Trying Out Ubuntu's Netbook Remix

On the right side of ume-launcher are tabs for Home, Network and other items generally found within the "Places" area on GNOME -- this does include mounted FTP folders and removable media devices. Finally, in the bottom right hand corner are tabs for the settings, which will take you to the GNOME Control Center, and then the ability to log-off or shutdown the system.

Below is a screenshot of the Netbook Remix application launcher loading Mozilla Firefox.

Maximus is the window management tool written by Canonical for the Netbook Remix. You still can use Compiz or Metacity if you prefer, but Maximus is designed for easier window management on small devices. Maximus can automatically maximize/undecorate windows when launching them, but rule exceptions can also be set for special applications. Below is a screenshot of Netbook Remix and OpenOffice.org running without and then one with Maximus.

The ume-config-notebook package contains the lower-level optimizations for Intel Atom devices. This package shouldn't be installed if you are just trying out Netbook Remix on your desktop/notebook or within a virtualized environment. Netbook Remix will likely be updated with Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex", but it won't be offered in the same way as Kubuntu, Ubuntu Server, or Gobuntu with their different ISO spins.

In a blog posting this morning by Mark Shuttleworth about Netbook Remix, he mentions Canonical is currently working with two other companies to design more radical user interfaces for their mobile products. Mark also mentioned, "The aim was to do something very simple that could be tested easily, work with touch devices and made shippable very quickly. It also needed to be efficient on lower-power devices, and work well with Intel hardware, which seems to be the preferred platform for this generation of devices and allows us to slip a few nice effects in that would be hard without the right hardware support."

As Ubuntu Netbook Remix continues to mature, we will be sure to provide additional coverage and analysis of this latest Linux innovation from Canonical. We'll also be reviewing at least one Intel Atom-powered Mobile Internet Device in the near future. For more information on Netbook Remix, check out its Launchpad page.