Want to breathe new life into your netbook?
Netbooks have been an interesting category of computers.
But the Linux community hasnt stood still either, and Jolicloud is proof of that.
Jolicloud is a unique OS designed to bring the best of both webapps and standard programs to your netbook.
Since many netbooks run Windows by default, this makes it easy to install Jolicloud.
Download and fire off the roughly 700Mb installer (link below) just as a normal installer in Windows.
This will first extract the needed files.
Click Get started to install Jolicloud on your netbook.
Enter a username, password, and nickname for your machine.
Now you’re able to review the default installation options.
By default it will take up 39Gb and install on your C:\ drive in English.
If you wish to change this, click Change.
Click Save when your prefs are all correct, and then click Next in the previous window.
Jolicloud will prepare for the installation.
This took about 5 minutes in our test.
Click Next when this is finished.
Click Restart now to install and run Jolicloud.
When your netbook reboots, it will initialize the Jolicloud setup.
It will then automatically finish the installation.
Just sit back and wait; theres nothing for you to do right now.
The installation took about 20 minutes in our test.
Jolicloud will automatically reboot when the setup is finished.
Once its rebooted, youre ready to go!
Enter the username, then the password, that you chose earlier when you were installing Jolicloud from Windows.
Welcome to your Jolicloud desktop!
Amazingly, once Jolicloud was installed, everything was ready to use.
No drivers to install, no prefs to hassle with, it was all installed and set up perfectly.
Power configs worked great, and closing the netbook put it to sleep just like in Windows.
Jolicloud will let you know when it is signed on.
Wired Lan networking was also seamless; simply connect your cable and youre ready to go.
The webcam and touchpad also worked perfectly directly.
It did have tap to click activated by default, as well as right-side scrolling, which is nice.
Jolicloud also supported our video card without any extra work.
This is not a major problem, but would be nice to have.
The Samsung N150 has Intel GMA3150 integrated graphics, and Jolicloud promises 1080p HD video on it.
Joliclouds performance was very similar to Windows 7 on our netbook.
It boots in about 30 seconds, and apps load fairly quickly.
It also has Flash player installed so you’re free to watch videos online easily.
you could also directly access all of your files from the right side of your home screen.
Select it to browse and open any file you had saved in Windows.
You may need to put in your password to access it.
Once youre authenticated it, youll see all of your Windows files and folders.
Your User files (Documents, Music, Videos, etc.)
will be in the Users folder.
Jolicloud recognized a flash drive we tested with no trouble at all.
nudge the Get Started button on your homescreen.
Youll first need to create an account.
Now, choose your netbook model from the list, and enter a name for your system.
poke the App directory to find new apps for your netbook.
Simply tap the Install button on the right to add the app to your netbook.
Once an app is installed, a check mark will appear beside its name.
you’re able to remove it by clicking the Remove button, and it will uninstall seamlessly.
The Jolicloud InterfaceMost apps run maximized, and there is no way to run them smaller.
This in general works good, since with small screens most apps need to run full-screen anyhow.
Or, you’re able to switch between programs using standard keyboard shortcuts such as Alt-tab.
Booting JolicloudWhen you install Jolicloud, it will set itself as the default operating system.
Now, when you boot your netbook, it will show you a list of installed operating systems.
If youd perfer to boot into Windows by default, you could easily change this.
First, boot your netbook in to Windows.
bring up the start menu, right-choose the Computer button, and select Properties.
nudge the Advanced system configs link on the left side.
tap the prefs button in the Startup and Recovery section.
Now, select Windows as the default operating system, and click Ok. To uninstall Jolicloud from within Windows, open Control Panel, and select Uninstall a Program.
Scroll down to select Jolicloud, and click Uninstall/Change.
Click Yes to confirm that you want to uninstall Jolicloud.
After a few moments, it will let you know that Jolicloud has been uninstalled.
Youre netbook is now back the same as it was before you installed Jolicloud, with only Windows installed.
We were very impressed by its solid hardware support and the ease of installing new apps in Jolicloud.
