Lately it's hard to avoid the buzz about these small laptops (sorry, I don't participate in the hype of calling them netbooks or whatever) - the small, cheap laptop systems that were popularized by the Asus Eee PC. Just like Xandros with the Eee, Mandriva is providing the operating system for the upcoming GDium system, produced by Emtec. The first GDium will be a netbook with a 10", 1024x600 resolution display and a battery life of four hours, weighing in at 1.1kg. The device is powered by the (for us) exotic Chinese Loongson processor, which is based on a MIPS design. Mandriva is working together closely with the GDium team to provide an optimal software experience. Available from September 2008, with a price expected to be round and about EUR 400.
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Member since:2007-01-27
The price looks a little steep indeed and the processor may seem weird to you but it isn't to me and hasn't been for more than a year. You can expect longer battery life and less heat, two things that are very important in mobile devices.
I'll be looking at this Gdium and try to get one to test my Slackware port, but I wonder if it's possible to use an internal solid state drive if you want to. USB keys can be backed up much easier and it will also be much better to replace the device with another one when it's broken without opening the case.
Member since:2005-10-12
WTF?
Dont get me wrong, I like the idea of yet another UMPC, and I like the idea that Mandriva is providing the OS, but can't I already set up a system based on virtually any popular Linux distro such that the user's home directory is on the user's personal USB key and the OS itself is on a write-protected hard drive?
Member since:
2005-11-10
I looked at the price and weird processor and my only reaction was a shrug. However, looking at the site and the everything on a USB key philosophy of the device, I could see it (or this approach) going over very well in schools.....if there is a way to back up the USB key anyways.
I am surprised someone else hasn't done that already (or maybe they have?)