Splashtop “instant on” software coming to Acer, Sony computers

Splashtop

DeviceVM’s Splashtop software provides an “instant on” environment that lets you start using a computer without waiting for a full desktop operating system to load. Basically, Splashtop is a stripped down version of Linux that runs a handful of programs including Firefox and Pidgin to let you surf the web and chat with your friends 10-20 seconds after hitting the power button instead of waiting for Windows to boot.

The company has already reached deals with a handful of PC makers including Lenovo to offer the software on netbooks and other computers. Now it looks like Splashtop is also coming to the Acer AspireRevo nettop and Sony VAIO NW notebook line.

Honestly, it doesn’t take that much longer to load Windows or a full Linux distribution like Ubuntu on these computers, so I’m not sure there’s a great demand for “instant on” software. But maybe I’m in the minority here. Have you used Splashtop or another quick start software application? What do you think of it? Let us know int he comments.

via jkOnTheRun

Posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009, 5:18 pm by Brad Linder

MonkeyKing1969

To boot on my Sammy takes about 40 seconds or so. If this software did it in 8-10 seconds it would be fine, but 20 or 25 is too long. Instant-on is what these devices should be shooting for…then again I'm old enough to remember when my TV took 10-20 seconds to “warm up” and show a picture.

That's right kiddies, televisions used to “fade-in” over many seconds in the olden days. In the 1970s you could get instant on TVs without paying too much more. I remember the first TV remote I saw warned against pointing it at yourself lest you castrate yourself with x-rays or some such.
Mikez

There is a “persistent storage” driver going into Linux now.
You will be able to “sleep” to non-volatile storage RSN.
If your machine has that type of storage.
This may put a speed bump in the revenue plan of these
specialized “instant on” makers.
- – - -
Those early TV remotes where ultra-sonic – -
Not enough power to damage anything, but that wasn't
known for certain back then.
wayne

Why can't netbooks (and laptops in general) boot instantly?

I really like the way I can press a button, swipe the screen and my ipod is live again. it doesn't even take that long to connect to the internet.

Maybe if Apple ever release a larger version (the rumoured 7+ inch version) we will get “instant on” – they keep saying they plan on doing something different from the regular netbooks we currently have. This would sure be a point of difference!

If they ever get their push technology working, it could even wake the device up when mail arrives. You decide if it does or not. How good would that be? It would certainly change the way we view these devices.

Thanks MonkeyKing for the tv warming up analogy: it's been a long time but I think I remember our black and white tv doing the slow warm up too. Had forgotten that…
Kevin

Since I don't use my home computer everyday, there are definitely times that I specifically don't use my computer because what I need to do takes less time than the computer requires to start up. It's like driving 10 minutes out of my way to avoid 5 minutes of traffic. The “instant-on” is very appealing to light weight computer users that only need a computer in short intervals at random times.
Sean

My mini 9 already boots in 20 seconds thanks to a RunCore SSD upgrade. 2.5″ SSDs that will work in most netbooks are even faster and are becoming more reasonably priced every day (particularly in the low capacity range). Who needs Splashtop?
Mikez

Because those devices are never, really, totally, “off” -
Also, their operating systems are specifically designed to “pause”
while all the hardware is sleeping at stand-by levels.
That way there is no “sleep” and “resume” type of cycles.
Frozenwalkway

other than the instant on feature, these mini operating systems are supposed to have less strain on the battery. so in theory you could run in an instant on environment for longer if you need more battery time. i could see this as useful for note taking in classes and for those with 3 cell batteries.
BoloMKXXVIII

20 seconds is too long to be called “instant on” except by marketing people. If Windows CE can be instant on, why can't a light version of linux?
wayne

That's the point I was making re the ipod touch… they ARE instant on.

I don't care if they “somewhat on” as Mike responded. If they are, they are draining so little battery you don't notice they are getting flatter than just normal battery wastage.

If you have an “off” laptop that died in 2 weeks because you hadn't turned it on, then you probably wouldn't be too upset if you then had to fully reboot it.

If only a normal laptop/netbook would instant on in 2 seconds or less. 20 seconds is no improvement over my resume from hibernation that I currently use…
wayne

That's the point I was making re the ipod touch… they ARE instant on.

I don't care if they “somewhat on” as Mike responded. If they are, they are draining so little battery you don't notice they are getting flatter than just normal battery wastage.

If you have an “off” laptop that died in 2 weeks because you hadn't turned it on, then you probably wouldn't be too upset if you then had to fully reboot it.

If only a normal laptop/netbook would instant on in 2 seconds or less. 20 seconds is no improvement over my resume from hibernation that I currently use…
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I don’t care if they “somewhat on” as Mike responded. If they are, they are draining so little battery you don’t notice they are getting flatter than just normal battery wastage.

Splashtop “instant on” software coming to Acer, Sony computers

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