Linspire 11.5 Released

Today, the PC/OpenSystems LLC development team is pleased to announce the release of Linspire 11.5, a fully commercial supported release. With a great application lineup, Linspire remains the #1 desktop Linux distribution for home users. Linspire 11.5 also includes tools and resources to help users switching from legacy operating systems / other LInux distributions. 

 We have also introduced a new minimal install feature that allows just the web browser and essential system services to be installed for users who just want a PWA platform. Gamers are not forgotten; the Steam Launcher is included in the minimal install for users who want to turn their PC into a dedicated gaming console. 

Linspire 11.5 support comes with a 1 year subscription for both phone and e-mail. The self support option, even though focused on the self-sufficient power user, does come with installation support and priority bug submissions. Linspire is released with incremental upgrades and ISO refreshes every 6 to 8 months; new versions will be released every 12 to 16 months. 

 For security, reliability and long term viability, Linspire is attractive, flexible and well-supported. The distribution includes : 

KDE Plasma 5.18.8 - The fast and lean Linux desktop, fully functional and performance enhanced; peerless in terms of speed and user friendliness. 

Kernel 5.13.0-35 LTS - Long Term Support kernel designed to stand the test of time. 

Flatpak - Alternative package manager to SNAP, the current Ubuntu standard.  SNAP has now been disabled by default.  SNAP packages will not be able to be installed.

Microsoft Edge 99 - Web browser from Microsoft, built using the Open Source Chromium project,  engineered for privacy, web app integration and performance 

Kpat - Solitaire game 

Knights - Chess game 

Steam Launcher - Want to play all your steam games on Linux? We make that extremely simple with the Steam launcher. Being that it is included in the base install you don't have to worry about it removing your desktop environment. 

OnlyOffice - Office suite that can handle even the most complex documents and is compatible with Microsoft Office. 

DragonPlayer - Multimedia player 

 Juk - Music Player 

PowerShell 7.2 - Alternative shell thats a free/open source project from Microsoft 

BTRFS, XFS. JFS. EXT4 - available filesystems for installation 

Timeshift - Snapshot utility which allows you to set restore points in case of errors 

Audio recorder - Sound recorder. 

Balena Etcher - Utility for writing ISO’s to a USB stick 

Active Directory integration - Use active directory in your infrastructure? You can add Linspire clients to them 

This release also contains many functionality / security updates. You can purchase Linspire 11.5 below. If you need a high performance OS for your enterprise or education facility, Xandros OpenDesktop is designed and engineered for crucial deployments and you can find that here

Linspire Physical Media

1 Self Support License $32.99 USD 1 Standard Support License $39.99 USD 1 Priority Support License $79.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes

You can also purchase the digital download here

Linspire Download Edition

1 license - Self Support $29.99 USD 1 license - 12 month support subscription $59.99 USD 2 licenses $110.99 USD 3 licenses $205.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $369.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $700.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $2,500.00 USD

Linspire 9.0 Released

Today our development team is excited to announce the release of Linspire 9.0; packed with a TON of improvements and security updates, this is a major update that we’ve been working hard to get out to our faithful users. The global pandemic has delayed its release, but the development team has worked diligently and meticulously behind-the-scenes over the past few months, fine-tuning every detail of what is widely considered to be the premier Linux desktop on the market today. 

The Linspire 9.0 series will be the last one featuring the 18.04 LTS codebase; upcoming Linspire X will be based on the 20.04 LTS code and kernel. 

 Features included in Linspire 9.0 : 

 Customized XFCE 4.14 desktop 

Kernel 5.4.0 

Google Chrome 84 

Ice SSB 

Thunderbird e-mail with lightning extension 68.8 

OnlyOffice Desktop editors 

Kpatience 

DreamChess 

VLC 

All multimedia codecs for full media playback 

Microsoft Powershell 

KolourPaint 

Redshift 

GTK XFS, JFS, BTRFS support and can be used as installable file systems 

 Linspire Workstation 2019 R2, Linspire CE and Linspire CE Office 365 have all also received the current updates. Shown above are only a small subset of the changes we’ve made; overall there have been 400+ updates applied to the core system. One of the biggest changes is the removal of SNAPD and snaps from our distribution going forward. Due to privacy concerns, Flatpak has been chosen as a secure replacement for SNAP. 

Purchase Linspire 9.0 here either as a digital download or a boxed set.

Linspire Support License

1 License - Self Support $39.99 USD 1 License $79.99 USD 2 licenses $159.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $399.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $899.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $3,999.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes

Linspire Download Edition

1 license - Self Support $29.99 USD 1 license - 12 month support subscription $59.99 USD 2 licenses $110.99 USD 3 licenses $205.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $369.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $700.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $2,500.00 USD

Linspire 8.7 Release

Today the PC/Opensystems Enterprise development team is pleased to announce the release of Linspire 8.7. This is a comprehensive release update to Linspire 8.5, utilizing the Mate desktop to offer a more traditional desktop experience for Windows 7 and Windows 10 users. Spartan but very fulll-featured, MATE offers a path forward for Windows 7 users whose systems may be unable to run Windows 10 effectively / efficiently. For current Linspire users this release offers full security, kernel and graphics drivers updates; for users of our KDE desktop simply update your systems using your preferred method.

Features : Full GUI System – MATE 1.20.1
LTS Server Kernel 5.3.0-40
Rhythmbox
VLC
OnlyOffice
Aisleriot Solitaire
Google Chrome
Software Center for easy application installation
Skype
Ice SSB
Chrome web application framework
Full multimedia playback
Remote Administration capability
Samba
Microsoft Powershell

When you purchase Linspire 8.7 you get 12 months of free upgrades, e-mail, and phone support. The download edition or boxed sets can be purchased here

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

Linspire Download Edition

1 license - Self Support $29.99 USD 1 license - 12 month support subscription $59.99 USD 2 licenses $110.99 USD 3 licenses $205.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $369.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $700.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $2,500.00 USD

BOXED SETS

Linspire Support License

1 License - Self Support $39.99 USD 1 License $79.99 USD 2 licenses $159.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $399.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $899.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $3,999.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes

Windows 7 End Of Life special

As everyone knows Windows 7 has reached its End Of Life.  This leaves millions of Windows 7 systems vulnerable to malware, security exploits and bugs that will go unpatched and unfixed.  Everyone is scrambling to find a solution.  The common thread is to either upgrade to Windows 10 or find an alternative to run on older hardware that may not be Windows 10 compatible.

Enter the 'Windows 7 Refugee Program'.  This program is run by PC/OpenSystems LLC and the Linspire team where we are offering Windows 7 users who may be left out in the cold an alternative for those Windows 7 PC's.  Linspire 8.5.

Linspire 8.5 is an ideal solution for those Windows 7 users who may not be able to upgrade to Windows 10.

Linspire 8.5 offers the following features:

Familiar user interface
Easy setup and installation
KDE Plasma 5
Google Chrome 79
Ice SSB - Which allows you to turn any web app into a fully functional desktop application
Amarok Music Player
VLC Media Player
OnlyOffice desktop suite - Fully featured office suite which resembles Microsoft Office and saves files in the Microsoft Office file format.
Full multimedia Codecs - Linspire offers playback from Blu-Ray, DVD, Windows Media, Apple Quicktime and more.
Built in Anti-Virus and Firewall controls

From Today until Feb 1st we are offering Linspire 8.5 at a discounted rate.  The download Edition will be $19.99 USD.  The boxed set with a ready to use and install Live USB drive will be $30.99.  Gets yours today.

Windows 7 Refugee Program Boxed Set

1 License $30.99 USD 2 Licenses $54.99 USD 3 - 5 Licenses $399.99 USD

Windows 7 Refugee Program Digital Download

1 License $19.99 USD 2 Licenses $30.99 USD 3 - 5 Licenses $199.99 USD

Linspire 8.5 Released

Happy Halloween. Today the PC/OpenSystems development team is pleased to announce the release of Linspire 8.5 (Swordfish 2) to the general public as well as our faithful user base. This is a major release of Linspire from PC/OpenSystems which furthers our commitment to desktop Linux.

 Linspire 8.5 is packed with enhancements and features showcasing its ease of use and polish as one of the industry's leading Linux distributions. As with Freespire our goal was to “trim the fat” on our flagship distro. Many of our users and customers have told us that Linspire / Freespire as a whole were bloated; what we did in response was pick “best of breed” applications that added to the overall simplicity of the system. The software center is loaded with thousands of applications which make YOUR computer work YOUR way.

 Linspire 8.5 was designed with an intuitive user interface, making it extremely easy to use; easy enough for any Window or macOS convert to make the switch to desktop Linux seamlessly. Aside from the GUI, there has been a lot of work done under the hood to make the system more stable and secure than previous releases. Multimedia codecs, including some under license, are included so that users can enjoy any audio format and video playback of all types.

Linspire 8.5 contains the following enhancements:

Kernel 5.0.0-31
KDE 5.12.9
Ice 6.0.4
Google Chrome 77
KolourPaint
OnlyOffice Desktop Editors
Amarok
Kpatience
DreamChess
VLC Media Player
Kamerka
Boot Repair
Firewall configurator
Powershell 6.2.3

 You can purchase a copy of Linspire 8.5 right now; either self-support or full service.

Linspire Support License

1 License - Self Support $39.99 USD 1 License $79.99 USD 2 licenses $159.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $399.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $899.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $3,999.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes

Linspire Download Edition

1 license - Self Support $29.99 USD 1 license - 12 month support subscription $59.99 USD 2 licenses $110.99 USD 3 licenses $205.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $369.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $700.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $2,500.00 USD

Below is a Q&A with the Linspire lead system designer and conceptualist.

Q) : What changes are we seeing from Linspire 8 to 8.5 to justify this as a major release? 
Linspire 8.5 contains a lot of changes which justify it being labeled major rather than incremental. First, major kernel changes; we moved from the 4.x to the 5.x series. Second, installed applications; we removed many that customers have told us weren’t necessary or that required configuration to make the system operate the way they wanted. Fine tuning was performed per customer requests.

Q) There was a story written a few months ago that Linspire broadcasts information to Microsoft servers. To what level do Linspire and PC/OpenSystems developers communicate with Microsoft? Should customers be concerned that their information is being transmitted without consent to a third party? 
Microsoft collects NO customer information, system information or data from PC/OpenSystems LLC and Linspire. Linspire CE Office does use Microsoft Office Online, Outlook, and OneDrive but users have the option to disclose information to Microsoft when they choose to use the release. Linspire comes preinstalled with the Microsoft repositories for Powershell, Skype, .NET Core and VS Code to make it easier for users who wish to use those offerings (NOTE : Skype and Powershell are the ONLY Microsoft applications pre-installed). The ONLY communication Linspire as an OS product has with Microsoft servers is when those applications are updated. Once again, no customer information is transmitted to Microsoft or ANY third-party whatsoever; any claims to the contrary are false.

Q) Who are our customers for Linspire? Who uses Linspire? 
Linspire is used in many different environments and by a diverse group of individuals. Home and home office and all kinds of enterprise-level customers. Its also used by educational facilities, law enforcement agencies, military, scientists and by creative professionals. Linspire and Linspire Enterprise continues to grow and thrive from our expertise in enterprise computing.

Q) Does removing applications make the system less attractive to end users? How does that add value for customers? 
No, it makes it more attractive. If you look at the current market OS alternatives, Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS, they don’t feature tons of software out-of-the-box. Applications are added as necessary to improve the overall experience. Linspire includes an office suite, web browser, audio / video player, and a basic graphics program. Anything else the user may need can be found it in the Software Center and install as needed. For corporate customers who need a custom ISO with specific additional packages, those will be provided when they purchase their license(s). The value added for our customers is ease-of-mind, secure in the knowledge that everything proprietary from Java to BluRay is completely licensed.

Q) How did you choose what software is included in the system and why did you include OnlyOffice vs LibreOffice?
We parsed the available options, looking and opting for simplicity, the least complicated / most immediately intuitive apps we could find. We looked at other OS’ featured in their core lineup. Multimedia, image manipulation, web browsing and a couple of simple games seemed to be the norm; we went one step further and added an office suite. Why did we choose OnlyOffice? What are the common usage scenarios for office suites? Documents, Spreadsheets, and Presentations are the straightforward options shown on the left when the program is launched. The interface resembles MS Office - most of our users and customers are migrating from that environment and we wanted to make the transition seamless.

Q) Is the main distribution the only one being updated? 
 No, All of our CE releases are being updated as is our custom education release. Linspre CE, Linspire CE Office 365 and Linspire CE EDU.

Q) Are the Enterprise releases also being updated as well? 
 No, that update is coming sometime around January 2020.

Linspire 8.0 Maintenance Release 1 RELEASED

Today our development team is pleased to announce the release of Linspire 8.0 Maintenance Release 1. MR1 is part of our bi-annual strategy to make sure Linspire is kept as secure as possible for our customers and users. Proving once again, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Linspire is the best commercially supported Linux-based operating system on the market today. With all of the features modern PC users expect from their computing experience, Linspire continues to rise above and shine over all other commercial Linux desktop solutions.

This release also features improvements to Linspire CE and Linspire CE Office 365. Linspire 8.0 MR1 integrates the following upgrades / improvements :

Linux Kernel 4.18.0-18
KDE Plasma 5.12.7
Plays On Linux 4.3.4
Wine 4.0 Stable
LibreOffice 6.4.2
Google Chrome 75
Thunderbird 60.7
VLC Media Player
Amarok Full multimedia codecs
Ice SSB

Many more performance and security enhancements under-the-hood will improve your experience, making it smoother and typically hassle-free. You can purchase Linspire 8.0 MR1 below; purchasing Linspire 8.0 MR1 entitles you to free upgrades for the lifetime of the release and 12 months of e-mail support / 6 months of phone support or you can purchase the self-support release and download it from the digital locker today.

Linspire Support License

1 License - Self Support $39.99 USD 1 License $79.99 USD 2 licenses $159.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $399.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $899.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $3,999.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes

Linspire Download Edition

1 license - Self Support $29.99 USD 1 license - 12 month support subscription $59.99 USD 2 licenses $110.99 USD 3 licenses $205.99 USD Studio/Family License - 5 licenses $369.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $700.99 USD Corporate Unlimited Licensing $2,500.00 USD

Linspire CE 8.0 Office 365 Released

Today the Linspire team is pleased to announce the release of Cloud Edition 8.0 Office 365. This is an update to our CE Office - by far one of our most popular business releases for 2018. We have worked diligently to thoroughly integrate Microsoft’s web services into this product. Who was this designed for? For our business and education users who rely on Microsoft’s web services in their offices and classrooms.  CE Office 365 offers the standard Microsoft Office online platform married to the stability and security of the Linux desktop.

The systems include:

Google Chrome
KDE Plasma
VLC Player
Powershell
Full DVD Playback
Office 365 Online launcher
Skype

We have worked with many state and educational facilities to verify/certify that Linspire CE does indeed work with their Online and localized web apps; it is fully supported.

The cost of Linspire CE 8.0 Office 365 is as follows:

Single user license: $49.99 USD / user
Corporate unlimited user license: $1,500.99 USD

Educational, military and law enforcement discounts are available for the unlimited license. Contact sales@pc-opensystems.com for details.

Linspire CE Office 365

1 License $49.99 USD 2 Licenses $89.99 USD 3 - 10 licenses $329.99 USD 11 - 25 licenses $899.99 USD Unlimited Support License $1,500.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes

Let’s go over some frequently asked questions regarding this distribution.

What is Linspire CE, exactly? 
Linspire CE is a specialized variant developed for the execution of cloud-based applications. It has a smaller disk/memory footprint, making it ideal for lower-end systems, i.e. laptops and Chromebooks. This allows organizations to repurpose older systems into their organizations, extending their hardware refresh cycle.

Can I run standard Linux desktop applications on my system? 
Yes. All standard Linux desktop apps run on this system: Gimp, LibreOffice, Inkscape, Spotify, Dia, Krita, Kdenlive, Audacity etc.

Can I still use Google’s web apps if I choose to?
Yes, all of Google’s online apps are available to mix/match with locally installed applications, if you so desire.

I have specialized QT and GTK based apps that I use in my – will they run on Linspire CE?
Yes. We support all QT / GTK based apps. If you have a legacy program, we will help you migrate it to Linspire CE

Does the Linspire SDK work on Linspire CE? 
Yes.

If I use Linspire CE can I change to Linspire CE Office 365 free of charge?
Yes.

Can I dual boot Linspire CE with Windows 10? 
You can, but we don’t support dual boot with Linspire CE out of the box. That’s a deployment that undertaken at your own risk. Caveat emptor.

Can I dual boot Linspire CE with Chrome OS? 
Unknown; untried. Linspire CE and Android-x86_64 is a known, supported and thoroughly tested configuration.

What are the system requirements for Linspire CE? 
As follows: 64 bit processor, 2 GB RAM (4 + GB recommended), 20 GB HDD space. Touch or mouse/keyboard input.

How can I get Linspire CE Office 365? 
When you order Linspire CE Office 365 we deliver that to you on physical media - it is not available as a download option.

What are the support options for Linspire CE Office 365? 
Linspire CE and Linspire CE Office 365 follow the support options usually available for Linspire Server - 2 years of phone, e-mail, remote support for a bi-yearly rate as well as on-site service for an additional fee.

What desktops are available with Linspire CE? 
KDE Plasma 5

Can I order systems with Linspire CE preloaded? 
Yes. We have two systems available, the InspireBook laptop and an AIO desktop system, the InspireStation.

What applications are available with Linspire CE 8.0 Office 365? 
Google Chrome
KDE Plasma
VLC Player
Powershell
Full DVD Playback
Office 365 Online launcher
Skype
Bing Search integration

Introducing Linspire CE Office365

Today we are pleased to announce a new release for our Education and business customers.  Linspire 7.0 SP1 CE Office365.  Linspire CE Office365 is our release of Linspire CE (cloud edition) dedicated to Microsoft's online platform..  Linspire CE Office365 is available today from our webstore.

We are providing this release for education facilities and companies that have standardized on the Microsoft Office platform and who need a robust alternative operating system platform for collaboration with existing infrastructure and migration to the web and cloud storage hosting.

Linspire CE Office365 includes the following features from Linspire:

kernel 4.13.0-43
KDE Plasma Desktop environment
Google Chrome
The VLC media player
IceSSB
Biometric support

The following Microsoft app shortcuts are provided out of box:

Bing
OneDrive
Office365 console
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft OneNote
Skype Web
Microsoft Outlook

You can purchase this release from our online store 

More information is available from our live product launch which was recorded

If you have any questions contact:

sales@pc-opensystems.com
support@pc-opensystems.com

Microsoft Office Ribbon in LibreOffice

Many of our Black Lab and Linspire customers have asked us; Can you implement the Microsoft Office ribbon in LibreOffice? Well we did our research and LibreOffice 5.3 and 6.x have a "ribbon" type interface called the Notebook Bar.

 Here is how you enable it

To enable the Notebook Bar do this:

 Click on the menu Tools > Options Select ‘LibreOffice’ > ‘Advanced’ Check ‘Enable Experimental Features’ Press ‘OK’ Atfer clicking okay you’ll be prompted to restart LibreOffice (yep the app, not your PC) so that the changes you requested can take effect.

 Click ‘Restart Now’.

Once the suite pops back up you’ll instantly notice that things look no different to how they did before.

 Head to the new View > Toolbar Layout menu. libreoffice view toolbar layout menu You’ll see a set of 4 toolbar layouts in LibreOffice 5.3: Default (Classic Toolbar) Notebookbar Single Toolbar Single Toolbar + Sidebar.  Choose Notebook Bar.

That is how you enable the "ribbon" interface in LibreOffice.  This has been tested on Linspire, Black Lab, Linux Mint, Ubuntu and OpenIndiana.  We have NOT tested on Windows or macOS