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Bypass Windows With Fast-Boot Technology
thatnerdguy writes "Phoenix Technologies, a developer of BIOS software, is working on a new technology called Hyperspace that will allow you to instantly load certain applications like email, web browser and media player, without loading windows. It could even lead to tailoring of computers to even more specific demographics, like a student laptop preloaded with word processor, email and an IM all available at the press of a button." Why is this story setting off alarms in my brain?
That's not "fast-boot technology". It's "just another software program". One with a great purpose, but not worth distinguishing as "technology".
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
Seriously though, it really is old technology.
http://www.linuxbios.org/
Bears don't normally eat things that talk and move backwards.
This sounds very similar to virtualization technologies being developed that allow an application, say a database, to run in a virtual environment on a server without having an underlying OS. Why not virtualize a desktop as well? Why not run a simple OS with networking capabilities?
My concern would be data security, as if you wanted to run a word processor or any app that needs access to your hard drive or thumb drive, you would have to have appropriate security built into the miniOS to handle reading and writing. An option would be to provide some onboard flash storage for Hyperspace to use. How much can you enable the end user to customize the user experience without opening up the system to security risks?
Nasty issues to be handled in embedded BIOS applications:
I guess you can cram this in 4M of flash if you are top notch programmer, 128M if you are not. Either way the hardware won't add more than $20 to the cost of the laptop, so I suppose it is a good thing, as long as you can disable it.
It does open an interesting option: If a user only needs email and web access, they don't need to install an OS at all.
In all the years I've been helping people with their home computers, I've only encountered one person that actually "just checked email". The rest _say_ they only check email. Then watch their computer boot. Some random instant messaging client pops up and I get, "oh yeah, I use that to message my friends/book club/church group/whatever". They have a solitaire shortcut on their desktop that they use when they're bored. They have some program they use to edit photos of their grandchildren they receive in the email.
By the time all is said and done, they do a heck of a lot more than just email and more than what probably makes sense for some trimmed down applications.
Apple just makes systems that properly wake up from hibernation/sleep quickly. My Macbook is the first machine that simply just works.. close the lid when you're done, stash the machine.. open the lid and unpause the still open itunes in under 15 seconds! I'd say Apple has already done one better.. implementing a bios CORRECTLY in the first place!
Ah yes, eventually I figured out how to do it with my old Toshiba, considering how the default mode was hibernate, and nowhere does it recommend or even mention that an alternate, faster sleep mode was available, and indeed the option was hidden deep within the guts of the OS.
Apple's "it just works" mantra isn't rocket science, among other things it's about being non-stupid with your default settings, and exposing features in a usable, easy to find manner.
Joe user isn't going to know the difference between hibernate and sleep, he just wants his machine to be snappy and work. So while the underlying technology is no different, one machine gets a much more favorable impression.
Yes. Amiga had a 32-bit preemptive multitasking OS in ROM in the 80s.
Making laws based on opinions that stem up from false informations leads to witch hunts.
From your link:
We hold this truth to be self-evident, that those in Congress who vote on legislation they have not read, have not represented their constituents. They have misrepresented them.
Sadly, I think that signing something they haven't even read is rather strongly representative of their constituents.