Ubuntu-Eee is an independent project to create a distribution based on Ubuntu optimized to run on the Asus Eee PC netbook. It is an operating system, using the Netbook Remix interface, which favors well known closed source software instead of open source alternatives (ie. Skype instead of Ekiga) when the functionality offered seems better.
The project seems to be not-for-profit, under a GNU GPL2 license[1], although donations are encouraged[2].
Trademark issues
On September 10, 2008, Canonical emailed Jon Ramvi, the main developer of the project, complaining the project's use of Canonical's names, URLs, and logos violates Canonical's trademarks.[3]
As a response the owners of the project announced that they will use a new name "ION", but later found that they can't use that name either, as it is an unregistered trademark. The new name is not decided yet.[4] In the meantime, the project is still known as Ubuntu Eee, according to its web site.
Main characteristics
Works out of the box on Asus Eee PC 700, 701, 900, 901 and 1000.[5]
Ubuntu Eee was started by Jon Ramvi in December2007. Then it was only a script which modified a regular Ubuntu installation to support the Asus EeePCs. In June2008 was the project disbanded as a script and Ubuntu Eee 8.04 was released as an operating system.[7] On the September 5th followed the 8.04.1 version. It used a new Linux kernel, came with a new user interface and Flash 10. Ubuntu Eee 8.10 has announced a planned release date of January 1st, 2009[8].
Ubuntu Eee has been downloaded over 165 000 times from the main mirror[9]. Ubuntu Eee has been downloaded from other mirrors and Bittorrent as well.
