Good OS Plans Expansion of gOS to Support Intel Atom-based Netbooks

Good OS, an operating system development company, is expanding its gOS Linux operating system for netbooks (ultra-portable computers designed for Web surfing and e-mail) and nettops (low-cost desktop computers). A version of the OS that supports Intel (News - Alert) Atom processor-based netbooks and nettops, part of the Moblin open source project, will be released later this year.

 

Moblin, according to Moblin.org, is a Linux-based software platform used for building visually rich, dynamic and connected applications for devices based on Intel Atom processor technology. Moblin's common core allows application portability for running on mobile Internet devices (MIDs), netbooks, and nettops.

 

The open source gOS platform, Good OS said, will help original equipment manufacturers offer these types of lightweight computers at competitive prices.

 

“We see a significant number of netbook opportunities today, and Moblin technologies will provide gOS a lower cost platform to develop new products,” said David Liu, Good OS founder and CEO, in a statement. “There are many new and exciting possibilities in the Moblin project, and we look forward to developing the best cloud computing interface possible on top of Moblin.”

 

Good OS has partnered with an OEM (name and other details not disclosed) using Moblin for Intel Atom processor-based netbooks.

 

“By utilizing Moblin, Good OS is providing their customers full internet functionality on Intel Atom processor-based devices,” said Ram Peddibhotla, director of Intel’s Open Source Technology Center, in a statement. “Moblin based operating systems like gOS helps deliver longer battery life, faster boot performance, and more comprehensive media experience on netbook devices.”

 

Since its public inception, gOS has been attracting many OEM customers. gOS debuted on the $199 Everex gPC at Wal-Mart Stores late last year. Since then, many PC OEMs have chosen gOS for their netbooks, nettops, and other Internet PC products for consumers.

 

gOS can be operated by even inexperienced computer users who simply want an easy way to check e-mail, browse the Web and share some photos online. This is the reason why it primarily targets netbook and touchscreen device vendors interested in pre-installing a customized version of Linux, without having to do a lot of development work, the company said. Users can also gOS source code and participate in its development.