Ubuntu to run on ARM-based netbooks
Summary
Topics
ARM-based processors have traditionally been used in small devices such as mobile phones, but it emerged in October that ARM's technology would soon be used in netbooks, the new breed of small, low-cost notebook PCs. Thursday's announcement builds on that revelation, as well as on Canonical's announcement in June that it would create netbook-specific distributions of Ubuntu.
"The release of a full Ubuntu desktop distribution supporting latest ARM technology will enable rapid growth, with internet-everywhere, connected, ultraportable devices," ARM's vice president of marketing, Ian Drew, said in a statement. "Working with Canonical will pave the way for the development of new features and innovations to all connected platforms."
Drew told ZDNet UK on Thursday that the collaboration between ARM and Canonical would extend to such elements as drivers and graphics support. "Effectively, it's about moving [Ubuntu] from one instruction set [x86] to another," he said. "For us, it's really around the internet experience everywhere, and this is part of that."
The netbooks that have gone on sale thus far have carried either Windows or Linux operating systems. Some reports have indicated that Linux-based netbooks have a significantly higher return rate, but Canonical has suggested this is due to a lack of familiarity with Linux on the part of consumers, rather than any inherent inferiority in open-source operating systems.
Canonical's chief operating officer, Jane Silber, highlighted the opportunity that the ARM partnership would give her company in spreading Ubuntu's reach.
"This is a natural development for Ubuntu, driven by the demand from manufacturers for an ARM technology-based version," she said. "Joining the considerable community of free-software developers working on the ARM platform ensures that a fully functional, optimized Ubuntu distribution is available to the ARM ecosystem, providing wider choice for consumers looking for the best operating system for their digital lifestyles."
According to ARM and Canonical, the Ubuntu ARM distribution for desktops and netbooks will "be officially available from April 2009".
Talkback Most Recent of 22 Talkback(s)
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Really looking forward to an Arm netbook that will go a couple of days on a
charge! Arm is way ahead of Intel on features needed for this form factor, and, Windows won't even run on Arm.
DonnieBoy14th Nov 2008 -
The question isn't Windows
The question is whether Flash will run with 100% compatibility on an ARM. If the answer is yes, then it's a winner. If it's no, then it has no chance of success.
Michael Kelly14th Nov 2008 -
Well, iPhone did not support Flash and was a big success, but, I am sure
that Arm, Adobe, and others will make sure there is a version of Flash for Arm. It is just a matter of recompiling and testing.DonnieBoy14th Nov 2008 -
The iPhone has a built-in customer base
that's willing to overlook such details. Plus it's a phone too. A netbook, whose primary function is to surf the web, is going to need Flash.
And quite honestly I don't know how we can trust a company that has had five years to come up with a 64-bit version of their program and is nowhere closer now than it was back then.Michael Kelly14th Nov 2008 -
Well, I do keep flash block on, and avoid sites with flash. But, this is a
simple recompile, and you can be sure that Adobe will do it. Adobe is using universal availability on all platforms to battle with Microsoft, so recompiling for Arm is a no-brainer.
But, this is also the problem of proprietary platforms like Flash and why we should not use it.DonnieBoy14th Nov 2008 -
It's not just a simple recompile
otherwise we would have had a 64 bit Flash plugin five years ago. And while I agree that it would be nice to have non-proprietary platforms, the fact remains that too many web sites not only have Flash on them but cannot function properly without it. And people expect compatibility.Michael Kelly14th Nov 2008 -
Arm is 32 bits, so, unless they have some assembly language code (I doubt),
creating an Arm version of Flash will be trivial.
The 64 bit version would be a lot more involved, but, if it was free software, it would have been done a long time ago.DonnieBoy14th Nov 2008 -
Netbooks' Primary Function???
A netbook, whose primary function is to surf the web, is going to need Flash.???
Not true, at least not true for everyone. My primary function for a netbook would be digital photography storage and editing, calendar/organizer and email. Web surfing would be a nice but unnecessary feature since I do all my web surfing at home.
And the ARM is the nicest processor I've ever worked with. I'm delighted that once more I'll be able to buy and program an ARM based computer.
john.foggitt@...4th Dec 2008 -
Adobe Flash clients available for ARM ...
In fact they're Debian clients that run on the Nokia 800 and 810 and yes they are 100% compatible according to Adobe.
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2008/05/02/43661/arm-welcomes-adobes-mobile-flash-move.htm
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200804/050108AdobeOSP.html
Full Flash, not Flash lite, on ARM has been around for quite some time.
MisterMiester14th Nov 2008 -
Notice that MS is not even talking about a version for netbooks yet. Arm
will be the best platform for this form factor, and MS does not have anything relevant to run on it.DonnieBoy14th Nov 2008 -
Microsoft is always late to the party
It doesn't mean they can't catch up.
They really can pound them down.
zmud14th Nov 2008 -
It sounds like Ubuntu does not either
Canonical has announced it will be developing a version of its Ubuntu Linux desktop operating system specifically for ARM's Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 processor architectures.
It does not say that Canonical has anything relevant to run on it at the moment, themselves.
GuidingLight14th Nov 2008 -
Ubuntu has been working on this for some time. Dell is also using Ubuntu on
the Mini 9. MS just has the standard version of XP with no modifications.
http://www.ubuntu.com/news/netbook-remixDonnieBoy14th Nov 2008 -
Waste of time
The GEODE is already a low power CPU (see Raon Digital's Everun) that runs x86 code. Not quite as efficient as an ARM, but x86 compatibility counts for a lot.
A PDA is a special beast and people don't generally see it as a "computer". ARM does a great job there.
But as a netbook? Come on. If the guys selling x86 Linux netbooks think their product returns are too high because of the Linux OS, they'll have a stroke when people start returning ARM netbooks running linux that are incompatible with virtually all third party software.
croberts14th Nov 2008 -
Product returns are not that high overall ...
Come on. If the guys selling x86 Linux netbooks think their product returns are too high because of the Linux OS,
MSI stated that product returns for Linux were 4 times higher but never gave any data to quantify the numbers. They only blamed Linux as the culprit.
Carphone Warehouse stop selling Linux netbooks stating they had return rates of 20%, but nobody every bothers to tell you that average return rate for electronics hover around 15%. Even GPS devices have a higher return rate:
GPS sales have an average return rate of about 25% in North America and as high as 40% at Wal-Mart, with the return rate being much higher than other electronics products.
http://gpstracklog.typepad.com/gps_tracklog/2007/01/walmart_to_drop.html
Should we conclude that GPS Devices are utter crap and should be pulled from the market?
Anyway Asus, Acer, HP, and Dell don't have the same problem with return rates as with these other vendors so the only conclusion anyone can draw is that it's not Linux per se but how it's implemented and marketed from vendor to vendor.
MisterMiester14th Nov 2008
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