[Villain]

NEW YORK, NY - April 21, 2009 - Xandros today announced that Presto, a rich, convenient ‘instant on’ utility to power up laptops within seconds, is now available as a consumer download. Windows users can install Presto on almost any PC and no longer have to buy selected high-end laptops to enjoy “Instant On” features. During the release of its beta version, Presto won the highest “5 COWS” rating from Tucows and became one of the most popular downloads at both Tucows.com and Downloads.com.

Presto allows on-the-fly computing to check email, browse the web, chat with friends, make Skype calls, create documents, download media, apps and games, or enjoy music, videos, and movies stored in a user’s Windows folders. Users no longer have to wait for Windows to boot and for all the system tray applets to start before they can use their machine. Shutdown is quick too - Presto powers off most laptops in 1-2 seconds. Presto is compatible with most Windows Vista or XP laptops and desktops. Unique Presto features include an online Presto Application Store to access additional software, games, multimedia and web applications. Presto includes the integrated RealPlayer for Netbooks, which supports playback of most popular media formats including RealMedia, Windows Media, MP3, MPEG4, AAC, H.264 and QuickTime. Other best-of-breed applications include a full-featured office suite that lets users view and edit Microsoft Office documents, and save them in folders on their Windows drives. Presto connects to networks over WiFi, 3G, xDSL, LAN and cable.

Presto is a Windows software utility (.exe) that installs and uninstalls easily like any other Windows program. It does not require special chipsets or BIOS modifications to enable fast booting and therefore is especially useful for bringing new life to old laptop and desktop PCs. Presto employs Moblin 2 enhancements and Xandros’ technical expertise gained in working with Intel and ASUS in creating the Eee PC, a product that powers up in seconds. Presto installs on top of Windows XP or Vista. Windows 7 will be supported in a future version.

Source: JKOntheRun

From Presto's Front page...

With Presto you can start up your computer in seconds — or shut down in one second, like magic. You will be able to instantly start to e-mail, chat, Skype™, listen to music, surf the internet or download apps — before Windows XP or Vista even boots — and you will automatically be connected to the best available network.

* Browse the web securely using Firefox™
* Chat using instant messaging (IM)
* Make free Skype™ to Skype™ calls
* Listen to music and watch videos
* View and edit documents created in Microsoft Office™
* Download games, music, videos and more through the Presto Application Store

So how do you get started with Presto? You have two options - Try or go right to Buy!

Presto Website.

[Syzygy]

I was always looking for one of these...everytime I found one it required MOBO Modding

Thanks

[CommonSense]

Who told me about this...? Was it you Villain? I can't really remember who told me about Presto....
Still really cool!

[Secured Tim]

Any free alternative?

[MistaBishi]

Thanks, I've been looking for one of these . But is there a free one? I know this sounds stingy, but I don't like to pay for software

[yungjay]

If someone says it works for Windows 7 now, I might try it.

[Syzygy]

I just realised. This is really just a Linux Distro.

[MistaBishi]

Syzygy, on Apr 22 2009, 02:33 PM, said:

I just realised. This is really just a Linux Distro.

All of these "Instant ON" OS's are Linux distro's.

[fediaFedia]

I tried it some time ago, and its godawful. Plus it's "instant" boot takes longer than vista's on my PC

[colourfulclock]

i just use dell mediadirect most of the time to start up quickly. it takes like 10secs on my laptop

[Villain]

Secured Tim, on Apr 21 2009, 11:21 PM, said:

Any free alternative?

There is xPud but it is not as nice as Presto, GUI-wise that is.

[DeadWrong00]

I beta tested it and my complaint (which lead me to not use it anymore going forward) was that the default screen font size was tiny and I wanted to chose a larger (and different) default, and could not.

If anyone has the updated consumer release, can you tell me if this has been addressed. If so, I'd pay the small one time cost because it did everything advertised, just didn't do the one tweak i needed to make it usable for me.

Thanks,

dWrong

[AMIRZ]

Wow sounds very interesting, i think i have to try it thanks for the info

[PurplePeopleEater]

thats really cool but I fear even more screwing up my bootloaders because I added grub to the mess so I have 2,3,4 bootloaders all mutated