Lindows, Then Linspire: S'Londerful

I don't know why, but for some reason today I thought of Michael Robertson, who I have not talked to since 2003. He is one of the people you can thank (or blame) for the online music revolution, because he started MP3.com back when that kind of thing was brand new. And then he started Lindows, trying to sell a Linux operating system and giving it a name that was sure to piss of Microsoft. As I wrote in a 2003 column about Robertson:

When Microsoft sued Lindows for trademark infringement, Robertson posted on the Internet a letter he sent to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. "We were given no notice whatsoever of your displeasure with our use of the LindowsOS mark or slogan until the lawsuit was filed one business day before Christmas," he wrote mournfully, apparently hoping we'll all think: Poor widdle Mikey -- that mean ol' Bill Gates ruined his Christmas.

Ah, those were good times.

And now? Lindows, no doubt thanks to Microsoft's pressure, was renamed Linspire. And about a month ago the company released a new version, which got some attention.

Robertson is now chairman, and has gone on to start some other companies that, true to form, tend to be a thorn in someone's side. His SIPphone sued Vonage, and his MP3tunes sells songs with no DRM attached.

Interesting career, huh?

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