ASUS Motherboard Ships With Embedded Linux, Web Browser

SplashTop Browser is a cut-down version of Mozilla Firefox 2.0, but it includes many of the Firefox features. There is bookmarking support, Live Bookmarks, the ability to clear private data, etc. However, you cannot save files, open files from local storage, or anything "advanced" on SplashTop.

Outside of the web browser, this instant-on desktop environment has a very simple menu bar along the bottom of the screen (though that location can be changed as well as other attributes). The background on this desktop environment is just an "Express Gate Powered by SplashTop" image. The menu bar at the bottom allows for opening the SplashTop Browser, Skype, and the configuration buttons as well as for restarting the system, turning the system off, or leaving this Linux environment and continuing with the boot process. The date and time are also displayed.

The full-featured Linux Skype client is loaded into Express Gate. When launching Skype there is the standard sign-in screen and then all of the voice communication settings and features. The version of Skype used is 1.3.0.53, but hopefully Skype for Linux 1.4 will be available as an Express Gate update.