The integrated graphics which most netbooks come out with are pretty unimpressive, especially considering that their full-size counterparts (read: laptops) that are getting released these days tend to have some sort of dedicated graphics of their own. But in some instances, Intel’s GMA graphics chipset is able to hold its own when it comes to games and HD video, and this was proven in a recent demonstration at a Mobile Dev Camp event in Germany.

Pictured above is Quake III running at an average of about 35 FPS on an external monitor while connected to an MSI Wind U115–running Linux! Moblin Linux, that is. Intel’s Atom Z530 processor and GMA 500 graphics work in tandem for this one, and it’s pretty good work indeed. The same netbook was also demoed with other mobile devices playing HD video rather competently. To see the netbook in fragging action, continue reading for a video after the break.
Read the rest of this entry »

As Liliputing point out, at one time, many apps were created with support for 800×600 resolutions. As technology has grown though, so has the standard resolution, which when using a netbook can be frustrating at times, if the app isn’t 1024×600 resolution friendly. Fortunately, a lot of developers are updating their programs to support netbook resolutions. Two apps have been updated and added into the netbook friendly list of apps. The apps aren’t for Windows netbooks though, sorry Windows fans, but instead for Linux run netbooks.

Anjal is an email application, which has includes a tabbed interface system, which works great on smaller screens. The other app, is Banshee Media Player which has been updated for support of smaller screens. This app however is also available for OS X. Banshee Media Player users a custom interface called “Cubano” which has been designed specifically for netbooks.

On Dell’s website, there are two Dell Mini 10Vs listed. One with an 8GB SSD and Ubuntu and the other with a 160GB hard drive and XP. But due to an error on the listing under the specifications, both were listed as having a “Microsoft Operating System”. Under the 160GB model, it was listed as XP, while the 8GB SSD model was listed as Ubuntu. This caused many message boards to jokingly claim that Ubuntu was now a Microsoft product. This isn’t the case though fortunately and word must have got to Dell as the specifications have now been modified to say just “Operating System”.

via

During an industry forum held in Beijing, Jim Zemlin, the Executive Director of Linux Foundation said that mobile telecoms company should start offering netbooks to gain profit through multi-year subscriptions as well as through sales from apps store. But since Windows-powered netbooks would be too costly for telcos to give away for free,  Mr. Zemlin suggest the rather obvious idea of giving away Linux-powered netbooks instead. Linux netbooks are way cheaper than Windows netbooks.

Mr. Zemlin also cited the success of the iPhone which were made available to users at a cheap price in exchange for two-year service contracts. This could be a good benchmark for telecoms company who will decided to bundled up netbooks with their service plans.

To augment their profit, Mr. Zemlin suggested the setting up of netbooks’ apps store similar to Apple’s iTunes.

Via The Inquirer

The guys over at Datamation have compiled a list of 25 open source applications that will work on an Asus Eee PC netbook. The list focuses mainly on Linux based applications, for the original Eee PC 701, but some are compatible with Windows and some apps solely Windows. Within the 25 open source applications, 19 of the apps will work on Linux based Eee PCs, with 10 of the apps made for Windows. Those who have a hackintosh aren’t left out either with 6 of the apps working on OS X. The applications are primarily for the Asus Eee PC, but with some also working on other netbooks.

The apps are listed in 12 different categories over 3 pages, ranging from documentation and drivers through to operating systems such as Eeebuntu and other utilities.

Version 1.1 of Easy Peasy has been released which fixes some bugs as well as coming with a new splash screen, login screen, wallpaper and a new icon theme. Easy Peasy is based on Ubuntu 8.10 but made for netbooks. This specific distro is designed to work on netbooks with an Intel Atom processor, which is the majority of the netbooks on the market.

Pre-installed on the Operating System is OpenOffice 3 and Firefox 3, as well as the Ubuntu Netbook Remix program launcher.

via

For those who prefer using Ubuntu Linux distro  in their netbooks than Microsoft XP, you might be interested to take the final test version of Ubuntu 9.04 for a spin. The final testing version other wise known as release candidate, is now complete, stable and suitable for testing by any user, said Steve Langasek, Ubuntu developer.

And since this is still a release candidate, expect to encounter some more minor bugs while using Ubuntu 9.04. This is despite the fact that the RC has already been proven to be stable.

This new Release Candidate of Ubuntu OS features faster boot speeds, new desktop notification system, integration with cloud computing, and more integrated mail server stack based on postfix and packages.

But more importantly Ubuntu 9.04 has also integrated the Netbook Remix software which will make it easier  to install and use Ubuntu on netbooks. Currently, Ubuntu 9.04 works well with Eee PC 900, Aspire One and Dell Mini Inspiron 9 netbooks. 

The final version of Ubuntu 9.04 is slated for release on April 23. You may download the RC here.

Not more than two weeks ago, we showed you a netbook that we thought was called the Wistron Firstbook. As it turns out, it was actually the Wistron Pursebook, and it was demoed at CTIA 2009. Like we already mentioned, this device runs on a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and Linux, and looks much like the trackpad-less Sony Vaio P (measures about the same size, too). For those of you interested in learning even more about the device, a video demo is now available. Follow the links below to watch it.

Engadget via Netbook Choice

The Eee PC ‘dedicated’ Linux distro called OpenGeeeU Luna Serena 8.10 has been announced and is now available to download here at the official OpenGEUwebsite.

The changelog follows:

•OpenGEU is not using any external settings manager anymore, we developed our own light-fast e17-settings-manager (thanks to Quaker), completely customizable via command line for experienced users!
•The new Geutheme, the OpenGEU Themes Manager, is now able of controlling even more parts of the look of your Desktop! The user interface of Geutheme has been completely redrawn too, to let you have easier access to all of the options you need!
•The Places Module, able of showing and even auto-mounting any device connected to your box. Places is completely compatible with OpenGEU’s File Manager, Thunar.
•A new and more advanced Mixer module, capable of showing you all the properties of your soundcard!
•Wizard, the new E17 module by Rasterman which will help you customize your Enlightenment session, with new experimental features for NetBooks too (even a Virtual Keyboard is being developed).
•The OpenGEU Defaults Configuration Manager, a more advanced tool for restoring your default OpenGEU settings. With this new tool you’ll be able to choose between a complete restore of the default OpenGEU session or the start of the Wizard Module configuration procedure, which will let you have a 100% customized E17 desktop!
•OpenGEU Upgrade Manager: with this tool we really hope you will have no more problems in upgrading the Enlightenment Desktop in the future! The Upgrade Manager will safely upgrade your system for you, turning off E17 during the entire upgrade process.
•Echomorph, the 3D Enlightenment Window Manager! Basically, Echomorph (By Hannes J. from our team) will bring an incredibly nice looking 3D desktop to your Enlightenment system, exactly like Compiz! Of course, to run Echomorph you’ll need a 3D enabled video card but do not worry: the main target for OpenGEU is still a generic 2D desktop and always will be. To run Echomorph you need to change your session from the Login Screen (GDM). You can try it on the Live CD too, you just have to log off, change the default session and log in again ;)
•When you’ll be running an Echomorph session, you won’t be able to use the default OpenGEU Desktop Effects, so, trying to open the corresponding panel from Geutheme will open for you an Echomorph configuration screen instead!
•Configuration Menu, a new module able of showing you all of the E17 settings directly from the E17 menu! This is a great feature and basically it means that all of the E17 settings are now a mouse click away from you and that you’ll be able to access any of your usual Gnome System tool from E17 Menu –> Settings –> System

OpenGeeeU is a custom version of the OpenGEU distro which is specifically made with the Asus Eee PC netbook series in mind, using EasyPeasy 8.10 as a base, so as Brad Linder pointed out, the distro should work ‘out of the box’ on most Eee PC hardware as the drivers should already be lined up for the Eee PC.

Hungry for more info about the upcoming Asus Eee PC T91? Luckily, we have some. Recently, this convertible touchscreen netbook got its first showing in the UK, and it was demonstrated to members of the press. Pocket-Lint was there to cover the event and while they didn’t get to do a full review of the said netbook, they did get to snap several photos and have made a gallery which the above embedded photo is taken from. Pocket-Lint mentioned that the Eee PC T91 could hit the UK by May for somewhere around £500 or about $690 USD. However, that information is not final yet, so we’ll have to wait for official word from Asus to confirm. In the meantime, head on down to see more photos of the Eee PC T91 via the link below.

Via Pocket-Lint