of having to 'speak' to a computer in a non-natural way again, but I have yet to find my holy grail of a Windows replacement on the PC. "I know that I'm mad - I've always been mad..."

Linspire is the easiest way to transition from a Windows world. Some of the hardware is difficult if not impossible to work with Linux, but improvements hapopen all the time. For instance those damn WinModems that are made to work only with Windows, and then people complain about Linux not working for them over a $6 piece of junk, rather than getting a real modem for a few bucks more (if they even need a modem). The manufacturers have to either support Linux, or lose potential customers. I run Linspire on my main machine. I have other versions of LInux on different partitions and machines, but Linspire takes virtually all of the headaches away with installing new programs and so much more. CLick and Run is a service, and you have to pay for services. Eventually you may move on to another distribution, but I can load an entire operating systgem with a Microsoft compatible office suite and all of the other apps you might have to pay extra for with Windows in less than 10 minutes !!!! That's right - 10 minutes. You may find som naysayers about Linspire or LInux in general - but I don't have to worry about viruses, adware, spyware and those other great Windows "perks". So e-mail me or post back, and be sure and head over to www.linspire.com and check out the forums there if you want. Just remember that some of the posts are from people having problems, the ones sailing along withouit issue seldom post. You will be investging more in hardware and software with WIndows, but you can still only type so fast. By the way, some wireless cards don't work, some do, plus a new release is right around the corner and one of my cards that used to not work now does. (A D-Link - one of the worst offenders.) Enjoy. Mark You can avoid many of these Windows problems with Linux. Linspire eases the transition for new users

I forgot to mention if you post your hardware I could maybe give you a head's up on it. If you try the live CD and everything works, you're good to go. You can avoid many of these Windows problems with Linux. Linspire eases the transition for new users