One of the nagging problems for Linux is that the most popular laptops are still codesigned by Microsoft and its OEMs. It's not for nothing that laptops come with stickers on the bottom that say, “Windows Vista—Business OEM Software” or whatever. These are not white boxes. You can get Linux running on them, but the hermit crab approach isn't the swiftest route to market leadership.

Since Splashtop first arrived, instant-on operating systems have been a big deal. The idea is that when you don't want to deal with waiting for your computer to boot, you can simply enter the quick boot mode and be up and running in a few seconds with a basic Linux desktop.

"Asus is to embed a lightweight, instant-on version of Linux called "Splashtop" into all its motherboards, following good feedback from customers."