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.

It's starting to look like that route may come through Splashtop, by DeviceVM. Splashtop starts a laptop in just a few seconds. Its Web site explains:

Splashtop is preinstalled on the hard drive or in the onboard Flash memory of new PCs and motherboards by their manufacturers. Splashtop is a software-only solution that requires no additional hardware. A small component of Splashtop is embedded in the BIOS of the PC—that's the part that runs as soon as you press the power button.

Within Splashtop, you have the choice of running one of its applications, such as the Splashtop Web Browser, or booting your operating system. Splashtop is compatible with any operating system, including Windows and Linux.

Splashtop has similar networking capabilities to what you find in other operating systems. It can connect to networks over Wi-Fi, LAN, xDSL and cable. WEP, WPA and WPA2 wireless security standards are supported.

Note that first line. Splashtop does for Linux what those old OEM deals did for Microsoft: gives it a leg up, an advantage right out of the startup gate (pun intended).

At the time of this writing, Splashtop is preinstalled on laptops from ASUS, VoodooPC and Lenovo, and on all motherboards from ASUS. Every one of them is winning where it counts most with users—by saving time.

Splashtop is also committed to open source. At the time of this writing, it's still building its SDK. Check the Developers page at www.splashtop.com for progress on that. Meanwhile, expect to see more news about how Linux is winning the battle for quick startup times.