Review: Linspire Five-O Linux OS Gives System Builders Low-End PC Option

Linspire aims to take over the low-end desktop with its Linspire Five-0 Linux operating system.

The San Diego-based company is taking a different approach to Linux by focusing on mimicking Microsoft Windows. Linspire looks to make links as easy as possible and boasts that its flavor of the open-source OS is the easiest to use. That could prove attractive to many system builders, which are always looking to differentiate their offerings from those of tier-one vendors.

Linspire, with its Linspire Five-O operating system, is taking a different approach to Linux by focusing on mimicking Windows.

System builders have differentiated their product mix by focusing on customization and bundled services, which has worked well for high-end desktop PCs. But many are finding that it's another story on the low end, where it all comes down to price. As hardware prices drop, the OS is increasingly becoming the largest piece of the cost pie, and tier-one vendors have the advantage because of the volume discounts and sweetheart deals they can get from top software makers.

That situation has pushed system builders to examine alternatives, namely open-source products and Linux platforms like Linspire. The CRN Test Center installed Linspire Five-0 on several systems, but engineers met with mixed success in terms of proving Linspire's claims.

Installation on a Pentium 4-based white-box PC went quite well, with all of the hardware properly detected and drivers loaded. Less-generic systems were a different story. For example, installation on an HP Compaq NC6320 proved impossible. On the first attempt, the Linspire installer failed with a cryptic CD-ROM read error. Linspire tech support recommended downloading a newer version of the installation CD, which solved the first problem but created another. The installer application couldn't find a compatible hard drive. It seems that the company still has some work to do with hardware detection and driver support.

A test installation of Linspire Five-O on an IBM ThinkPad T42 worked flawlessly, with all the primary hardware identified and the proper drivers loaded. For system builders, installation to existing or tier-one machines shouldn't be an issue, since they will be focusing on building new white-box PCs.

To make that a successful endeavor, all it takes is a visit to the Linspire Web site to verify hardware compatibility. If the hardware used to build a custom system is found on the list, system builders should have no trouble.

When it comes to using Linspire Five-O, users will find the interface appealing and easy to navigate. All of the major PC software offerings are well-represented. Users will find support for instant messaging, e-mail, Web browsing, networking, Wi-Fi wireless networking and an office productivity suite readily accessible. The office suite is based on OpenOffice and claims compatibility with Microsoft Office.

What's more, Linspire Five-O's desktop interface is designed to bring simplicity to multimedia management. A digital photo organizer, a media player and data backup are included with the OS. With usability in the forefront, Linspire bundles in a subscription to its CNR (Click and Run) service, which is a Web-based application installer. From CNR, users can select from a multitude of open-source applications that meet most any need. As a subscription service, a history of installed applications is kept, which enables users to replicate their preferences on another system or restore their configuration in case of a hard-disk failure.

Test Center engineers found CNR to be quite robust, but many of the applications available were older versions. Perhaps there's a concession to stability over the latest and greatest when it comes to applications.

Nevertheless, system builders will find Linspire Five-0 an excellent avenue for getting involved with Linux and the low-end PC market. With a retail price of just under $50 and a channel program that offers system builders additional discounts, white-box makers will find the OS an excellent value that provides typical users with everything they need.