That is great news that Linspire has gotten up the CNR or know as click and run
program for Ubuntu. However, I do like to point out that there may be some cost
to the user to down load certain programs. Like Mp3, DVD, and some games. It is
all so that the end user will not feel guilty of using the restricted CODECS
such as MP3 or DVD with out paying for them. The people behind those CODECS
would like to make a pay check to pay bills. How I would like to get their pay
check. LOL.
The CNR does the same thing as Synaptic in many Debian based O/S that is out
there. However, the main thing as you can use apt-get in Debian to install a
program in the terminal. That it will install all the dependencies at one swoop.
You so not need to be a geek to know the commands to install all the depends at
once.
So there is pro's and con's with using CNR and the normal way of installing
Debian packages. The other pro of CNR is that you do not need to build a program
from source. That is taken a TAR or know as tar ball, DL it, build it from
source, make, and then make install. It is not a easy way to install a program.
Linux has gotten easy for the end user and same with Unix. If you want a
challenge to install a Linux O/S and think you know your Linux Mojo. Please by
all means to install Gentoo.
I got Gentoo installed and after days of it hanging up on the boot. I got it to
run. Was I happy with Gentoo. No and yes. No! I was use to the easy click on the
synaptic and follow yes and no questions. Yes, I learned how the core of getting
a system to run on it. I got to know Linux commands how and run that mother of
peril. It was no easy task.
Ray,
The main thing that the CNR and Synaptic and the Linux world. Is to get Linux
ready for the desktop? Is it? Yes and no? To make it easy from some one to
convert from Micro Soft Windows. MMMM depends on what desk top you choose. KDE
or Gnome are the big hitters. There is pro and cons there too. Even with X
windows for lower end computers. It is Linux that is open source and I will say
it again. For Micro Soft to get it shares back in the computer world. M/S needs
to open up the door and make a open source version of windows.
That is plain and simple.

I noticed that it does offer Fluendo for purchase at a reduced
rate. Fluendo is trying to offer streaming media and codecs to the *nix world
and it is a commercial enterprise.

I have some philosophical issues with Linspire, the parent company for CNR. They
have for a long time rebranded open source material to make it look like they
have done the work when all they have done is give it a makeover. However, the
fact is that some people like ease of use and CNR will appeal to such people. I
don't like the lack of security though. I suppose the appeal to some people is
that it will eventually offer the same repositories to all distributions instead
of having them fragmented as they are today. People running smaller distros are
likely to enjoy having more packages at their disposal.

I also agree that Synaptic and Adept work just as well for most people. It is
all about having choices. CNR is but one more choice. Another project that may
have some appeal is Automatix which is available for other Debian distros as
well. They Automatix developers stopped the project saying they were devoting
their energy elsewhere and Kubuntu as expressed an interest in keeping it going.
Obviously they see some potential in it. There are several other package options
including Klik and Autopackage. For some reason packaging seems to be an ongoing
concern.

Uniformity is not an issue with me, but one of the biggest gripes of new users
is that they cannot make sense of things because there is too much choice with
Linux. I guess you can't please everybody.