A tour of Jolicloud's netbook Linux OS

Summary

ZDNet UK takes a look at version 1.0 of a netbook-centric Linux distro that includes a launcher written in HTML 5, built-in cloud synchronisation and a smartphone-like app store

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Over the last week, Jolicloud started rolling out the first complete version of its Linux distribution to existing users.

The distro is highly netbook-centric and, until Jolicloud 1.0, looked very much like the Ubuntu Netbook Remix on which it is based. However, the new version looks significantly different to the 'pre-final release' that preceded it. That was an unusual move for the company, as major user interface (UI) changes tend to be tested in beta before their final release.

At the time of writing, there is no direct installer for Jolicloud 1.0, so getting it relies on installing the pre-final release, then getting an invitation to upgrade.

Jolicloud was founded last year by Tariq Krim, who before that had set up iGoogle competitor Netvibes. The French Linux company is backed by venture capitalists including Niklas Zennstrm and Janus Friis, the founders of Skype.

Talkback

David - Thanks for this, I find it very interesting, with lots of good information about each of the screen shots.

I have the same feeling you seem to have - after slogging through all the Pre-xxxx releases, here comes the FINAL release and.... it's full of huge changes! It seems a rather strange decision, especially when you consider that the largest change of all is a complete replacement of the User Interface. It will be interesting to see how that works out for them.

Not being a "cloud-centric" user, neither posting or reading Tweets or the like, I feel that I have been a poor example of a potential Jolicloud user. But I will say that I find Jolicloud to be infinitely better than the major alternative - Moblin/MeeGo - which I found completely inscrutable and largely unusable. The couple of times that I have installed Jolicloud on one of my netbooks I always found that everything I tried worked, and although it looked like a clone of Ubuntu at that time, it was at least a significantly improved derivative.

jw

J.A. Watson 20 July, 2010 14:40 Reply

I downloaded the pre-release, which is a live CD, and had the intention of loading it on my netbook's 16gig thumb drive. But, as the last time I tried it, it failed to connect to my wireless router, so put it on my reject pile. I am a "cloud centric" user, and would like to set my netbook up with a distro built for that purpose. But, for now I guess I will stick with what works, PCLOS.

ator1940 20 July, 2010 15:30 Reply

Interesting, ator1940 - just out of interest, what netbook was that? I think Jolicloud is pretty good at working 'out-of-the-box' in most cases...

David Meyer 20 July, 2010 15:57 Reply

As promised, my blog post on Jolicloud: http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/communication-breakdown-10000030/why-im-jolly-impressed-with-jolicloud-10-10018069/

David Meyer 21 July, 2010 09:33 Reply

@David, I am running an HP mini, 1115 NR, Atom dual core processor, 1 ghz, 1gig ram, 16 gig SSD, 8.9" screen, web cam. Actually, Ubuntu remix, Moblin, meeGo, and Peppermint Ice failed to see the router also.
The router is a Linksys WRT320.

ator1940 21 July, 2010 14:21 Reply

@Ator1940. Your specification for an HP Mini 1115NR does not appear to be correct. However, I was unable to indentify the wireless adapter on the Internet, it was apparently never specified anywhere. You did not say whether your wireless device was recognised or not, presumably you can connect via ethernet cable.

On the assumpion that your wireless device is recognised and working, the problem must lie with the configuration of the wireless device, or the router. Have you, for instance, reached the chosen limit for connections to the router or do you need to enable specific MAC addresses, or is there a mismatch of channels, security type, ......... Have you hidden the router SSID?

Just a few thoughts. I take it that the router IS working.

Moley 23 July, 2010 14:37 Reply

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