Splashtop 'Quick Start' comes to the Lenovo IdeaPad S10e

It looks like Splashtop -- the instant-on, quickboot Linux OS that's been cropping up on a smattering of motherboards and PCs lately -- is headed onto a smaller platform. The company announced today that it's going to be loading up Lenovo's IdeaPad S10e netbook with a healthy dose of the software -- dubbed "Quick Start" -- allowing you to get to that all-important YouTube video faster than previously thought possible. This marks the first time Splashtop is making its way to a netbook, and we expect it will be shipping on all new models, though the company hasn't been explicit about that. We'll keep our fingers crossed, and let you know if we hear otherwise.

[Scotty Doo @ Oct 28th 2008 9:07AM]

This kinda thing is a good idea. I filled in an on-line survey the other day (cos i was bored) from Microsoft about something similar. I think they are working on something like this.

[Flashpoint @ Oct 28th 2008 9:30AM]

I like this idea. In fact, Hewlett PAckard should go in this direction since they were planning their own Operating System to show how much better their computers could be without Vista.

The way I see it, the "INSTANT ON" OS plans for the future should look alot like this, and coincidentaly look alot like the iPhone OS. They should make it so the startup icon/apps are interchangeable or customizeable so you can choose what specific programs you want access to as soon as the computer comes on.

This right here would be FANTASTIC for non-Windows netbooks.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Oct 28th 2008 9:14AM]

I'd love it for this instant-on option to be available in all computers that I use. Looks like we're headed that way.

[John @ Oct 28th 2008 9:15AM]

So does this basically work by loading a teaser OS to entertain the user while the real OS is loading?

[AJ in the East Bay @ Oct 28th 2008 9:21AM]

From what I understand, no. This is just a quick OS and to go to your regular OS you press a button and wait for the normal loading process. Background OS loading would be the Holy Grail for sure.

[JerkfacedFed @ Oct 28th 2008 10:15AM]

that is what microsoft must be working on. windows 7 uses server 08 technology, it is not far fetched to think a hypervisor is loaded first. then it loads the quick OS that can run IE /messenger, while Windows 7 loads in the background. once you see its done, you can click a button and power down the quickos and login. that would be great

[alex @ Oct 28th 2008 4:30PM]

...and when the main OS is finished loading in the background it opens up what you were working on in the quick OS so its just a seemless switch

[Mark Hinkle @ Oct 28th 2008 9:17AM]

I just received my Asus N10 while it skirts the line between UMPC and netbook it does in fact have the SplashTop installed.

[takemetoyourtoaster @ Oct 28th 2008 4:00PM]

hey how well does that work, you likey the n10 and which one do you have

[mike k. @ Oct 28th 2008 9:23AM]

I love this idea. This would probably be great for my inlaws. Most of the time they're just browsing the internet, and don't need to boot fully into something like Windows. Hell I want this for myself.

[bob sakamano @ Oct 28th 2008 9:37AM]

how is something like this for running video?

im hesitant to get a netbook (either the mini inspiron or s10) ... but not so sure how they handle video

[Ian @ Oct 28th 2008 9:57AM]

Not good.

Splashtop is supposed to require the bare minimum with regards to cpu and resource requirements. This is why the apps that you can use in Splashtop do not require you to boot the full OS in order to use them. However, I thought Splashtop laptops ran these small apps on an integrated processor that's different from the main CPU, which means that this S10e has a motherboard with the Intel Atom, and a low(er) power, slower processor (yes, slower and less power hungry than an Intel Atom).

[DssTrainer @ Oct 28th 2008 9:46AM]

wow Lenovo actually listens to us ! now if they will only put the Trackpoint in instead of the touchpad we might get a netbook that people actually want!

[Jeff @ Oct 28th 2008 12:06PM]

Amen to that. Man, when are people going to figure out that there is much better control with a TrackPoint.

[enigma @ Oct 30th 2008 9:51AM]

trackpoint would be great for sure! but the multi-touch is kind of nifty, too...

[Conceyted @ Oct 28th 2008 9:53AM]

What is the S10e??? I can't find any previous mention of it here on engadget, yet the writer speaks as if he has mentioned it before.

[Raheem @ Oct 28th 2008 10:01AM]

Tags are your friend!

http://www.engadget.com/tag/s10

[Conceyted @ Oct 28th 2008 10:06AM]

I browsed the tag before I posted and saw no mention of the S10e. However, upon further research it appears that this article IS the article debuting the S10e. My apologies.

[JohnM @ Oct 28th 2008 10:18AM]

Anychance of getting this sort of thing on an eeepc 701?

[Naqueal @ Oct 28th 2008 10:27AM]

This feature is old news...the HTC Shift had dual boot capabilities ... win ce/vista. You could play around in a windows mobile enviorment while vista loaded up in the background. Some people even hacked it to get full winmo os

[JLove.Pro @ Oct 28th 2008 11:30AM]

Is it just me, or the CHAT icon is Finder's ugly cousin?

[John @ Oct 29th 2008 1:25PM]

Good eye. It's like they combine the icon from Mac's ichat with the finder icon from Apple (the "happy mac's" only been around for ages, so I'm sure they got the idea from somewhere else).

[Chad @ Oct 28th 2008 1:30PM]

I love the SplashTop concept. And it makes perfect sense on a netbook. Throw some notepad/AbiWord/Bean/WordPad type thing on there, and you wouldn't really need a full OS to do most of what a netbook is supposed to do. Or at least have the browser work with Google Docs, or Zoho, etc.. Didn't Asus invent the SplashTop? When will we see this on the Eee PC?

PS - @JLove.Pro - it's not just you. My first thought was Finder Face as well.

[da0ne @ Oct 28th 2008 2:21PM]

it will be great if we could customize it.

[cargojack @ Oct 28th 2008 3:19PM]

Track point? Blech! I had one on my R40 and I preferred using the touchpad. I have an S10 now, and use a Logitech mouse with a nano receiver that stays in one of my USB ports.

[hotwings1 @ Oct 29th 2008 6:31PM]

About that chat icon, hmm. Interesting.