Intel announced a prototype MID at the Intel Developer Forum in Spring 2007 in Beijing. An MID development kit by Sophia Systems using Intel Centrino Atom was announced in April 2008.[5]
[edit]Hardware
The device contains a processor and chipset produced by Intel that consumes less power than most of the x86 derivatives and are an extension of the Centrino mobile platform. Currently, several platforms have been announced, as listed below:
- McCaslin platform (2007)
- This platform contains an Intel A100/A110 processor (codenamed Stealey) 90 nm running at 600-800 MHz respectively.
- Menlow platform (2008)
- This platform contains an Intel Atom processor (codenamed Silverthorne and Diamondville) 45 nm CMOS running up to 1.86 GHz. It uses Poulsbo Chipset (aka System Controller Hub) and includes Intel HD Audio, Azalia. Note that Azalia here doesn't refer to the HD Audio codec.
- Moorestown platform (2009)
- This platform contains an Intel Atom processor (codenamed Lincroft) 45 nm.
[edit]Operating system
Intel MIDs will run an embedded version of Linux with a finger friendly user interface modified by Intel. However, with the dual-core processor, the device is capable of running Windows XPand Windows Vista.
Intel said it would demo the version of Linux, based on China's Red Flag Linux known as Red Flag MIDINUX, in May.
Later, Intel announced collaboration with Ubuntu to create Ubuntu for Mobile Internet Devices distribution, known as Ubuntu MID Edition. Ubuntu's website says the new distribution "will provide a rich Internet experience for users of Intel’s 2008 Mobile Internet Device (MID) platform."[6]
Ubuntu Mobile Internet Device (MID) Edition
Introducing Ubuntu MID Edition - full Internet, no compromise
Ubuntu MID Edition targets an exciting new class of computers called Mobile Internet Devices. Ubuntu MID, based on the world's most popular Linux distribution, and MID hardware from OEMs and ODMs, is redefining what can be done in mobile computing.
Ubuntu MID Edition, a fully open source project, gives the full Internet, with no compromise. Custom options may include licensed codecs and popular third-party applications.
- Full Web 2.0/AJAX fidelity, with custom options of Adobe Flash®, Java, and more
- Outstanding media playback so you can enjoy videos, music and photos with superior quality and easy navigation
- A suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of a digital parent, student or anyone who is on-the-go
- Facebook®, MySpace®, YouTube®, Dailymotion®, 3D games, GPS, maps, in short, the full Web 2.0 experience delivered into your hands as a compact and powerful device that's easy and fun to use
The product of Canonical collaboration with Intel® and the open source community, Ubuntu MID Edition is the software that makes it all possible.
Just the right stuff
Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded just works, and it works just right.
Just the right applications provide an uncompromised Web 2.0 experience: Web browsing, email, media, camera, VoIP, instant messaging, GPS, blogging, digital TV, games, contacts, dates/calendar, simple software updates... and lots more.
All unnecessary complexity in the user experience is eliminated.
Finger friendly, touch driven
Ubuntu MID is finger friendly, with no stylus needed. You drive Ubuntu MID with touch. Simply tap the screen or drag a finger to make gestures for intuitive navigation and control.
- Tap an application with your finger to launch it, and tap menus and buttons to use them.
- Swipe a web page to pan up, down or sideways.
- Swipe a video, photo, song or thumbnail page to move to the next or the previous one.
Leveraging the MID
MIDs typically have the following features and attributes:
- Small size/form factor
- 4 to 7 inch touch screen
- Physical and/or virtual keyboard
- Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, WiMAX
- 2GB to 8GB Flash or disk storage, 256MB+ memory/512MB+ recommended
- OpenGL 3D
- USB, camera, head phone jack, speakers, microphone
Customizable
Clutter User Interface
Flash User Interface
Ubuntu MID Edition is highly flexible and customizable. It is an ideal platform for the kind of product differentiation that reaches target users and penetrates key markets.
- User interface in HTML, Flash, Clutter, Python with GTK, C/C++ with GTK and Java
- Different application sets for different products or configurations
- Integration with popular Web 2.0 sites
- Internationalization and translation support to meet market requirements
- Custom sets of licensed media codecs and third-party proprietary software for commercial partners
- Custom engineering
OEMs, ODMs, operators and developers can customize Ubuntu MID to their desired look and feel and offer just the right capabilities to meet their specific requirements. Canonical can assist through its Custom Engineering program.
For information about Canonical custom engineering services, email mobile@canonical.com.
Community
The Ubuntu MID Edition is produced by the Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded community that includes many individuals and organizations and always welcomes new participants and partners.
Places to get started:
- For information about UM&E, seehttp://wiki.ubuntu.com/MobileAndEmbedded
- For information about Intel's MID Linux Moblin project, see http://moblin.org
A netbook is a light-weight, low-cost, energy-efficient, highly portable laptop suitable for web browsing, email and general purpose applications. To achieve their small form factor, low weight and affordability, netbooks offer fewer features, less processing power[1] and reduced ability to run resource-intensive operating systems.[1]
Though specifications and features of netbooks are highly variable, one report at the end of 2008 suggested the typical netbook featured a 3-lb weight, a 9-inch screen, a wireless Internet connectivity, Microsoft Windows XP, an Intel chip and a cost of less than $400.[2]
Netbooks are targeted at users increasingly accessing web-based applications — also known as Cloud computing[3] — that do not require intensive resources available on the client computer.[3]
History
Led by the popularization of small-form-factor laptops by Asus and then others, the term 'netbook' became a widely used and genericized[4][5] industry classification rather than a reference to a particular product. By April 2008, Intel had begun officially using the term netbook to recognize a specific sub-category of laptops.[6][7]
The term had existed previously — though related to specific products rather than a category of laptops:
The influx of small form factor laptops categorized as netbooks began in 2007, when Asus unveiled the Intel Celeron-based ASUS Eee PC running a customised version of Linux with a 7 inch color screen.[7] These netbooks measured 8.9 × 6.5in, featured less-than-full-sized keyboards, and could be customized by users to run alternate operating systems. Since its introduction, the Eee PC has been a top seller on Amazon.com[12].
In mid February 2008, Everex launched its VIA chipset based CloudBook, running gOS. The CloudBook is based on the VIA nanobook reference design. Unlike its closest competitor, the Eee PC, the CloudBook has a hard disk drive. The design of the CloudBook is optimized so it can be held in one hand while typing, or in two hands when using the mouse-cursor control, with the left thumb controlling the two "mouse buttons", and the right thumb a small trackpad. Both mousepad and keys are placed directly under the screen.
In June 2008, MSI launched the MSI Wind PC with features such as Bluetooth and a 10" LED, backlit, 1024x600 screen. This new laptop is the first built with Intel Atom low power technology and competes with the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC which has a 8.9" screen and is capable of a higher resolution. Both laptops are offered with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (from Novell) and Microsoft Windows pre-installed; HP offers Windows Vista on their laptop while MSI ships with only XP Home edition.[13][14]
[edit]Hardware
The netbook's form factor prioritizes small size and low weight — with a smaller size than a notebook and a typical weight of 2 to 3 lb (about 1 kg). To this end, netbooks typically feature an LCD screen of 7-10 inches, measured diagonally, and a keyboard usually 80 percent to 95 percent of a full-sized laptop's. Netbooks may include wireless connectivity and solid-state drives — and may forego a hard disk drive[15] or optical disc drive.
[edit]Software
The pre-installed operating system for a netbook may include a custom version of a GNU/Linux (such as Ubuntu Netbook Remix[16] or Linpus Linux) or Windows XP Home Edition.[17]Advanced users may install other operating systems including other custom versions of Linux or Windows XP Professional.
Netbooks may be able to run full office applications; however, users also may rely on applications and services available on the Internet — known as cloud computing — which require less intensive hardware.[18]
In April 2008, Microsoft extended availability of Windows XP from June, 2008 until June, 2010.[19] — when deployed on ultra-low cost personal computers (ULCPCs)[20] — possibly to deter netbooks from gaining market share at the expense of full-featured desktops and laptops[21] and deter increased use of Linux installations on netbooks.[22]
Microsoft qualifies ultra-low cost personal computers (ULCPCs) as systems matching the following hardware classification requirements:[23]
- Memory: Shipped with 1 GB RAM or less
- Screen: 10.2" or smaller
- Storage: 80 GB (although this limit seems to be increased up to 160 GB for HDD by now) or 16 GB SSD
- No tablet PC functionality
- DirectX version 9 graphics processing unit (GPU) or below
- Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) S4 sleep state is optional
[edit]Sales
Netbooks have begun to take market share away from laptops[24] and sales are expected to increase up to 50 million by the year 2012.[25]. In Q3 2008, netbook sales overtook iPhone sales by 900,000 units.[26]
Netbooks were thought to be returned more frequently than ordinary laptops according to MSI's director of US Sales, Andy Tung who stated that Linux-based netbooks are returned four times as often as Windows-based ones, suggesting the excess over laptops is attributable to the purchasers' unfamiliarity with Linux or lack of software support.[27] However, this only reflects MSI's data because ASUS's CEO Jerry Chen believes the Linux and Windows versions have similar return rates while ASUS netbooks returns are low.[28]
Overall, the Linux market share on netbooks has increased over notebooks, especially in Europe where the demand is higher for Linux.[29][28]
[edit]Gallery
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