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HP Releases New Netbook GUI For Ubuntu

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the user-friendly-the-new-goal dept.

dan of the north writes to tell us that a new custom version of Ubuntu aimed at netbooks and based on 8.04 Hardy Heron has been released by HP. Targeted to the HP Mini 1000 Mi, the netbook customization comes complete with OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Sunbird, Pidgin, and a few others. "Overall, HP has created one of the best thought out Linux interfaces for netbooks. The software is designed so that users who have never used Linux should have no trouble performing basic tasks. But experienced Linux users can always fire up a terminal window by hitting Alt+F2 and entering 'gnome-terminal.'"

14 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. FOSS At Its Best by phantomcircuit · · Score: 5, Insightful

    HP has taken a solid product improved it and is using it to improve the value of it's own product.

    Everybody involved benefits (except microsoft...).

    1. Re:FOSS At Its Best by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I would. Taking a free resource and creating a GUI to make what your customers want easier to do and more easier to understand is far from a bad thing. It's an improvement to get more attention and more computers on linux.

      This would be perfect for older generations who do not understand the difference in computers and really only understand what they can do with the software that boots up and opens in front of them. Having something like this for an older parent might be all they need and might make their computer use more efficient. For those of us like me... I still want to be able to do everything and never have it change... most of "us" realize we're a bit too picky at times.

  2. netbook by flynt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I almost got the HP Mini 1000 but decided on a different netbook due to the proprietary VGA cable needed to connect the HP to a larger screen. I went with the Samsung NC10 instead, and I am not disappointed in the least. The first thing I did was to install Ubuntu on the Samsung, and it works just fine for the most part (the function keys to control brightness being the only thing I had to work around). I got a 2GB stick of RAM for it, and honestly don't find it underpowered in the least. I think it's a great machine to bring on the road to get some coding done; I don't think it's limited to simply web browsing and email.

  3. A way to unseat Windows dominance by bbasgen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Netbooks can play a huge role in unseating the Windows monopoly. Just as Linux has "snuck in the backdoor" as the leading OS on embedded devices, it is also the most obvious and best answer for netbooks. As we move away from expensive "generalist" computers into the realm of truly commodity hardware, Windows just can't compete. Hopefully wide-scale netbook adoption of Linux can get a big enough base of ordinary users that Linux can grow to adapt to their needs. :)

    1. Re:A way to unseat Windows dominance by binarylarry · · Score: 5, Funny

      Oh we'll see about that.

      In 15 minutes, I'll be in a meeting with some HP people I know. And I'm going to one thing very clear to them: Keep selling Linux on your Netbooks and I will fucking kill you. I've done it before and I will do it again.

      With push overs like these HP fuckers, I won't even need the chair this time.

      Yours Truly,
      Steve B

      --
      Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
    2. Re:A way to unseat Windows dominance by linhares · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not only netbooks. Anything below the $400 price point can't afford $30+ if there's a cheaper alternative. Probably some larger laptops (13"?) will use atoms of via nanos and drop the dvd. With more space, they could run cooler and get even cheaper parts. Anything below $250 cannot afford $30+ for windows. All the upcoming ***tops below $250 will run linux, I bet.

  4. Pretty cool, actually by CannonballHead · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Frankly, it makes sense that a computer system company (HP, Dell, etc) would actively pursue releasing a linux distro that works well/specifically designed to work well with their specific hardware, etc. (I presume this is going to include drivers for all of the included hardware in the mini), and is "easy" to use and looks good...

    I'm surprised more companies haven't done this, actually.

    1. Re:Pretty cool, actually by Red+Flayer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I was just making the point that the OP shouldn't have been surprised that a company would choose to tweak on OS to run well on the hardware they sell. This is the crux of Apple's computer business model.

      Apples are easy to use, and optimised for certain tasks... and this is possible because Apple only has to deal with a very limited set of hardware components and configurations.

      HP contributing to a Linux distro in order to optimise for their particular hardware configuration is similar to what Apple did.

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  5. Excellent! by je+ne+sais+quoi · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is precisely what we want to see. Hardware manufacturers using the openness and customizability of Linux and free software to ensure not only that their software and their hardware play nice but to give the device a look and feel that is distinct and tailored to the device. I think we can all agree that Apple owes at least part of its success to a relatively seamless and user-friendly interface between hardware and software. Linux and open source software should allow the same thing but any hardware manufacturer could do it rather than just Apple. If they had put windows on it, this netbook would act more or less like every other windows laptop out there, just less powerful. Instead, they have something that is actually exciting.

    --
    Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
    1. Re:Excellent! by nine-times · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yeah, I've sort of been waiting for this. It makes a lot of sense to me that OEMs would want their pre-installed OS to be something that they could control completely, even if they don't technically "own" it.

      Once upon a time, every computer company came out with their own hardware and software package. You had Apple, IBM, Commodore, etc. Some of the reason that everyone came out with their own software was because they weren't allowed to just take each others' software, but some of it was also that they each had different ideas about what was important.

      That model fell apart because it was too expensive for everyone to develop everything themselves from scratch, and also because it was too annoying to deal with all the incompatibilities. However, by turning to Microsoft as an alternate solution, everyone sacrificed a lot of power and control over their own products.

      Now that there are credible FOSS operating systems just sitting around waiting to be used, the problems of "starting from scratch" and "dealing with incompatibilities" are pretty much gone. If I were running Dell or HP, I would have had people working on custom/rebranded Linux or BSD distributions for several years already, including packaging systems and servers that would allow my company to control updates too.

  6. Re:Why 8.04? by moosesocks · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just guessing, but 8.04 is a Long-Term-Support release.

    --
    -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
  7. And it won't even... by arhhook · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It won't even come bundled with toolbars, trials, demos, etc that their Windows computers come bundled with.

    This is excellent to see.

  8. Re:Win+R by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From an ergonomic standpoint, "ALT+F2" is easier to press in almost all scenarios than "Windows Key+R"

    If you hunt-and-peck:
    - ALT+F2: Thumb on alt, Index finger on F2. One does not need to bend their wrists upwards
    - WIN+R: Thumb on Win, index on R. One has to rotate wrist, elbow, and shoulder.

    If you use home row:
    - ALT+F2: Same as the hunt-and-peck
    - WIN+R: Bending either the left or right thumb inwards, extending index finger to the R key.

    If you have a DVORAK layout:
    - ALT+F2: No fucking clue, I don't use DVORAK keyboards because the name reminds me of John Dvorak.
    - WIN+R: Same as above

  9. Its about time.... by mlwmohawk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For almost 25 years Microsoft has been dictating the OS and hardware for personal computers. Both consumers and producers alike have suffered.

    Better systems not supported by Microsoft languished.

    Companies with really good ideas run bankrupt when Microsoft copies them and incorporates their knock-off into DOS/Windows.

    Before Microsoft, system companies competed on features and support. These days everything is about price and with "windows" being the price point, the HPs and Dells of the world have to play ball with Microsoft.

    If, however, the Windows stranglehold can be weakened in that people accept that they don't NEED windows, then that opens opportunity for Linux and other systems.

    It is about time the OEMs started flexing their muscle. Once they free themselves, they opportunities will grow!! Economic growth for sure!