Linux on a Netbook? Intel thinks its all about the User Interface

Intel's Netbook-friendly OS: Mobilin 2.0

Intel's Netbook-friendly OS: Mobilin 2.0

While I remain skeptical of Linux’s chances to overtake Windows as the Netbook OS of choice, that isn’t stopping Intel who continue to invest in a Microsoft alternative. The latest version of its own Linux distro called Moblin sees the light weight OS undergo a complete User Interface overall optimized for Netbooks and MIDs that typically sport a 7-10 inch screen. It’s the UI, says Intel, that will be key to Linux’s client-side adoption, and on that note Moblin 2.0 appears to take much of its inspiration from the next generation of smart phones.

At its heart are a number of ‘home screens’ that can be switched via a tabbed interface. The first offers up a social networking aggregator, giving the user an overview of all their friends’ activities across a range of web services, along with thumbnails of recently accessed files, shortcuts to frequently used applications, and upcoming appointments pulled from Moblin’s calendar app. A second tab enables a user to quickly update their status, although it’s not clear what social network this plugs into (Facebook, Twitter etc.). A third tab goes straight to contacts, including their IM status and email activity, while a fourth tab offers up a browser search bar, history and bookmarks.

Next is the media library, which features what appears to be a DLNA client so that you can access photos, music and video stored on an another device connected to the same local network, such as an XBox 360. And finally, there’s a catch-all tab for accessing other applications.

See also: Android’s biggest Netbook challenge (Hint: Windows)

Overall, the UI looks innovative enough to potentially offer a better user experience on a notebook or other Internet device with a smaller screen, and at the same time scare off punters and OEMs who have become overly familiar with Windows. Intel’s official promotional video for Moblin 2.0 after the jump…

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last100 is edited by Steve O'Hear. Aside from founding last100, Steve is co-founder and CEO of Beepl and a freelance journalist who has written for numerous publications, including TechCrunch, The Guardian, ZDNet, ReadWriteWeb and Macworld, and also wrote and directed the Silicon Valley documentary, In Search of the Valley. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

10 Responses to “Linux on a Netbook? Intel thinks its all about the User Interface”

  1. tk says:

    Between this, Easy Peasy and Jolicloud, I think netbooks with Linux has actually got a fair chance of retaining market share. What is needed is proper marketing, more spesifically proper positioning. I think the Linux Pundit blog put it best “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”: http://linuxpundit.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/up-

  2. tk says:

    Between this, Easy Peasy and Jolicloud, I think netbooks with Linux has actually got a fair chance of retaining market share. What is needed is proper marketing, more spesifically proper positioning. I think the Linux Pundit blog put it best “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”: http://linuxpundit.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/up-

  3. tk says:

    Between this, Easy Peasy and Jolicloud, I think netbooks with Linux has actually got a fair chance of retaining market share. What is needed is proper marketing, more spesifically proper positioning. I think the Linux Pundit blog put it best “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”: http://linuxpundit.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/up-

  4. tk says:

    Between this, Easy Peasy and Jolicloud, I think netbooks with Linux has actually got a fair chance of retaining market share. What is needed is proper marketing, more spesifically proper positioning. I think the Linux Pundit blog put it best “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”: http://linuxpundit.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/up-

  5. tk says:

    Between this, Easy Peasy and Jolicloud, I think netbooks with Linux has actually got a fair chance of retaining market share. What is needed is proper marketing, more spesifically proper positioning. I think the Linux Pundit blog put it best “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”: http://linuxpundit.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/up-

  6. sohear says:

    I like that phrase: “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”. My sister just bought an Acer Aspire One running Linux (Linpus Lite). I told her it would be different from XP or Mac OSX and might take a bit of getting used to. It's also priced low, and could be replaced in 18 months (less than $200 for a refurb unit). She said: “get used to it like a new mobile phone”. I said, exactly.

  7. Steve O'Hear says:

    I like that phrase: “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”. My sister just bought an Acer Aspire One running Linux (Linpus Lite). I told her it would be different from XP or Mac OSX and might take a bit of getting used to. It's also priced low, and could be replaced in 18 months (less than $200 for a refurb unit). She said: “get used to it like a new mobile phone”. I said, exactly.

  8. Steve O'Hear says:

    I like that phrase: “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”. My sister just bought an Acer Aspire One running Linux (Linpus Lite). I told her it would be different from XP or Mac OSX and might take a bit of getting used to. It's also priced low, and could be replaced in 18 months (less than $200 for a refurb unit). She said: “get used to it like a new mobile phone”. I said, exactly.

  9. Steve O'Hear says:

    I like that phrase: “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”. My sister just bought an Acer Aspire One running Linux (Linpus Lite). I told her it would be different from XP or Mac OSX and might take a bit of getting used to. It's also priced low, and could be replaced in 18 months (less than $200 for a refurb unit). She said: “get used to it like a new mobile phone”. I said, exactly.

  10. Steve O'Hear says:

    I like that phrase: “Up from phones, not down from notebooks”. My sister just bought an Acer Aspire One running Linux (Linpus Lite). I told her it would be different from XP or Mac OSX and might take a bit of getting used to. It's also priced low, and could be replaced in 18 months (less than $200 for a refurb unit). She said: “get used to it like a new mobile phone”. I said, exactly.

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