Will Atom be a breakthrough Linux Platform?

[NPant]

With all the fanfare surrounding Google's Android mobile platform launch, Linux is

becoming firmly established in the embedded mobile arena. Over the past year Linux

has seen steady adoption in handhelds due to use in Amazon's Kindle, and by

actions of key industry players, such as Sun, who opened Java source code, and

Motorola with the release of Motomagx, and the growing popularity of Firefox 3.

What will these actions mean to embedded systems developers using the Intel®

Atom™ processor?

At Kontron we believe that Intel® Atom™ processor based http://us.kontron.com/about-kontron/custom-solutions/systems-more/ http://us.kontron.com/about-kontron/custom-solutions/systems-more/" >customized

platforms will propel even greater use of Linux in innovation mobile devices.

Several key factors will play into the selection of Linux for applications.

First is cost, which is always key in BOM development. Next, is the growing

robustness of the Linux ISV ecosystem,making it easier to implement Linux solutions.

Probably most important is trust. As we all use more and more Linux-based

devices in our daily lives from cellphones to TiVo, we not only get used

to embedded Linux, we like it.

At Kontron we are supporting Linux-based projects with our new low profile http://us.kontron.com/products/boards+and+mezzanines/embedded+motherboards/miniitx+motherboards/ktus15mitx++16.html http://us.kontron.com/products/boards+and+mezzanines/embedded+motherboards/miniitx+motherboards/ktus15mitx++16.html" >KTUS15/mITX motherboard,

offering Intel® Atom™ and US15 chipset and with our http://us.kontron.com/products/computeronmodules/com+express/nanoetxexpress/nanoetxexpresssp.html http://us.kontron.com/products/computeronmodules/com+express/nanoetxexpress/nanoetxexpresssp.html" >nanoETXexpress-SP and microETXexpress-SP

computer-on-modules – examples of these arediscussed during Kontron nano Days (http://www.kontron.com/nanodays http://www.kontron.com/nanodays" >).

What impact do you think new Atom-based platforms will have on Linux adoption in

2009?

http://us.kontron.com/ http://us.kontron.com/" >Kontron –Nancy Pantone