As we all know, Netbooks are the latest craze.  WIth the introduction of the Ultra Low Power Intel Atom, these mini PC’s with an average screen size of 8.9″ are taking the tech world by storm.  With this technology flooding the market, it has stirred up a mainstream interest into an overlooked operating system. Linux or the Linux Kernel has been around for years, created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds as a take off of the MINIX operating system.

Linux has seen a life of ups and downs from being initially overshadowed by the more user-friendly Microsoft Windows to being adopted as the ideal environment in server setups. But now with the introduction of these mini computers, Linux distros have seen a rejuvenation in the commercial field it has never before witnessed.  Linux is an open source OS, meaning that it’s a global collaboration effort. There are many forms of this kernel, with names such as Fedora, CentOS, Archlinux and Mandriva to name a few.

But none are more popular than Ubuntu (another distro of Linux) with interesting version names like Dapper Drake, Feisty Fawn, Hardy Heron and the newest one Intrepid Ibex. That along with a very simplistic GUI makes this OS a nice fit for an emerging technology.  Not only does it run perfectly on these lower spec’d machines, but it knocks the price down as well, making these units even more appealing.  So in my opinion, being a enthusiast and avid user of the Linux Kernel, we are just seeing the beginning of the Linux revolution.  As Netbooks and the even newer NetTops,(desktop version of the Intel Atom solution) gain momentum, I believe a new curiousity and enthusiasm will grow for the Linux OS.