Comments on: Moblin v2.0 Beta: Linux Netbook’s Best Hope? http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/ Open Source, Open Standards Fri, 10 May 2013 08:56:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: jim.callahan http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6458 jim.callahan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6458 ARTICLE:<br /> Great video and background on kernel changes; sounds like Star Trek, "eject the warp core."<br /> <br /> MOBLIN:<br /> Great user interface (M-Zone)for a Netbook used in a coffee shop, waiting room or airport (communications and entertainment use case) and not just a derivative of Mac, Windows or Xerox PARC. Though it does bear a resemblance to the Opera web browser, but at much higher level (not just recently visited web pages). <br /> <br /> QUESTIONS:<br /> In an office setting use case would the M-Zone user interface collapse into a visual representation of calendar, email plus most recently used files?<br /> <br /> What security issues are posed by the user interface? If a Moblin Netbook were lost; it would present considerable identity and privacy information -- right on the surface -- not buried in the PC. Is the user required to login? Or could it be built with fast biometric security?<br /> <br /> What does the development environment (ie. languages, compilers and IDEs) for Moblin look like (other than SUSE Build System)?<br /> <br /> What browser is used?<br /> <br /> Jim Callahan<br /> Orlando, FL ARTICLE:
Great video and background on kernel changes; sounds like Star Trek, “eject the warp core.”

MOBLIN:
Great user interface (M-Zone)for a Netbook used in a coffee shop, waiting room or airport (communications and entertainment use case) and not just a derivative of Mac, Windows or Xerox PARC. Though it does bear a resemblance to the Opera web browser, but at much higher level (not just recently visited web pages).

QUESTIONS:
In an office setting use case would the M-Zone user interface collapse into a visual representation of calendar, email plus most recently used files?

What security issues are posed by the user interface? If a Moblin Netbook were lost; it would present considerable identity and privacy information — right on the surface — not buried in the PC. Is the user required to login? Or could it be built with fast biometric security?

What does the development environment (ie. languages, compilers and IDEs) for Moblin look like (other than SUSE Build System)?

What browser is used?

Jim Callahan
Orlando, FL

]]> By: bruno.santos http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6459 bruno.santos Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6459 It looks a whole lot like the Wii channel interface... even the background music sounds like the music on the Wii channel...<br /> <br /> I wonder if Nintendo is going to sue them for stealing the OS style? Or will they demand Moblin to be integrated into the Wii?<br /> Or is someone playing too much with the Wii? :) It looks a whole lot like the Wii channel interface… even the background music sounds like the music on the Wii channel…

I wonder if Nintendo is going to sue them for stealing the OS style? Or will they demand Moblin to be integrated into the Wii?
Or is someone playing too much with the Wii? :)

]]> By: tracypilcher http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6460 tracypilcher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6460 I wonder if it handles Realtek wifi cards better than Ubuntu did. I'll give it a try on my MSI Wind 100 this weekend. I wonder if it handles Realtek wifi cards better than Ubuntu did. I’ll give it a try on my MSI Wind 100 this weekend.

]]> By: gromm http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6461 gromm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6461 Or maybe the problem isn't too many choices for linux netbooks, but the fact that it's not the right choice (ie, Windows)?<br /> <br /> People expect to run the software they want. That's why they return them, not because the kernel doesn't have ultrafirewire support or something like that.<br /> <br /> The biggest problem I had with my EeePC was that there was hardly any software for it. And certainly not the software I wanted. Now, I'm a Unix wizard, so I installed Eeebuntu and fixed my problem (mostly), but Joe Average won't bother. He'll just take it back to Walmart and get the one that has Windows for the extra $50. That extra money is worth the two days of frustration and tinkering it would take to figure it out. Or maybe the problem isn’t too many choices for linux netbooks, but the fact that it’s not the right choice (ie, Windows)?

People expect to run the software they want. That’s why they return them, not because the kernel doesn’t have ultrafirewire support or something like that.

The biggest problem I had with my EeePC was that there was hardly any software for it. And certainly not the software I wanted. Now, I’m a Unix wizard, so I installed Eeebuntu and fixed my problem (mostly), but Joe Average won’t bother. He’ll just take it back to Walmart and get the one that has Windows for the extra $50. That extra money is worth the two days of frustration and tinkering it would take to figure it out.

]]> By: webprog http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6462 webprog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6462 It is definitely good to have Intel support. Linux has had a large problem with supporting hardware devices due too policy of their manufacturers not willing to release specification documents nor produce device drivers. For regular user there is no difference which OS is installed on his netbook as log as it works and is easy to operate. So if only Linux works good and can handle all of that devices, it could possibly be very popular or even dominate the market. It is definitely good to have Intel support. Linux has had a large problem with supporting hardware devices due too policy of their manufacturers not willing to release specification documents nor produce device drivers. For regular user there is no difference which OS is installed on his netbook as log as it works and is easy to operate. So if only Linux works good and can handle all of that devices, it could possibly be very popular or even dominate the market.

]]> By: bassic83 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6463 bassic83 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6463 I tried it on my S10, but it wasn't a pretty outcome. Wiped it as it was useless to me...no wireless, the wired connection was dodgy, and I just don't like the interface. Went back to xubuntu. I tried it on my S10, but it wasn’t a pretty outcome. Wiped it as it was useless to me…no wireless, the wired connection was dodgy, and I just don’t like the interface. Went back to xubuntu.

]]> By: bassic83 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6464 bassic83 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6464 Oh, it's a good idea, it's just not ripe yet. Oh, it’s a good idea, it’s just not ripe yet.

]]> By: gyffes http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6465 gyffes Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6465 Which is why the gOS machines purchased from Wal-mart were returned at an astonishing rate while those purchased from Newegg were not: the latter purchasers knew what they were getting while the former did not.<br /> <br /> My problem with the Ubuntu Netbook Remix, the eee as it shipped (that damned "appliance" interface), and with what I've seen of Moblin is that I don't WANT a mess of massive icons as my navigation source. I want a computer, doesn't matter how small it is. In fact, the smaller the screen (and my 701 eee has a 7" screen), the FEWER icons I want. <br /> <br /> What I don't understand is why Windows satisfies the bulk of the populace who only get on the web and use 35% of the features available with Word. For them, everything they need is available in the Linux world, so the return rate among that crowd still surprises me, especially of Netbooks. Which is why the gOS machines purchased from Wal-mart were returned at an astonishing rate while those purchased from Newegg were not: the latter purchasers knew what they were getting while the former did not.

My problem with the Ubuntu Netbook Remix, the eee as it shipped (that damned “appliance” interface), and with what I’ve seen of Moblin is that I don’t WANT a mess of massive icons as my navigation source. I want a computer, doesn’t matter how small it is. In fact, the smaller the screen (and my 701 eee has a 7″ screen), the FEWER icons I want.

What I don’t understand is why Windows satisfies the bulk of the populace who only get on the web and use 35% of the features available with Word. For them, everything they need is available in the Linux world, so the return rate among that crowd still surprises me, especially of Netbooks.

]]> By: epretorious http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6466 epretorious Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6466 <p>What about the command-line tools (e.g., Perl, kismet, etc.) and power tools (e.g., Wireshark)? </p> What about the command-line tools (e.g., Perl, kismet, etc.) and power tools (e.g., Wireshark)?

]]> By: graemeharrison http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6467 graemeharrison Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7337/#comment-6467 <p>I\'m a big Linux-GUI fan, but am still amazed that people put in such effort on so many fronts, without asking a small user group what they really want.<br /> I have to retain dual-boot XP-Ubuntu on laptops, because Ubuntu auto-recognises ALMOST all devices, except wireless... and Broadcom (www.broadcom.com) and Intel are the two major manufacturers of such mini-wireless cards used in laptops. Broadcom bluntly refuses to allow its driver microcode to be used in Linux... and Ubuntu does not \'find\' an Intel WiFi card. If Intel wants to support Linux, it ought FIRST ensure all its own cards are supported by the major distros... that would put some pressure on Broadcom to co-operate. Broadcom allow their code to be on all M$ OS-install CDs, but won\'t allow a Linux distro that has discovered a Broadcom card to then download a driver.</p> <p>Shuttleworth et al should propose a \"Linux ready\" sticker to go only on the Dells, HPs, etc that really are FULLY supported by Linux drivers. NDISWRAPPER (the supposed wireless workaround) is like following a 1960s\' paper-tape boot sequence, in terms of being 50-steps backwards from a proper device-auto-recognised GUI interface that consumers now reasonably expect.</p> <p>The lesser issue with Linux is to pre-install a wider and more standardised range of apps, so it\'s not just OpenOffice+Firefox, but good image viewers/editors etc as well. Linux does not have anything as good as Irfanview (www.irfanview.com) for photo handling, and when I\'ve begged Irfan to do a port, he simply says it runs OK under WINE, but in fact you need a background in Computer Science to get it emulated, and then it runs slow!<br /> In short, it is wireless non-support and a narrow breadth of pre-installed apps which causes first-world consumer resistance, not GUI format/style or even quicker boot times.<br /> Graeme Harrison (prof at-symbol post.harvard.edu) </p> I\’m a big Linux-GUI fan, but am still amazed that people put in such effort on so many fronts, without asking a small user group what they really want.
I have to retain dual-boot XP-Ubuntu on laptops, because Ubuntu auto-recognises ALMOST all devices, except wireless… and Broadcom (www.broadcom.com) and Intel are the two major manufacturers of such mini-wireless cards used in laptops. Broadcom bluntly refuses to allow its driver microcode to be used in Linux… and Ubuntu does not \’find\’ an Intel WiFi card. If Intel wants to support Linux, it ought FIRST ensure all its own cards are supported by the major distros… that would put some pressure on Broadcom to co-operate. Broadcom allow their code to be on all M$ OS-install CDs, but won\’t allow a Linux distro that has discovered a Broadcom card to then download a driver.

Shuttleworth et al should propose a \”Linux ready\” sticker to go only on the Dells, HPs, etc that really are FULLY supported by Linux drivers. NDISWRAPPER (the supposed wireless workaround) is like following a 1960s\’ paper-tape boot sequence, in terms of being 50-steps backwards from a proper device-auto-recognised GUI interface that consumers now reasonably expect.

The lesser issue with Linux is to pre-install a wider and more standardised range of apps, so it\’s not just OpenOffice+Firefox, but good image viewers/editors etc as well. Linux does not have anything as good as Irfanview (www.irfanview.com) for photo handling, and when I\’ve begged Irfan to do a port, he simply says it runs OK under WINE, but in fact you need a background in Computer Science to get it emulated, and then it runs slow!
In short, it is wireless non-support and a narrow breadth of pre-installed apps which causes first-world consumer resistance, not GUI format/style or even quicker boot times.
Graeme Harrison (prof at-symbol post.harvard.edu)

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