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Intel Aims for Two Second Boot Times

Next news
4:21 PM - April 9, 2009 by Marcus Yam

Imagine an operating system that would boot in two seconds -- that’s what Intel is aiming for with Moblin.

We reported earlier this year that Intel had released a Linux-based operating system for alpha testing. Intel’s aim for Moblin is to provide the Atom CPU a light and fast OS that less stressful than running a full blown version of Windows.

Those who have been testing the alpha version since late January have found that parts of the system can be started up in just seconds. If Intel is able to reduce all initialization processes to just a couple seconds, and have them run in parallel, we could have the fastest booting OS yet.

Intel Open Source Technology Center director Imhad Sousou spoke at the Linux Collaboration Summit about reducing Moblin boot times, detailed in Ars Technica’s report. By cutting out bloat, parallelizing and other streamlining techniques, Sousou declared, "We think that two second boot is possible."

A reduced boot time would increase the usability of any system, but particularly so for portable devices such as the netbooks and MIDs that Moblin is targeted at. Often we’re finding that we prefer to have our notebooks (and netbooks) in and out of sleep states for the sake of having nearly-immediate access. Of course, sleep modes do drain battery as well as risk data loss, and hibernate modes still incur wait times as RAM is being written back and forth.

Would you be willing to try Moblin (that’s right, bye bye Windows, hello Linux) on your netbook if Intel made good on its promises for a two second boot time?

Source : Tom's Hardware US

Talkback
Add your comment
icestorm50 04/09/2009 10:56 PM
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-10+

With a 2 second boot you could shut down to save battery life and then have almost no penalty when you go to reboot; that sounds mighty nice! I would be willing to take a look at netbooks with Moblin installed on them when Intel has a Moblin booting around 2 seconds.

decoppel 04/09/2009 11:02 PM
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-3+

I would be willing to try it anyway.

I really don't want a windows based OS on MY netbook.

ckthecerealkiller 04/09/2009 11:05 PM
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-11+

I would be all over it like white on rice in a glass of milk on a paper plate in a snowstorm.

the_one111 04/09/2009 11:11 PM
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sublifer 04/09/2009 11:23 PM
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-4+

I'd sure give it a try. Having a Linux OS that fast might be enough to win a sizable marketshare for linux which would mean better support and maybe even AAA game releases on Linux. :)

Anonymous 04/09/2009 11:24 PM
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-1+

So you're trying to tell me that a crappy, slow, Atom processor can boot an OS in 2 seconds? I'm sure they mean: "display the desktop in 2 seconds, and wait 10 more seconds for the rest of the OS to catch-up while the mouse cursor sits frozen." I was noticing today that Ubuntu comes with some of the smaller to netbook sized Dells now, I'd trust Ubuntu far more than Moblin.

ckthecerealkiller 04/09/2009 11:30 PM
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-2+

YouKnowItsTrue :
I'd trust Ubuntu far more than Moblin.



I certainly have to agree with that statement. Also, I doubt that the full boot process could be completed in 2 seconds as well. Still it would be great if it does work as described. Not likely, but still......

antemon 04/09/2009 11:54 PM
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-4+

let's see what the ext4 file system does with moblin.

and I can't hardly wait for jaunty.

gamefreak62 04/09/2009 11:59 PM
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--1+

I don't think I would care what OS it was running if it could boot in two seconds. (Unless it were Ubuntu. I just can't warm myself up to Gnome...) I would use a netbook for just work anyway since the hardware in them sucks too bad for games.

Anonymous 04/10/2009 12:18 PM
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--1+

Sure i could put in my quad boot notebook replacing vista

ph3412b07 04/10/2009 12:25 PM
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-2+

Interesting, what kind of functionality does it have though? The ASUS linux based Express Gate already offers boot in a couple seconds. Tack on a SSD and its even quicker.

Blessedman 04/10/2009 12:39 PM
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brendano257 04/10/2009 12:45 PM
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the_one111 04/10/2009 12:54 PM
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-0+

ckthecerealkiller :
I certainly have to agree with that statement. Also, I doubt that the full boot process could be completed in 2 seconds as well. Still it would be great if it does work as described. Not likely, but still......


I agree also..

anamaniac 04/10/2009 1:01 AM
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-0+

I'd be willing to try.
First I'd have to get a netbook though.
What about the integrated OS in some motherboards? Provide net, email, and instant messaging. All I'd use a motherboard for anyways.

Greatwalrus 04/10/2009 1:01 AM
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-3+

gamefreak62 :
I don't think I would care what OS it was running if it could boot in two seconds. (Unless it were Ubuntu. I just can't warm myself up to Gnome...) I would use a netbook for just work anyway since the hardware in them sucks too bad for games.


You do know about Kubuntu (KDE Desktop), Xubuntu (Xfce desktop) and Fluxbuntu (Fluxbox desktop) as alternatives to regular Ubuntu, right? :)

And I will absolutely try this. Man, that would be awesome to boot into my desktop in 2 seconds and check something on the internet before I have to leave in a minute or two. Not that big of a deal, but it would also be an energy-saving alternative to suspend/sleep mode.

However, my current Arch Linux system boots into the desktop in about 15-20 seconds, so it's not a huge deal to me to gain those extra seconds. Definitely beats my experience with booting Windows (no fanboyism intended).

solymnar 04/10/2009 1:46 AM
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-1+

Huh...2 seconds.

Like many I'll believe it when I see AND displaying desktop does not = computer is fully up and running.

That said, for a mobile device that has specialized apps loaded on it. If it works will probably be a very handy thing indeed. Most people don't really need windows loaded on their mobile devices, they just need the apps to be functional and the files to be compatible with whatever they normally use on their desktop.

joeman42 04/10/2009 2:45 AM
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-1+

If it works and has a full feature set for the average user (browser, text processing, video playback; gameplay not a necessity for a netbook), then that's all that really matters.

On another note, I love the name.

Moblin =
Mob Lin =
Mob Linux =
Linux for the masses?

gamefreak62 04/10/2009 3:03 AM
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-3+

I'd say that you don't sacrifice much usability when switching to linux, since there are alternatives to just about all the windows apps excepting games. Most of the really neat things on Windows like Photoshop and the like don't have good alternatives with all the easy to use features, but alternatives are there. As far as the usefullness of netbooks goes, they aren't really meant for much more than word processing and internet browsing, which linux provides very good alternatives for those, (most of which will actually run on windows too).
Most of the internet already runs on linux anyway.
And yes, I've heard of the other ubuntu variants, and they are a bit better, but instead of the likes of Kubuntu I would use Mepis, which actually shares ubuntu innards but is designed with K interface in mind so it's slightly better for that. (I admit, I'm not familiar with Xfce or Fluxbox desktop environments, I'll have to check them out.)

jaragon13 04/10/2009 3:23 AM
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-0+

gamefreak62 :
I'd say that you don't sacrifice much usability when switching to linux, since there are alternatives to just about all the windows apps excepting games. Most of the really neat things on Windows like Photoshop and the like don't have good alternatives with all the easy to use features, but alternatives are there. As far as the usefullness of netbooks goes, they aren't really meant for much more than word processing and internet browsing, which linux provides very good alternatives for those, (most of which will actually run on windows too). Most of the internet already runs on linux anyway.And yes, I've heard of the other ubuntu variants, and they are a bit better, but instead of the likes of Kubuntu I would use Mepis, which actually shares ubuntu innards but is designed with K interface in mind so it's slightly better for that. (I admit, I'm not familiar with Xfce or Fluxbox desktop environments, I'll have to check them out.)


GIMP? Paint.NET?
Also, I'm pretty sure you can modify photoshop to work on linux.

I'm pretty interested in an operating system from an actual silicon designer/manufacturer...Maybe they can actually take advantage of all the processing power :P

SAL-e 04/10/2009 3:47 AM
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-0+

YouKnowItsTrue :
So you're trying to tell me that a crappy, slow, Atom processor can boot an OS in 2 seconds? I'm sure they mean: "display the desktop in 2 seconds, and wait 10 more seconds for the rest of the OS to catch-up while the mouse cursor sits frozen."


That is exactly how it is done. Windows is doing the same think since Windows 98. But compare to Windows the mouse don't get frozen because the better task scheduler used by new Linux kernel used by Moblin. Of course you need to wait for network connection in order to open your e-mails. With new changes in the kernel I think we can see even faster boot times.
[citation][nom]YouKnowItsTrue[/nom] I was noticing today that Ubuntu comes with some of the smaller to netbook sized Dells now, I'd trust Ubuntu far more than Moblin.
The new Ubuntu loads all background task faster then Moblin, but Moblin is not finished yet and has a lot of debugging code enabled.
Moblin V2 vs. Ubuntu Netbook Remix vs. Ubuntu MID
This is small demonstration how the Linux can be trimmed down in order to achieve maximum performance.

g-thor 04/10/2009 4:16 AM
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--2+

What value is a 2 second boot time if the programs that you use can't properly handle the document formats that exist? So many running under Windows claim compatibility, yet I shudder anytime I have to work on a Word doc under WordPerfect and then send it back to the Word user.

That quick a boot is nice, but it needs software that's really compatible. Then I think the end users can really get some use out of it. But then, I see these as secondary, light work units, and maybe they'll be more robust in a year or so.

SAL-e 04/10/2009 4:30 AM
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-0+

g-thor :
What value is a 2 second boot time if the programs that you use can't properly handle the document formats that exist? So many running under Windows claim compatibility, yet I shudder anytime I have to work on a Word doc under WordPerfect and then send it back to the Word user.


Word compatibility is never going to happen until MS is keep changing own format in order to prevent the competition. It is so bad that I have some old DOC and XLS file form old MS Office and they do not open correctly since Office 2000. Yes, MS has forced the OXML format as ISO standard, but the current Office do not supports that standard either and it will be unsupported until next release of MS Office.

IronRyan21 04/10/2009 5:04 AM
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-0+

Love the idea!

doomsdaydave11 04/10/2009 5:53 AM
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-1+

I'll stick with Ubuntu thanks.

Anonymous 04/10/2009 8:17 AM
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-0+

2 second boot time nice.

to everyone saying all my programs wont work because they are made for windows: its a net book all you can do on one is internet/email/basic word processing anyway. the screen is too small and they are not powerful enough to do games/video editing/photo editing/music creation

i will let anyone that uses windows based programs that interface with networking and non computing hardware (cars,machinery,control systems) get away with that statement

reapper 04/10/2009 9:03 AM
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-1+

I'd take twelve if they just would work ;] I'm still staying away from ie. Ubuntu just because sound doesn't work properly (f**k pulse audio).

LuxZg 04/10/2009 11:12 AM
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-0+

I'd probably make a dual-boot with Windows.. Moblin for quick look at something, Windows for anything else. I don't mind waiting a minute for OS to boot if I know I'll be using it for at least half an hour. I do mind it when I just want to check something quickly and be gone the next moment.. Dual booting would solve this nicely I think :)

wira020 04/10/2009 11:40 AM
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-0+

YouKnowItsTrue :
So you're trying to tell me that a crappy, slow, Atom processor can boot an OS in 2 seconds? I'm sure they mean: "display the desktop in 2 seconds, and wait 10 more seconds for the rest of the OS to catch-up while the mouse cursor sits frozen." I was noticing today that Ubuntu comes with some of the smaller to netbook sized Dells now, I'd trust Ubuntu far more than Moblin.



agreed... and instead of making atom better.. they're downgrading everything else... well done intel...

zedx 04/10/2009 1:48 PM
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--1+

Nice but by all screenies it looks too much like windoze. I mean they should keep the usual layout. And I don't know but there isn't much in shortening boot in linux. Just edit few scripts and compile stuff(moblin afaik is compiled of atom with sse3 etc) and that's it.

ProDigit80 04/10/2009 2:19 PM
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-0+

I can imagine a 2 second boottime with one of Intel's premium SSD's installed, a lightwheight OS and a corei7 overclock edition!
Heck, DOS boots in even less than 2 seconds time!

the issue on this OS will be compatibility, drivers and supported software.


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