Linux in 2008: The New Linux Powered Devices

In 2007 the Linux operating system proved more popular than ever. 2008 is set to be a banner year with even more PCs and devices running Linux behind the scenes. Here are just a few of the new Linux powered devices scheduled for 2008

Desktop PCs
Microsoft has had a stranglehold on the desktop for the last 20 years. With upstart Apple making inroads and the less than stellar performance of it's new Vista operating system, Microsoft is waging an all out PR war. The Redmond company has pledged to spend $500 million dollars in advertising on it's new OS. The time might just be right for the open source Linux operating system to take a bigger slice of the desktop pie. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) seem to think so, especially in the low end, low cost sector.

Everex gPC
Everex released the gPC just in time for Christmas in 2007 and Walmart sold out immediately. It's modest hardware runs the gOS Linux Operating System at a surprisingly quick pace. The folks at Everex believe that most users spend a majority of their time surfing the web. With this in mind, the entire system is designed around Firefox and web applications from Google. Many users felt the gOS is too limited and discovered Ubuntu runs quite well on this 1.5ghz processor machine. For the $199 price you also get 512MB ram, an 80GB Hard Drive, a DVD/CDRW drive, a Keyboard, Mouse and Speakers. Just add a Monitor and you have a the perfect second computer. Walmart has recently restocked their supplies of the gPC.

Shuttle KPC
At this years CES, specialty PC manufacturer Shuttle unveiled its newest Small Form Factor (SFF) PCs. The KPC will come in 2 flavors, a full system for $199 with Intel Celeron processor, a 945GC chipset, 512MB of memory and either a 60GB or 80GB hard drive and a barebones $99 model upgradeable to a Core Duo processor and 1GB of memory. Interesting is the decision to not ship an optical drive. The system comes in the familiar cube shaped case like Shuttles XPC line, but with a choice of colorful graphics on the cover appealing to a younger set of Myspace customers.

Dell Linux PCs
The Inspiron 530 N desktop and the 1420 N notebook feature Ubuntu 7.10 and a built-in software DVD player. Both come with Intel Dual Core 2 processors 1GB of RAM and sizable Hard drives. The Desktop 530N is priced at $499, the Notebook 1420N at $729

Laptops
This year the theme in laptops seems to be lighter, smaller, and cheaper. The added cost of Windows makes it harder to break into the sub $500 range. Linux, with no royalties per device, is proving popular with manufacturers and budget conscious consumers.

Everex Cloudbook
A tiny 2 pound laptop powered by the gOS Rocket Linux Operating System. The CloudBook from Everex packs a lot in its diminutive 9 inches. Pre-loaded with FireFox, Skype, OpenOffice and net centric tasks for gMail, Wikipedia, Facebook, Blogger, Youtube and more. With it's built in 802.11 Wireless, 1.2g Via processor, 512MB ram, 30 Gig hard Drive, Card Reader and webcam, it should be all you'll need on the go. At $399, expect to see them flying off the shelves at your local WalMart at the end of January.

Asus EEEpc Laptop
Asus released the eeePC in the last quarter of 2007 to a market hungry for a low cost laptop. At CES this year you saw more eeePCs in the hands of journalists than at the ASUS booth. Sporting a solid state 2GB or 4GB drive and a customized Xandros OS, the eeePC comes in a rainbow of colors. Asus is set to make record sales with this ultra portable $399 laptop.

OLPC XO
Redesigning the laptop PC from the ground up, the One Laptop Per Child made news in 2007 for its humanitarian efforts. The XO sports a unique dual mode swiveling display, flash based storage and a customized Red Hat operating system. Completely ruggedized and splash proof, the XO can survive just about anything a kid can throw at it. Recently the foundation has announced its intention to release the XO to the US market in a manner similar to its international effort, by selling the system to state governments for distribution to school children.

Zonbu Notebook and Mini
Zonbu is a company testing out a new business model. The Zero Maintenance contract available for both the laptop and Zonbu mini, lowers the initial cost with a $14.95 monthly fee for updates and free replacement warranty. Zonbu offers a notebook for $279 with a subscription or $479 without. The Zonbu MiniPC is smaller than a Mac Mini measuring under 5 inches by 7 inches and a little over 2 inches tall. Using 4GB Compact Flash for storage +online storage of 50GB means no moving parts, making the mini very durable indeed. The mini is available for as low as $99 with subscription and $299 without.

Tablets and UMPCs

NoahPad UMPC
E-Lead demonstrated its quirky NoahPad UMPC at CES this year. Eschewing the traditional keyboard the NoahPad uses two touchscreens as a keyboard. With a Screen that folds a full 360 degrees, it allows you to "type" with the screen facing you and the keys on the backside. In under 2 pounds the NoahPad manages to pack a full Ubuntu OS, a low power Via 1Ghz CPU, 512MB RAM, a 30GB Hard drive, Built-in WIFI, a webcam and SD card reader.

Nokia n810
The third generation of the Nokia Internet Tablet line, the $459 n810 offers improvements in speed, storage, and new applications over its predecessors. Nokia also added the much requested full qwerty keyboard. Perfect for wirelessly browsing the web, listening to music or making VOIP phone calls, the N810 is chock full of Open Source goodness.

Mobile Phones

OpenMoko
The idea of a phone with a user modifiable firmware is foreign to most cell phone manufacturers. But OpenMoko isn't a normal cell phone manufacturer, a subsidary of FIC, OpenMoko's phones are designed to be tinkered with. The first product released, the Neo 1973 has a 2.8 inch VGA Touchscreen. microSD slot, usb ports and triband GSM and is available now. Unveiled at CES this year the Neo FreeRunner, with added GPS and Wifi features, is expected to be released in the spring of 2008.

Mototrola Rokr E8
Motorola's new Rokr E8, a quad-band GSM/GPRS phone was also introsuced at the 2008 Consumer Electronics show. Joining Motorola's already extensive lineup of Linux based phones, the Rokr E8 is equipped with a 2 megapixel camera, a multiple codec music player, HTML web browser, an a unique transforming user interface.

Google Android
Technology giant Google has never been afraid to rock the boat. Google has now set their sites on disrupting the mobile world. Building a new mobile phone stack completely out of open source software and forming the Open Handset Alliance(OHA), Google hopes to open up the mobile scene to your average hacker. Google delivered it's Software Development Kit to the world in December 2007. You can expect OHA members Sprint, Motorola, T-Mobile and others to start rolling out phones and devices running the Android platform in 2008.

One of the greatest benefits of Linux is it's ability to run on a wide variety of hardware and be modified to suit almost any task imaginable. Everything from enterprise servers, desktop pcs, routers, and media players all the way down to electronic picture frames and GPS units. This is just a sampling of the Linux powered devices you can expect this year, many of which you won't even notice has Linux under the hood.