MeeGo v1.0 for Netbooks Review

Let’s face it: If you’re an ExtremeTech reader, chances are netbooks aren’t generally on your radar. The tiny notebooks are usually best for those who just want to do the most basic of basics—Web browsing, e-mail, maybe IM—and not much else. In fact, were it not for the fact that Linux is a popular operating system of choice for them due to its nonexistent cost, they’d have almost no appeal to the DIYer whatsoever.

But MeeGo may give even them reasons to raise an eyebrow. The open-source, Linux-based OS was announced at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, and a new tablet demonstrating it was just shown off at Computex. The project unites Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo into one OS using Nokia’s Qt development platform. The result is aimed squarely at making netbooks (and other similar platforms, like nettops, “in-vehicle infotainment devices,” connected TVs, and media phones) faster, easier, and more fun to use as mobile communications devices.

Version 1.0 of the core MeeGo software platform was released last week. It’s got a kernel based on 2.6.33, and uses DeviceKit and udev for interacting with hardware; its default file system is Btrfs(Opens in a new window). The goal of the platform is to provide “developers with a stable core foundation for application development.” and the netbook version (optimized for Intel Atom–based systems) is the first to officially appear. Subsequent releases will follow roughly every six months; v1.1, due in October, will have an emphasis on touch, making it just right for handsets and tablets.

For the on the MeeGo v1.0 for Netbooks, check out Extremetech.com

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