Intel's Linux-based Moblin 2.0 OS Goes Open Beta
By - Source: Tom's Hardware US
|
20 comments
Download the Intel-modified Linux OS today!
While most eyes are looking at Windows 7 and how it performs on today’s netbooks, Intel has its own ideas for the future OS for Atom-powered machines.
Intel has been working on its own Linux-based OS that’s aimed specifically for machines powered using its Atom processor. It’s meant to be a lightweight OS that performs all the functions a netbook user expects while cutting out all the fat of a full-featured OS meant for laptops and desktops.
We talked about Moblin before when it was in alpha form, but this week Intel has released a much-improved version as part of a public beta. It’s best summarized in the video below:
Moblin 2.0 Netbook Beta Introduction
Get the full details and download links to the image file here.
Discuss
Ask a Category Expert

I'm going to download it now and see if it will run in a virtual machine for me.
umm, its called Linux?
i couldn't imagine you are allowed to use gnu/linux kernel in your OS, and NOT make it open source..
do you use the cpufreq demon??
I use a pretty base install. It's just for messing around basically, but it means I don't get to mess around for nearly as long as on XP
Well, an OS isn't the dumbed down interface the windblow$ lu$er gets to see, and usually confusing with the OS, that's called a GUI. The OS has more important things to do, like managing the machine - but that isn't exactly, where m$'s crap is shining.
Have you recompiled/tuned you're kernel/settings with optimized values for the HW you have? Oh wait, "Ubuntu" is an ancient african word meaning "I can't compile/install whatever".
Just run powertop (well, it's a console application, no fancy clickety-click, but gives quite useful hints), to see what's keeping the CPU (that's the main power sucker in laptops) busy, not allowing it to go to deeper power saving states. Prime suspects'll be WLAN, USB, Xserver, GUI elements/applications. Preferably, you would like to drop to a console only state (w/o X running), for the beginning, to eliminate the GUI mess.
http://www.lesswatts.org/projects/powertop/ then drop in X-buntu forums for more help.
If the GUI was developed in house, without using/being based on OSS, they can keep it closed, but that wouldn't be in the spirit of the community.
The OS isn't just the kernel, it includes also the GNU tools. Beside that, a distribution packages a lot of other stuff, including GUI and applications. Every bit's having it's own license. You would be surprised to see how many "smart" guy$ tried to keep it all under the rug, without releasing any sources - especially in the embedded market.
http://gpl-violations.org/
Very sparse wording, in the article. Where is all that eloquence, paraded when the theme can just barely be used, for a session of m$ a$$ licking?
Oh, sorry, I've overseen the "While most eyes are looking at Windows 7 and how it performs on today’s netbooks" part...
As I said, it's a base installation for playing around (and testing to see if the touchpad problem I have is Windows driver-related, which, sadly, it isn't). I'm not afraid of using the CLI, I've used Terminal a little when configuring Linux VMs and installing VMware tools.
Then go ahead, and have a look - don't let yourself discouraged by the first wobbly steps. If you're really interested, you might be pleasantly surprised, by the whole new world of console freedom, not masked by some dumbed down GUI, and layers of abstraction. When you'll reach the next level, and want to learn more, go get some real distro.
http://blog.sillica.com/2008/06/11/debian-troubling-signs-can-slackware-teach-us-anything/
My condolences for the crappy HW...
Turn off compiz and check your power settings
I can't imagine this happening. the 1000HE already gives more than 7 hours of battery life, and supposedly can run win7 without a problem.