Linspire, the San Diego, Calif.-based Linux distributor, is continuing to build up its CNR (Click-N-Run) software installation system with partnerships with Ubuntu parent Canonical and the Ubuntu-based Linux Mint distribution. Linspire recently announced that its beta CNR service now supports the Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron release and Linux Mint versions 4.0 and 5.

Here’s a strange story from the folks at CRN — the old reseller publication from CMP Publications. They mention that demand is soft for the latest Linspire release. Hmmm. I have to admit I’ve never even tried Linspire. And I bet most mainstream Windows folks have never even heard of it. The article speaks broadly about Linux not doing very well on the desktop. And it barely mentions Ubuntu.