HyperSpace Adds ThinkFree: Fastest Booting Office Yet?
I last looked at HyperSpace from Phoenix Technologies in early January. The subscription-based Linux environment boots quickly to get you and your notebook online in a hurry. I’m still not sure most consumers will embrace a yearly fee for fast booting and up-to-25-percent power savings over using Windows, but the program becomes more mature and attractive today.
Phoenix just announced a partnership with Haansoft to include the Java-based ThinkFree productivity suite in HyperSpace. This adds the ability to quickly boot up and jump right in to a full-featured, Microsoft Office-compatible toolset for documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Up till now, your only productivity suite option in HyperSpace was for a web-based service like Zoho Office or Google Docs.
The way I see it: with the addition of ThinkFree software, HyperSpace now meets a larger percentage of mobile computing needs and it meets them faster. With a 10- to 15-second boot time on a standard notebook or netbook, you can be web surfing, checking e-mail and now working on documents and such. I still think the $39.95 a year is steep, but as more functionality is added to HyperSpace, the value increases. If nothing else, the entire HyperSpace partition is a good proving ground for a netbook with this environment as it’s only operating system.
Coming soon: I’ve had time to look at the ThinkFree Office software in depth and have a review forthcoming. I’m also expecting to get a hands-on look at HyperSpace with the ThinkFree suite soon, so I’ll plan to share a video with you.
Hi Gys
Been following your stories on Hyperspace with interest probably would buy a copy if it was a reasonable 1 time fee instead of a yearly subscription model. Anyway
while surfing ran across a competitor with a similar product called Presto that has an open beta comming out March 16 and will be for sale on April 13th.
for Info follow the link at : http://www.prestomypc.com/index.php
Thought it might be of interest to Jkontherun and its many readers.
Regards,
GeO-
OK, I know this going to attract some serious flames… But, here goes. Why not just get a Macbook (stop, before you flame me…) If price is an option put OS X on a Netbook!
My Macbook air takes 3 seconds from sleep to wake. With MS Word left running before closing the lid it is a PERFECT portable device!
Between the Macbook Air and my Nokia E90 I’m all set!
What do you think!?
Dion, buying a relatively more “capable” machine might be possible for some, but not everyone can afford or wants to spend $999, $1299 or $1599 for a MacBook. It’s kind of like saying that buying a Corvette is a good choice if someone isn’t getting to work fast enough in their Cavalier.
Installing OS X on a lower-priced netbook is also an option for some. When I put OS X on my MSI Wind netbook, I demonstrated on video how quickly the device sleeps and resumes, so I hear what you’re saying. But in good conscious, I can’t condone a global solution for everyone that violates Apple’s licensing terms. If folks want to do that, it’s their choice.
Also what you call a “PERFECT portable device” is very likely true for you. Since everyone’s needs are different, you’re just as likely to find people say that it’s not a good option for them. Still, good suggestions for those that are looking at various options!
Apart from the choice of OS, which is a matter of preference (I haven’t liked a Apple OS since the Lisa, but then I haven’t tried since they switched to Linux
. But I can’t seem to follow why you compare resume times to boot times? That is like saying that an old car from the 50’s can move faster than a sports car, you just have to drop it from a few miles up. Apples and oranges, if you pardon the pun.
Most computers can resume from suspend to RAM very fast, even with XP.
You mention Zoho and Google which provide web 2.0 applications. Have you looked at any of the virtual desktop providers as a fully functional desktop solution? There are freely provided individual desktops available on the web. Your computer only need be an Internet terminal. There are other for-fee services that provide full corporate IT from the cloud including desktops, collaboration tools, CRM, HR, etc….
A fast-booting Linux kernel running Java? That’s Microsoft nightmare fuel. All it needs now is Google giving it away.