Linpus set to debut first Moblin 2.0 distribution for end users

While we've been getting a pretty good look at Moblin 2.0 as of late, we haven't been hearing much about the end-user distributions that'll actually be winding up on netbooks and nettops as the Linux-based OS moves out of beta. Linpus now looks set to change that, however, with it announcing that it'll be showing off a Moblin version of its Linpus Linux Lite OS at Computex next week, which is apparently the first such end-user distribution to emerge. What's more, while the initial batch of screenshots don't exactly offer many surprises, Linpus says that it has indeed put its own touch on the interface, and that it's version will boot in just 15 seconds and give users access to a live desktop that'll let them quickly access a range of websites and applications. Not many more details beyond that, unfortunately, but we're sure this is just beginning of Moblin talk that'll emerge out of Computex.

[Noel @ May 27th 2009 4:13PM]

Moblin rocks...

[LonelyTV @ May 28th 2009 7:15PM]

...if you have friends

[SchmuckyTheCat @ May 27th 2009 4:55PM]

I don't want to run an open sores OS named after the crusty ooze from a gaping wound.

[glenn s @ May 27th 2009 4:19PM]

Don't get me wrong, because I use Linux on a daily basis. But can they please come up with a better name than "Linpus". It sounds like a disease. "Don't go near him, he has Linpus! "

[lostmotel @ May 27th 2009 4:20PM]

It's not linpus!

[JWC @ May 27th 2009 4:22PM]

My linux has lupus. You got your lupus in my linux. Oh yeah put your linux in my lupus baby.

[giuliop @ May 27th 2009 5:49PM]

I wonder if conveying the image of a purulent distribution is in their plan.

[culbeda @ May 27th 2009 7:42PM]

Salve early, salve often.

[ghex88 @ May 28th 2009 11:30AM]

Linux for Pussies. Damn those hardliner Linux homophobic sexist.

[McPOW @ May 27th 2009 4:21PM]

Seriously, Linpus guys: stop what you are doing right now and rename your company. Right now. No... put down that crackpipe... rename!

[Félix @ May 27th 2009 6:07PM]

I second that.
Debian... why not.
Ubuntu ? at least it has a meaning.
fedora ?? (ok I've got nothing for this one..)
opensuse ? fair enough.

But linpus ? omg.

[Shunnabunich @ May 27th 2009 6:57PM]

I can't decide whether it evokes imagery of "limping" or "pus" more strongly. When did either of these become good things to associate with an already struggling OS family?

[Mikee @ May 27th 2009 7:48PM]

@Félix

A Fedora is a hat. Fedora comes from Red Hat. Get it?

[digitallysick @ May 27th 2009 4:31PM]

Moblin is so fast its and has a clean look to it, only issue is i cant seem to figure out how to get it to support my wireless, i dont know how to get ndiswrapper and some of the normal linux commands dont work in it as of now (ifconfig)

[Brazell @ May 27th 2009 4:46PM]

You can call me the Linnerpus, Linnerpus. And guess what ... I LOVE PANC.......

[qrius @ May 27th 2009 4:53PM]

so can i download moblin somewhere?

[TrackDrew @ May 27th 2009 5:11PM]

Yes, you can download a beta image from Moblin's website.

[qrius @ May 27th 2009 5:03PM]

hm - sounds like it still has a lot of issues:

http://moblin.org/documentation/test-drive-moblin/known-issues

[insky @ May 27th 2009 7:53PM]

Yeah, that's the biggest problem right now. There's so much you can't do that I feel like I'm wearing mittens trying to use the old iMac puck mouse. There's still quite a few bugs. A bunch of programs hang at random. Of course this is beta software so bugs are bound to happen...it's just that this is the worst beta software I've ever tried. You can't even change the wallpaper.

On the plus side all my drivers loaded automatically on the first startup...even the multi-touch drivers for my Eee Pc.

[JohnWesleyHarding @ May 29th 2009 2:40PM]

I think moblin is off to an amazing start coming for a usability standpoint and looking at the quick start up time. On the other hand, there are so many bugs with it currently (I tested it for about a week), that to call it a beta is misleading. It is more at an alpha stage, where there are multiple problems with the package manager, and to get flash along with mp3 support terminal lines for fedora and centOS were needed. My only other complaint is that they do not have a playlist for the media center, so each song needed to be picked individually.

I do not mean to scare people away because, within a couple of months, this OS will be extraordinary, with one of the best user interfaces I have dealt with (it is so simple and perfect for a netbook).

I am excited to see what additions Linpus makes.

[Craig @ May 27th 2009 5:06PM]

I'm curious to see if they will be able to deliver any kind of support for Broadcom wireless cards. The beta of Moblin 2.0 looked great on my Dell Mini 9, but the Broadcom wireless card didn't work without some kludgy hacking.

[seamusddog @ May 27th 2009 5:51PM]

C'mon guys, get together with the HP MIE folks and make one really good Linux platform for netbooks. No need for two (or more - if you count UNR) half baked Linux implementations

[bebop @ May 27th 2009 9:10PM]

Considering the netbook hardware is essentially a closed set, it's amazing that there are a half dozen linux distros clamoring for attention. Linpus (Fed 8 XFCE version on Aspire One), Xandros and Suse on some early Eee pcs and hp machines, MIE, UNR, and now moblin-Linpus respin.

Had the energy been pooled we could have actually had one excellent implementation of linux instead of six half baked ones.

I gave up on Linpus XFCE and bought a netbook with XP instead. Although Linpus worked and was pleasant enough, it was a royal pain to customize and as time went on started to get shakier and shakier as fewer applications played nice with the old Fedora 8 core it was based on.

[Stevenfb @ May 27th 2009 5:54PM]

I second that motion.

[Stevenfb @ May 27th 2009 5:55PM]

On the subject of changing name of this distro.

[Fanfoot @ May 27th 2009 6:10PM]

Will be interesting if the "intel CPU only" part of Moblin survives very long given its open source nature...

[Will @ May 27th 2009 6:38PM]

I'll wait for a better distro to implement the software. Linpus angered me too much on a friend's netbook. We replaced it with the EEEbuntu build.

[singj51 @ May 27th 2009 8:14PM]

Open source seems to be the way to go. I like Windows because of the bells and whistles but someday Linux will be an alternative OS everyone can enjoy.
http://jamesmsingleton.com

[HereAndNow @ May 28th 2009 4:47AM]

Assuming, ultimately, there are multiple Moblin-based distributions (e.g. Linpus-Moblin, Ubuntu-Moblin, SUSE-Moblin, Fedora-Moblin, ...), how are users going to know the differences between them? Engadget, CNET, etc. reviews?

Then there will likely be cases where hardware vendors do their own customizations (e.g. HP & Dell, created their own derivatives of Ubuntu). Would their desktop be labelled "HP/Dell based on Ubuntu-Moblin"?

Wouldn't it be better to just have one "Moblin" distribution that can be tailored using home screen templates, application bundles, etc.? Then, users would know exactly what they have and can change it, to suit their taste/needs.

[The_WB @ May 28th 2009 6:12AM]

Look at the first Asus eee's with Linpus. After playing with it, Linux users dumped this OS sooooo fast, the wind generated equaled a Cat 5 hurricane. Now they want to modify Moblin to Linpus form -- stay away Linpus, don't screw this version of Linux up! Moblin is a breath of fresh air and Linpus will set back the course of progress.

[rgloginja @ May 28th 2009 6:22PM]

Sure - it is oozing. With goodness!
http://www.mad-hub.com

[mrChin @ May 28th 2009 12:50PM]

i'd actually love to see a version of Moblin designed to run on the PS3. it'd be pretty much perfect since they're aiming for netbooks AND nettops. could the PS3 not count as the latter?

[frsazevedo @ Jun 1st 2009 12:01PM]

What is the difference between a Moblin 2.0 Linpus and a regular Moblin 2.0 live image?

I really don't understand. Pre-installed apps ? The fancy logo on the left corner?