Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has spilled the beans on a new version of the popular Linux distro geared specifically toward ultraportable laptops like the EeePC. Bringing together Ubuntu's ease-of-use with ultraportables' low prices could prove a huge win for Linux.
The new Ubuntu flavor will be known as Netbook Remix and is apparently being developed with direct input from Intel, which makes the low-power chips found in many tiny laptops such as the EeePC.
Talking to the Guardian about Ubuntu, and Linux in general, Shuttleworth reveals that "we're announcing it in the first week of June... we're working with Intel, which produces chips custom-made for this sector."
There's already a website up, but it doesn't have many additional details about what users can expect. Although the ordinary Ubuntu release will install on an EeePC, the process is not without some pitfalls (mainly related to the wifi card in the EeePC). Presumably this is exactly the sort of problem that the coming Ubuntu Netbook Remix will seek to solve.
Within the Linux community it's no secret that Linux on ultraportables is a potential gold mine for finding new converts, and Ubuntu is certainly not the first distro to target a release especially for such devices. The Fedora community has a similar project, Eeedora, geared specifically toward the EeePC and OpenSUSE is working on a version tailored to similar machines.
Linux has proved a popular option with ultraportable manufacturers since eliminating the Windows licensing fees helps keep retail prices down. When you're shipping a $2000 laptop cutting off $100 isn't a big deal, but when you move down to $350 versus $450 the cost of Windows becomes much more significant.
Of course the default Linux distros that ship with most ultraportables will work just fine for many users. However, given that Ubuntu is a such popular choice for those just poking a toe in the Linux waters, a version tailored to devices like the EeePC will make Linux newcomers even more comfortable.
[via Slashdot]
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