It seems Intel is going to focus on netbooks for awhile.

http://moblin.org/documentation/mobl...cture-overview

Not only that, but it doesn't look all that good with their alpha release right now...

See: http://www.umpcportal.com/2009/01/vi...a-on-a-netbook

Looks like a bog standard Linux desktop - something many other distributions already do well on a netbook.

R.
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Yeah, but it's an alpha; if they're pulling the low levels together right, there's plenty of time to change WM/DE before a beta.

But I have never been particularly optimistic about moblin; being Intel-driven, it's obviously not gonna focus on portability, and I'm not a big fan of x86. So with my low expectations, I guess I'm just hard to disappoint.

If by "portability" you mean cross-platform, sure. But Intel could have been a formidable competitor in MIDs.

With them and other majors seemingly jumping into netbooks or cell phones, where (if anywhere) will be the competitive threat for linux-based MIDs in 2009? It seems all we have is a bunch of small APAC based outfits that will get attention on blogs but be incapable of gaining traction in the mainstream US and EU markets.

The space around the Fremantle device is getting really quiet and empty...

And dropping N810 prices suggest we're going to get a product announcement in a couple of weeks...