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Linspire laps up Ubuntu Linux

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
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Stephen Shankland

Linspire, a version of Linux geared chiefly for desktop users, is moving to an Ubuntu foundation.

Linspire previously had been based on Debian, which also is the base for Ubuntu. But on Thursday, Linspire and Ubuntu backer Canonical announced the shift.

"Ubuntu is the most successful community-based Linux project to date," said Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony in a statement. "They have done a fantastic job with the development community and creating tools for utilizing their technology. It made a tremendous amount of sense to partner with Canonical and begin basing our desktop Linux offerings on Ubuntu."

As part of the deal, Ubuntu users will be able to tap into Linspire's Click-n-Run (CNR) online software repository for downloading new applications or software modules, the companies said. The CNR feature will be added into the upcoming .