What's with eWeek's infatuation with the Windows-esque, Microsoft-tied distributions?

A certain pattern has become a bit difficult to ignore. It would be easy to just let it pass or make a quick observation (as we did several times before), but this has gone on for too long and it cannot be a coincidence.

Linspire

Let's be a little more specific here and go by the past week's examples alone. Here is a non-event announcement that CNR supports a simple derivative of Ubuntu, which contains some more binaries.

Linspire announced the support for the Linux Mint operating system. To gain access to the free CNR Service, Linux Mint 4.0 users simply install the free CNR Client that is available at CNR.com.

Additionally, here you have yet another incognito application that is included in CNR. There is a huge number of them already, so it's hardly worth crowing about.

Linspire, Inc. developer of CNR.com, an easy-to-use, one-click digital software delivery service for desktop Linux software, and WeatherBug(R), the leading provider of live, local weather information and severe weather alerts, today announced the immediate availability of WeatherBug for Freespire 2.0, Linspire 6.0, Linux Mint 4.0, Ubuntu 7.04, 7.10 and 8.04 (32 bit) users and will soon expand to additional popular desktop Linux distributions.

As usual, the only Web site that pays attention to these non-announcements (press releases) from Linspire is DesktopLinux (eWeek), which makes one wonder about the relationships there. Is eWeek paid to publish these? Are the editors in good touch with some executives in Linux companies/distributors? The same goes for Xandros, but we'll come to that in a moment. It's only eWeek that always pays attention, this time with the following article.

Linspire has upgraded its CNR.com (Click'N'Run) download site for Linux software to support the Ubuntu-based, consumer-friendly Linux Mint distribution. CNR.com will also add a Linux version of Weatherbug's weather service, which offers live, local weather information and severe weather alerts.

Another noteworthy bit: Matt Hartley (of MadPanguin, OSWeekly, and Datamation) flirts for a bit with Carmony. It was the same with Xandros at one time. It's just something to bear in mind.

While Carmony is out and about after ruining Linspire, the boss of the company, Michael Robertson, is giving public talks.

10:20 - 10:50 Keynote - Michael Robertson, Founder, Linspire, MP3tunes, SIPphone, and REEF What does it take to transform a vision into a business?

Xandros

Linspire is one case of a company that gets eWeek's love while getting virtually ignored by the rest. Linspire is not alone, however, for Xandros is pretty much the same. Once again, DesktopLinux does some legwork for Xandros:

Packt Publishing has published a book about administrating Scalix, an open source email and calendaring software package.

Needless to say, this is a very promotional item. It's hardly even news. Also about Scalix (now under the wing of Xandros), consider this new article

She founded Scalix Corp., a maker of open source corporate e-mail software, in Palo Alto, Calif., in June 2002. Open source software is available to everyone for use free of charge for modifying.

"One of the areas where open source has thrived and grown the most is in academic environments and research. It's a way for researchers to share knowledge and collaborate with others," she said.

For UAB researchers, she said, open source generates that potential - a way of connecting with people doing that same research in other parts of the world.

Yesterday we wrote about the Eee PC kerkuffle in Australia. Based on the latest investigative reporting by iTWire it doesn't look too encouraging. People begin to point fingers at Xandros and Microsoft whilst Asustek fails to deliver a convincing explanation for price anomalies. Have a look:

$50 more for Linux Eee PC 900 – what gives Asus?

[...]

Well what can one say except that this is simply outrageous behavior on the part of Asustek Australia. Treating Australian consumers like dummies in a global marketplace is no way to win friends. In fact as some of our posters have pointed out it’s a good way to lose customers. No one likes to feel as though they’re getting ripped off. Bad form Asustek, and just when everyone here were at the height of singing your praises.

Is this the future? Is so, then the following new push will hopefully fail before it starts.

Xandros expands mobile device push

[...]

The move is an indication of the growing popularity of Linux on portable devices, the two companies said.

More on this announcement here.

Viyya Technologies, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: VYON), the developer and marketer of the world's most advanced, web-based internet content management application, announced planning for the delivery phase of its agreement with Xandros, in the EeePC NetBook market.

[...]

The EeePC designed and marketed by ASUS, is a 7", .92kg miniaturized wireless notebook computer (NetBook) that appears to have revolutionized the "laptop" world. The EeePC was voted the "Product of the Year" in February at CeBIT in Germany and has won over 616 awards in 2008. The first 10,000 shipped to the U.S. were sold out immediately and independent analysts predict over 50 million units to be in circulation by 2011.

Viyya ought to run away from Xandros as soon as possible. It's not a GNU/Linux distribution. It's Xandros. It's Ballnux. It's neither free nor Free (gratis or libre) and it's controlled by Microsoft, by proxy. ⬆