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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Cyber Cynic

Everyone's free Linux: DeviceVM's Splashtop

10 comments

TAGS:desktop linux, Linux, Splashtop
IT TOPICS:Desktop Applications, Desktops & Servers, Hardware, Laptops & Netbooks, Linux, Operating Systems, Software

One of the neat things about Linux has always been that you can run it on just about anything: iPhones, xBoxes, PS3, you name it, you can run Linux on it. So, why not, the good people at DeviceVM thought, make a desktop Linux that came bundled in a PC's motherboard: Splashtop.

Splashtop is a mini-desktop Linux distribution that's based on the 2.6.20 Linux kernel. Currently, Splashtop comes pre-installed on pretty much all ASUS motherboards and on netbooks and laptops from ASUS, HP's high-end VoodooPC division and Lenovo. Rumor has it that Splashtop and similar baked-in desktop Linuxes, like Dell's "BlackTop," aka Latitude ON, will soon be appearing from other PC and motherboard vendors. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if DeviceVM makes some new partner announcements at this week's CES (Consumer Electronics Show).

The concept behind Splashtop and its competitors is to make it possible for you to open your netbook or laptop and be able to get to work in five seconds or less. It's not a Windows replacement idea. Most of these systems come with Windows pre-installed as their main operating system. Instead, vendors are addressing the needs of today's hurry-up-and-go users. These folks simply want to get to a desktop quickly so they can check their e-mail, make a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) call or check a Web site, and then close it to catch their next flight.

Splashtop does this by launching from a Core Engine. This is an embedded "proprietary real-time operating environment" within the BIOS. Splashtop Linux lives in the motherboard's 512MB flash memory firmware. Here, you'll find not only Linux and the required drivers and networking tools the computer needs, but an assortment of useful road warrior programs. Splashtop can be up and working even before your hard drive ramps up to speed.

What you'll see is a task-oriented desktop that's based on the lightweight Blackbox (http://blackboxwm.sourceforge.net/) graphical user interface. This means that the desktop comes with ready-to-run application icons. In Splashtop's case, that includes Web browsing, with a version of Firefox; VoIP with Skype; and the universal IM client, Pidgin.

Splashtop also includes Flash and MPlayer-based video players and a version of the LinDVD to view DVDs. The midget operating system also comes with a photo viewer and music player.

None of this is extraordinary. In fact, the open-source programs tend to be older versions. Of course, Splashtop isn't meant to be be a full-out desktop replacement. Its purpose is to give you just enough desktop to make fast, efficient use of the Internet. From that standpoint, Splashtop is a winner.

If you want to know more about Splashtop, check out Splashtop "Instant-On Linux" Gets Hacked and its links. I think you'll find that while no one is going to make Splashtop their main desktop, it's useful to have a built-in, instant-on Linux desktop at your command.

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Splashtop back in 1985

Submitted by Dolf on January 26, 2010 - 7:41 P.M.

Where did I see this before?? Ahh, back in 1985 on my Atari 520/1040 :-) That had its operating system (Tos) in a Eprom memory ( Splashtop uses RTos ) , coincidence ?

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Patches

Submitted by Rob on January 8, 2009 - 12:43 P.M.

Given that the applications provided in SplashTop are older, is there a means to update them? Many programs are patched for security holes and so need to be updated for safe Internet access, even the latest and greatest features are not needed.

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Not always

Submitted by Morely the IT Guy on January 26, 2010 - 7:53 P.M.

Apps get patched for security most of the time because they have read/write access to the storage device. When the entire operating environment "goes away" at system shutdown, loading "clean" executables from ROM at the next boot, patches are far less critical. This was the beauty of OS-on-ROM systems like the Atari ST/TT/Falcon; sure, you might have a hundred infected floppies which could be somewhat annoying, but a reboot completely reloaded your clean OS. You NEVER had to worry that the OS itself was corrupt at boot time.

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We're almost there...

Submitted by JohnMc on January 7, 2009 - 12:39 A.M.

Two things missing

A) Why not put a virtualization engine in there so that instead of loading an OS you copy a OS appliance to the HD?

B) Put Abiword in there for editing?

Sounds like they have everything else but those two items.

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SSD optional

Submitted by jhansonxi on January 6, 2009 - 7:55 P.M.

Only the "SSD" versions run from a chip. The "Lite" or regular versions run from a compressed file on the hard drive. My M3A78-EM for example is the non-SSD version. There are some threads at Phoronix about getting it to run from a VM or USB stick and making changes like adding a terminal or changing screen resolutions.

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Missing Features?

Submitted by Carl Snyder on January 6, 2009 - 1:06 P.M.

The main feature which might be perceived as missing from the list is an e-mail client for accessing non-web-mail (read corporate) servers.
One of the major purposes of Splashtop is to be better than using a cellphone (larger screen, bigger keyboard) for use in a hurry, especially on the 'netbooks.' Yes, you can IM, but what if your boss or client sent you an e-mail? Can you respond?

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Webmail systems for pop/imap only email servers?

Submitted by Scott Dowdle on January 6, 2009 - 7:40 P.M.

If your desired email server doesn't have webmail... that's ok... as long as it does support pop and/or imap. There are plenty of webmail systems that you can use that will let you access third-party accounts via pop/imap... so that's the solution to that.

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"Corporate" web mail

Submitted by Tony Lawrence on January 6, 2009 - 5:37 P.M.

Although many corporate email systems don't have webmail or (like Exchange) won't work with anything but IE, there are plenty of alternative mail servers that aren't so limited.

Maybe it's your company that needs to move on to more open pastures..

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Kiosks for web Applications

Submitted by Robert Pogson on January 5, 2009 - 10:52 P.M.

I could see this as a thin client running a few local apps, mainly the web browser. With it one can access databases on the LAN via PHP scripts and one could probably find a decent script for word-processing. Google Docs is not for everyone. We need PHP scripts/Java applets to do the same thing. From a server on the LAN this could be pretty fast.

In education, PCs with just a browser can access Wikipedia, databases, and course management systems. It would not take much of a shift in IT to make more available via a browser. If the browser could download to a USB device, could it not download to a network share?

Lots of potential here for low-cost systems. If I could install two seats for the price of one, the limitations of this setup would pale in comparison. Many schools have not enough seats. These would be low-maintenance seats, too. I can see these things being very useful with an XDMCP/NX/RDP client as well as a browser.

Are you ramping up the degree-of-difficulty of the reCAPTCHA? For the first time I tried three iterations and could not get any. Sound did not work. Finally I can see the fourth pair...

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It wouldn't surprise me

Submitted by sjvn on January 6, 2009 - 11:17 A.M.

to see Splashtop getting picked up by thin-client vendors. There's enough room left over in the flash RAM for a XDMCP/NX/RDP client, and then you're already set for a thin-client. I haven't heard of any plans like that, but since HP is one of their partners, and HP is taking the thin-client seriously... well it will be interesting to see what happens.

As for the reCAPTCHA, that's actually reCAPTCHA trying to make it tests harder. For more on that see a soon to be coming feature in CW from yours truly.

Steven

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