Earlier this year Canonical announced that it was working on a light-weight version of Ubuntu Linux designed to work as a quick-boot OS option. It’s called Ubuntu Light, and like Splashtop or HyperSpace, the idea is that you can run the OS on the same computer as Windows or another fuller-feature operating system. Then at boot you have the choice of booting Ubuntu Light, which should take around 10 to 20 seconds, or Windows , which might take closer to a minute.
We haven’t really heard much about Ubuntu Light for a while, but now it looks like Dell is shipping the quick-boot OS with the Inspiron M101z portable notebook. I didn’t notice the software on the M101z I reviewed a few months ago, so it looks like this might be a recent addition.
Ubuntu Light includes a web browser and some other apps — but last I heard, you couldn’t actually add and remove apps, which is part of the reason the OS boots faster than a full version of Ubuntu Linux.
I’m not entirely sold on the whole quick-boot OS, because most people I know use the sleep or hibernate functions on their computers more often than they completely shut them down — and you can often resume from sleep much faster than it takes even a quick-boot OS to load. But if you’re interested in Ubuntu Light, it looks like the Dell M101z is one of the first machines to ship with it preinstalled.
There’s also a downloadable recovery disc, but it’s designed to work only with the Dell Inspiron M101z.
via Netbook News and OMG Ubuntu
I think ideally Ubuntu Light should have a dedicated 4GiB solid state drive which would give it “instant on” capabilities (sub 10 second boot). Hopefully future devices will include that setup.
I am probably one of the few people who still shutdown their laptops, mainly to preserve battery.
Windows 7 improved the booting time so much that even on my Toshiba T115 with single core CULV and 5400rpm HDD it boots in 30 seconds; not as fast as coming back from hibernation but it’s fast enough for me.
Windows 7 didn’t improve shit. Can’t believe MS hire people to write this crap on blogs and forums..
LOL
I love it when anons think they know better…..
And FYI, I don’t get paid by MS. If you can’t stand someone praising MS for once then don’t come here and spew unfounded accusations.
“you couldn’t actually add and remove apps, which is part of the reason the OS boots faster than a full version of Ubuntu Linux.”
Wrong! Doh! – This version of ubuntu is as fully featured as the desktop one – if you want to add/remove, just fire up the ‘Ubuntu Software Center’. I cannot believe that reviews as inaccurate as this are allowed to hit the internet!!
A. Welcome to the internet.
B. I did say “last I heard,” but since the software isn’t available for
download, which means I haven’t been able to test it for myself. Where is
your information coking from?
Official PDF on Ubuntu Light,
https://www.canonical.com/sites/default/files/active/images/Ubuntu%20Light%20Datasheet.pdf
It clearly states that the “application set is limited” and that this version is a simplified version intended for a dual boot/companion with Windows.
Only in peripheral device compatibility is it stated to be not limited and it supports updates.
Everything else will have to wait till it’s officially released before we know how well it performs and whether you can even add or remove apps.
I hate to burst your bubble, but the article is correct and the screenshot provided is wildly inaccurate. You cannot “fire up the ‘Ubuntu Software Center’ because it doesn’t exist in this version of Ubuntu Light. It’s beautifully simple. 🙂