Linpus Technologies announced it will join Intel's “Moblin” Linux project, aimed at developing software for low-cost notebooks based on Intel Atom processors. The mature Linux distributor says its “Linux Lite” distribution runs 20 percent longer under batteries when using software developed… by the Moblin project.

(Click for larger view of Linpus Linux Lite)

Linpus is among the very oldest Linux distributors to target devices and easy-to-use computing appliances. It shipped its first distro in 2001, and in February added Linux Lite, targeted specifically at ultra low-cost, small form-factor computing. Linux Lite features a normal menu-based interface, as well as a launcher-based interface aimed at first-time PC users.

Acer's Linpus-based Aspire One (Click for details)

Linux Lite has been chalking up design wins recently in small form-factor, low-cost notebooks. These include:

• Thai systems integrator Norhtec's Gecko Laptop, a sub-$300 netbook based on a Quanta design
• Acer's Aspire One, announced today, and along with an MSI model, one of the very first crop of small notebooks based on Intel's Centrino Atom architecture

According to Linpus, Moblin software helped it to extend battery life, speed up boot time, and enhance the Internet and media experience offered by Linux Lite on Atom-based systems. Linpus will join the Moblin.org project, says the company.

The centerpiece of Moblin is a graphical tool aimed at helping developers build optimized software within a three-tiered chroot-based build environment, using an optimized compiler and libraries. Since Atom chips use in-order execution, they benefit significantly from compiler optimizations, similar to pre-Isaiah Via architectures. Another available Moblin tool, Powertop, helps developers make their Atom applications more power-efficient, and is also fun to use to extend battery life on normal Core2 Duo laptops running Linux. Intel gives away the compiler and associated tools, with free support for 15 days, offering optional support for $600 a year.

More details can be found toward the end of this story, here.

Stated Doug Fisher, VP/GM, Intel System Software Division, “We welcome Linpus's efforts in delivering solutions for Intel Atom processor-based netbooks.”

Linpus Technologies's mainstream desktop distro, Linpus Linux Desktop, was recently upgraded to version 9.5. It is used by a wide range of Acer Veriton desktops, and is widely used in China, says Linpus.

Availability

Linpus is showing the distro with “several of the Intel Atom processor-based devices it has been working on” at Computex in Taipei this week at the Linpus booth (C610-612) in the Low-Cost Computer Hall. More information about Linpus Linux Lite may be found First Atom-based notebook runs Linux