
Moblin 2.0
Moblin is a Linux platform aimed at netbooks and mobile internet devices
Pros
- Free, open source
Cons
- Problems with Javascript
Bottom Line
The absence of an office application, like a word processor or spreadsheet is a curious oversight. And hopefully, future revisions of Moblin will be optimised, and its web browser will become Web 2.0-friendlier.
-
Price
Free (AUD)
Launched two years ago by Intel and now hosted by The Linux Foundation, Moblin is a Linux platform aimed at netbooks and mobile internet devices.
Moblin 2.0 is a bit of an odd bird when it comes to its UI. We also found it the buggiest and least optimised in performance when tested on the Asus 1005HA.
The main interface is a toolbar running along the top of the screen. This bar drops down for you when you move the cursor to the top of the screen; otherwise, it stays hidden. When it does appear, you click on the functions listed across the bar as you would with a web browser's tabs.
The various built-in functions are separated into categories on this toolbar. These include Myzone (a start page listing recently visited sites, your ‘to do' list, appointments and friends' Tweets); Media (storage for your audio, video and image files); Pasteboard (a clipboard for cutting and pasting); Applications (which is further broken down into sub-categories like Games, Office and System Settings); and Zones.
Zones works as a combination of a desktop workspace and application task manager. You click this to move from one application, or desktop workspace, to another.
Installation was fast. It took less than 10 minutes for Moblin to install from a USB flash drive to the Eee PC. The installation file for Moblin is about 720MB.
Wireless networking worked without a hitch, and we were surfing the web almost immediately.
But Moblin's web browser (built on Firefox's Gecko engine) had problems handling JavaScript-heavy sites, including Facebook and Gmail. The browser couldn't keep up with our typing when we tried to compose an email in Gmail, letters taking seconds to show up.
The calendar app crashed twice, and its window wouldn't close, leaving us with two frozen calendar windows cluttering our workspace.
On the netbook's 10.1in screen, text appeared too small and barely readable in some areas of the Moblin UI. For example, in the folders displaying our personal files, filename text was tiny and slightly distorted.
We also found switching between running apps cumbersome. You click the Zones tab, and then choose the next running app you want to access. Or point the cursor towards the bottom of the screen, where a bar will appear which scrolls up like a window shade, revealing the next active program.
You can easily lose track of things if you're running more than two programs at once. In fact, you can't tell how many applications you have running.
MP3s wouldn't play, and Moblin didn't automatically offer to download appropriate software. Instead, it popped a notice suggesting we try the software repositories.
Brand Post

Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Dell U3223QE review: A winning debut for an IPS Black monitor
- 2 HP Spectre x360 16 review: The right 2-in-1 at the wrong time
- 3 Asus ProArt PA279CV monitor review: The go-to for content creators on a budget
- 4 Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2022) review: The pinnacle of design
- 5 Netgear Nighthawk M5 mobile router review: Probably too expensive, but nice
Latest News Articles
- Want to go watch the WWDC keynote at Apple Park? Here’s how to apply
- Apple to support ‘passwordless’ iPhone logins on Android phones and PCs
- If you downloaded iOS 9 on an iPhone 4s, you may be entitled to a refund check
- Best wireless headphones
- An intrepid YouTuber made his own 5K Studio Display for just US$600
Resources
Macworld
What's new, plus best mac-related tips
and tricks

Business Centre
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers

Videos
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world

Guides
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles

PCW Evaluation Team
Pedro Peixoto
Aruba Instant On AP11D

Set up is effortless.
Cate Bacon
Aruba Instant On AP11D

The strength of the Aruba Instant On AP11D is that the design and feature set support the modern, flexible, and mobile way of working.
Dr Prabigya Shiwakoti
Aruba Instant On AP11D

Aruba backs the AP11D up with a two-year warranty and 24/7 phone support.
Tom Pope
Dynabook Portégé X30L-G

Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.
Tom Sellers
MSI P65

This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.
Lolita Wang
MSI GT76

It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.
Featured Content
- 100 Great PC Games You Should Play Before You Die
- Best Click Frenzy mobile and Internet plan deals
- Microsoft’s iconic browser Internet Explorer is being killed off in June
- Everything you need to know about Smart TVs
- What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
- Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?