I'm a GNU: Starling NetBook

Do you really need an overclocked Core 2 Duo SU7300 based laptop to check email? Do you really need a 1GB nVidia GeForce GT335M mobile graphics in your laptop just to look at a few youtube videos? If you’re mainly a Web surfer, note-taker, social-networker , emailer, and a consumer of photos, videos, books, periodicals and music a netbook could be for you.

What is that you ask? Netbooks are neither mobile phones nor standard laptops, maybe something in between. The netbook is a term coined by Intel for a particular kind of sub-notebook that emphasizes power-management, internet access, small size, and a simple operating system.

Today I want to talk about The 2nd generation Starling netbook made by system 76. The build quality of the Starling is amazingly solid for a subnotebook of this size and weight. It powered by an 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N455 processor, and equipped with 2GB RAM, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100, VGA port, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, headphone and microphone jack, SD card reader, a built-in 0.3 MP webcam, Kensington lock, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, and 10/100 Mbit Ethernet. They have crafted a solid mini-laptop that's good for kids and has plenty to offer anyone looking to hit the road with the bare minimum of computing hardware.

Its comes installed with Canonical's UNR. The Ubuntu Netbook Remix, I think, is an attractive, easy to use interface. It’s qualitatively different, a whole new type of computer that, through a simple interface. You need to do a task “there is an app for that”. The heart of the Remix user interface is its customized launcher which replaces the desktop and provides access to applications and other important system functionality.

The layout and design of the launcher is effective and it is very easy to use. The big buttons that are easy on the eye. Rather than using a dock, start menu, or typical drop-down menu to access commonly used programs and files, Canonical's UNR uses a different sort of menu on the home screen which runs vertically down the left. As you can see it’s divided into several categories Favorites, Files, Folders, Accessories, Games, Graphics, Internet, Office, etc.

Note: The Ubuntu Netbook Remix can not play encrypted DVDs or use certain Windows codecs out of the box. Configuring these formats after a fresh install is simple. This guide will allowing you to play Flash, Java mp3, aac, DVDs ,mp4, avi, wmv and many more formats. It also installs the Microsoft true type fonts for better compatibility with Word documents.

To add the every thing you need:

In a terminal program type or copy and paste: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Terminal program is found in Accessories.

The Starling can help people break free of wires and lightly enter the world. Everyday work which includes editing simple documents, sending and receiving email, surfing the Web, and chatting with friends. None of these things need the most powerful hardware ever, That is why specialized components like Intel’s Atom CPU was developed. So consider them in the light of the activities: sending e-mail with evolution , browsing the net with fire fox, enjoying multimedia with rhythmbox(I highly recommend Banshee)., and chatting on the go.

System76 provides and supports Ubuntu pre-installed laptops, desktops, and servers with a commitment to the ideals of open source software. System76 enables consumers, businesses, schools, and governments to easily transition to the world of open source software through world class hardware, software, and support.

Ubuntu provides a system based on Debian with frequent, regular releases and a consistent desktop interface. It is backed by Canonical's commercial services and support on both the desktop and the server. It releases critical bug fixes and is never more than six months away from the latest version of anything in the open-source world.