Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04 Beta released
April 3, 2009 at 7:10 am
Ubuntu has this morning announced the beta release of Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04. This is the first release to be “fully integrated into the Ubuntu family, fully up to date with the latest applications and hardware support”. UNR also sports a new interface that is designed to be used on smaller netbook screens and benefits from a faster boot time.
Netbooks that the new release is known to work well on include the Asus EEE PC 900/1000, Acer Aspire One, Samsung NC10 and the Dell Mini 9. The beta release can be downloaded from the official site here.
Intel hands over Moblin OS to Linux Foundation
April 2, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Intel is handing over control of Moblin, the Linux-based operating system developed for Atom CPU-powered netbooks, to the non-profit Linux Foundation. By setting Moblin free, Intel is hoping that the operating system will attract more interest from netbook vendors who are currently steadfastly sticking with Windows XP.
In doing so however, Intel could be taking a big risk. The promotion of the Linux-based OS could see netbook vendors move away from Intel CPUs/chipsets to rivals such as the Nvidia Ion platform or even to ARM-powered CPUs. Read more
HP trialling Google Android for future netbooks
March 31, 2009 at 10:09 pm
HP is trialling the use of the Google Android operating system on some of its netbooks according to a WSJ report. It suggests that HP has been running tests using Google Android for evaluation purposes, but is undecided as to whether it will bring an Android netbook to the market. This confirmation apparently comes from Satjiv Chahil, a vice president of HP’s PC division.
Details are scarce, but the obvious reasons to switch to Android would be lower price and higher performance. Switching to Android could eliminate most or all of the OS license cost for each netbook. Android, based around a Linux kernel, is written in Java and was originally designed for smartphones. So far, only HTC has released an Android-based smart phone, but Motorola has models on the way, and Dell is said to be considering one.
We have already heard rumours that Asus is considering Android for upcoming netbooks, possibly with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip? A move by HP to adopt Android may also see it adopt an ARM-based processor. Earlier this month, we heard how Google was pushing Android netbooks by setting up a team in Taiwan, home to some of the biggest netbook vendors like Acer and Asus.
Windows 7 to herald the $200 netbook?
March 31, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Microsoft is predicting that its entry-level Windows 7 operating system, the Starter Edition, will pave the way for netbooks with a price point of $200 (£140) by Christmas. Microsoft sees the price point low enough that it will all but replace current entry-level Linux-based netbooks, which it says see a “disproportionate amount of returns.” Despite this, Microsoft will still be marketing Home Premium as the default Windows 7 OS for netbooks.
Mark Croft, the Director of OEM Worldwide Marketing said: “We have a couple of the OEMs continuing down a path to be very aggressive on price. It puts the pressure on everyone. We’re anticipating opening price points to reach about $200 at least in the US market this holiday season, and another $50 maybe for Nvidia Ion machines.” Read more
Novell sets up dedicated Linux netbook team
March 30, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Novell has set up a dedicated research & development team to work on the development of Linux operating systems on netbooks. Novell Taiwan claims that the team will work in conjunction with Taiwanese netbook manufacturers to develop driver programs and design interfaces to support their hardware.
New netbook models featuring Novell’s SUSE Linux operating systems are expected to be showcased at Computex Taipei in early June. The vendors that Novell is currently working with are the usual suspects, Acer, Asus, Micro-Star International (MSI) as well as other vendors. SUSE currently comes pre-installed on four netbooks. Lenovo’s IdeaPad S10e, MSI Wind, First International Computer Inc.’s CW0A1 and the HP Mini 2140 netbook.
Whilst some may suspect that maybe some ARM-powered models with SUSE may be shown, Novell ruled this out. Markus Rex, senior vice president and general manager for open platform solutions at Novell, recently said: “There certainly is a lot of hype around ARM-based netbooks, [but] at the moment, we don’t do anything on ARM-based devices.”
Via Digitimes.
Palm’s WebOS Perfectly Suited to Netbooks?
March 29, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Whilst Microsoft may hold the dominant market share for netbooks, there’s no certainty that it will remain the leader. There a number of Linux-based operating systems being tailored for netbook use from a number of different parties. ARM, who design low-cost, low-power processors, is knocking on the door of the netbook world and its CEO expects at least ten ARM-based netbooks this year. As it does not make x86 processors, using Windows for these netbooks is not an option. While many have talked about Google’s Android as being the most natural Linux-saviour, Laptop Mag’s Mark Spoonauer argues that it is in fact Palm’s Web Operating System that could make waves in the netbook market. Read more
ARM-powered Wistron ‘FirstBook’ netbook spotted
March 26, 2009 at 6:07 pm
A recent video highlighting some ARM-based Qualcomm products at the recent Mobile World Congress had a hidden surprise towards the end. The video appears to show the first hands-on of Wistron’s FirstBook, a 3G-enabled netbook powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. It is the Snapdragon chipset that Asus is apparently considering in future Eee PCs.
The Linux based netbook looks quite attractive and has more than a resemblance to the Sony Vaio P form-factor with its widescreen display. It appears to be extremely light and thin for a netbook. A 3G demonstration was made by surfing the net which showed it had a good response time. No specifications of the unit are known at this point, although it is rumoured to have an 11.1-inch display.
The unit may just be a concept, but given that it was demonstrated along with Toshiba’s upcoming TG01 smartphone, we hope it will become a commercial reality at some point. Interestingly, we already know that a Wistron netbook with Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU is due to appear at Computex Taipei in June. We’ll hopefully have further details on the FirstBook then, if not before. Check out the action in the video after the break. The FirstBook is spotted from 2 minutes 33 seconds onwards. Well worth a look. Read more
Samsung wants full Win 7 on future netbooks, no Linux plans
March 25, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Microsoft has openly talked about its hopes for Windows 7 running beautifully on netbooks. It does not want to make the same mistakes it has made with Vista and is keen for netbook vendors to ship with Windows 7 on launch rather than XP. Higher margins is one of the main reasons MS has actively talked about the netbooks + Win 7 combination. Windows 7 Starter (crippled) Edition will only allow three applications to run at one-time and MS are banking on being able to upsell the more premium versions to consumers. Read more
Moblin Alpha 2 released for netbooks
March 25, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Moblin, the Intel-founded open-source project aimed at netbooks, has just released the second alpha of Moblin v2. The follows the first alpha release a couple of months back. The Moblin Linux kernel was created to be a fast and lightweight platform, specifically designed to run on an Intel Atom CPU.
The release includes an updated kernel, improvements to the graphics framework and revisions to the Moblin Image Creator (MIC2). The kernel still has two graphic issues with Intel’s GMA 500 graphics chipset is not yet supported and 3D performance still a work in progress. Support for the MSI Wind netbook has also been added. This support comes in addition to the Acer Aspire One, Asus Eee PC 901 and Dell Mini 9.
The Moblin project is competing with other mobile Linux-based operating systems such as Google’s Android, Jolicloud and gOS. Moblin’s expected beta release date is still April, however we suspect there may be some slippage here. The Alpha release and pre-built images are available via the official site here. A full list of changes are attached after the jump. Read more
AT&T to launch non-Windows $99 netbook this Summer
March 24, 2009 at 9:44 am
Now we really don’t have much too much information on this story. However, it has emerged that AT&T will launch a $99 3G-enabled netbook this summer. The real interesting point is that the first netbook that AT&T releases will not feature a Windows operating system. Could this be an ARM-powered netbook that has been talked about so much? ARM’s CEO already expects at least ten ARM-based netbooks to appear in 2009, so this could indeed be one of the first.
What would debunk that theory however is that the netbook is said to be manufactured by Dell. Now we know that Dell already offer Linux based netbooks so this could be a likely candidate. Either way, we hope to have more information on this soon.
Update: We have just come across some comments from Dell founder and Chief Executive, Michael Dell, that may just corroborate the view that Dell wants to get into potentially lucrative wireless 3G data deals. “We want to get a larger share of the profit streams embedded in our growing installed base of the hundreds of millions of products we deliver,” Mr. Dell said in a recent Q4 analyst conference call. “Opportunities like search services, 3G originations and other telecom opportunities.”
Later, Mr. Dell added, “We have been particularly focused on 3G and agreements with carriers embedding 3G and using our own sales engines as well to sell 3G netbooks.”
Presto ‘instant-on’ operating system enters beta
March 20, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Another competitor has thrown its hat into the ‘instant-on’ OS arena. Xandros has announced that ‘Presto’ has entered beta stage and is being offered as a free download until its retail release on April 13th at which point it will cost $19.95. The OEM version of Presto has already been out for a while, but this is the first time the consumer version has been released for beta. Read more
Android to be saviour of the Linux netbook
March 17, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Google’s Android will be the saviour of the Linux netbook, and we’ll start to see small, cheap computers based on the phone-oriented operating system later this year according to Ovum. After a strong start, Linux-based netbooks are now outsold by those with Windows XP. Some estimates suggest that Windows recent dominance gives it a 90-pecent market share. Ovum suggests that netbook buyers seeking a small and/or cheap laptop will generally opt for Windows machines – presumably for the familiarity and software compatibility it brings.
Linux’s opportunity is for the netbook to be seen as an always-on internet device, helped by ARM’s infrastructure. Some of the larger Linux distro’s have not looked to develop a specific Linux version for netbooks. Just today, Novell said that it will not be producing a version of SUSE Linux for ARM-based Netbooks. Ovum suggests that Android, which has a Linux foundation but a more tightly controlled user environment on top, will allow netbook makers to better define them as internet appliances.
Ovum said it expects “back-to-basics” netbooks to appear later this year at the $200 (£142/€154) mark – half the price of the majority of today’s netbooks. They particularly want to increase battery life and deliver fast start-up times, which may also favour ARM/Android designs.
ARM to take 55 percent netbook market share by 2012
March 10, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Whilst Intel’s Atom is expected to hold a commanding 80 percent netbook market share in 2009, ARM is expected to turn this around in the next three years by taking a 55 percent netbook market share by 2012 according to The Information Network. “ARM processors, not Intel’s Atom, will benefit from the current technology-economic cycle. Anyone thinking that ARM will make up only a small percentage of netbooks gong forward is not thinking outside the box,” Dr. Robert Castellano noted, President of The Information Network. Read more
Linpus Lite instant-OS caught on video
March 9, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Linpus Lite, the instant-on OS, was showcased in CeBIT last week. As shown in the video below from NetbookNews, the OS takes a matter of seconds to boot up. This is customised version of Linux on the hard-disk and not part of the bios, like some other instant-on OSes like Splashtop. When booted, the icons house some basic applications including Chat, Skype, Media Player and an internet browser. The instant-on OS hasn’t caught on as much as the preamble initially suggested. However, as well as Linpus, there are a number of instant-on OSes coming to the market shortly including JoliCloud and Moblin. 2009 may possibly be the year that these operating systems really take off. Linpus Lite video after the jump.
Ten ARM-powered netbook models expected in 2009
March 9, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Arm’s Chief Executive, Warren East, expects that at least ten ARM-based netbooks with processors from Qualcomm, Freescale and Texas Instruments will hit retail shelves this year. We already know that Asus is considering Qualcomm chips (based on ARM designs) for upcoming Eee PCs.
East is frustrated on the lack of Microsoft support for upcoming ARM-powered netbooks. It is widely understood that Windows XP, Vista and the upcoming Windows 7 cannot run on ARM CPUs given their need for x86 processors. Linux or Google’s Android are the most likely operating systems for ARM-based netbooks. However, Windows Mobile and Windows CE are used in close to 150 different mobile phones powered by ARM chips. Presumably little adaptation would be needed for netbook usage.
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