Get Connected to the Internet Quickly with Instant-On Operating Systems

“Another instant-on option is HyperSpace (also Linux-based) from
Phoenix Technologies, the BIOS people. HyperSpace– which offers a
21-day trial and does require its own partition on your hard
drive– offers a UI very similar to Presto, includes Firefox and
uses Meebo for IM (but no Skype) and bundles ThinkFree’s Java-based
productivity suite. There are actually two versions of HyperSpace:
HyperSpace Dual works in a dual-boot scenario, while HyperSpace
Hybrid can run concurrently with Windows, letting you switch back
and forth between the two operating systems via a hotkey. (To use
the Hybrid version, you need a processor with Intel’s
Virtualization extensions—i.e., a Core Duo or
better.)

“The two caveats of HyperSpace are compatibility and price.
Although HyperSpace’s hardware compatibility seems to have improved
somewhat from when we tested it at Small Business Computing back in
February (shortly after its launch), the software has only been
“validated” on a small handful of systems. That said, you may still
be able to get it running on a system with an Intel CPU and an
Intel or Broadcom wireless chipset (it also supports several
AT&T and Verizon 3G WWAN adapters). Because HyperSpace is sold
on an annual subscription basis, the $39.95 for Dual, $59.95 for
Hybrid price tag is a recurring rather than one-time cost.”

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