A new project release (read: pre-release/beta) version of Moblin Linux is now available for netbook users to download and test. Moblin 2.1 includes a number of enhancements and new feature. Here are some of the highlights:
- Support for 3G data connections
- Bluetooth device management
- Updated browser with plug-in support
- Integrated application installer for Moblin Garage
- Connection manager now supports Ethernet, WiFi, WiMAX, and 3G
- Support for more screen resolutions (important for running Moblin on a nettop or all-in-one PC)
These features are still works in progress. For instance, the only 3G modem that’s supported is the Ericsson MBM, but support for additional models is expected soon.
You can find a full list of the new features at the Moblin v2.1 project release page.
The interesting thing about Moblin is that it’s not just a standalone operating system. The developers at the Linux Foundation that are working on Moblin make the technology available to other Linux developers, so we’ve seen versions of Ubuntu, Linpus, and other Linux distributions that take advantage of the Moblin user interface and other optimizations for Intel Atom-powered netbooks.
via Netbook Choice
I was really excited to try it out, but then I realized that it doesn’t have support for the NVIDIA ION graphics chipset… I was naturally quite upset. Any idea if they are planning on adding support soon? If not, does anybody know a workaround?
Does this release support Intel’s GMA 500 graphics? Your “quake on a netbook” post suggests that they are working on true hardware 3d support (under Linux) for the first time…
I have tried installing Moblin for netbooks on my Asus EEE 701a pc. I was able to get it on a SD Card using a USB SD Card reader but it still booted to the SSD instead of the SDCard in the card reader slot. I will give this new one a try too.
It seems like a good os for netbooks.
I’m interested in test-driving this latest version of Moblin, but it’s an .IMG rather than an .ISO file, so I can’t use UNetBootin to put it on a USB stick…
Anybody else have a tool for Linux that you’d recommend?
usb-imagewriter is a very useful/simple gui that works very well on Ubuntu from intrepid all the way to karmic. Here is a link to a guide that shows different ways for Windows/Ubuntu/Mac so if you don’t run ubuntu…chances are you’ll find something helpful in there!
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromImgFiles
I’ll check it out… Thanks!