i should be working (but i'm fixing my computer).

I came across jolicloud because I accidentally turned off my wireless card.? Yeah, I know.

...

I've written here before that I think forward-looking software needs to be more cloud-centric and less into splashy doo-dads.? I'm about to write a post on my latest bout with KDE 4 here in permanent betaland, and I'll save some of my comparative comments for that post.

Jolicloud is a netbook linux install that is cloud-centric.? It purports to be a one-click install and "it just works."? But of course, it's currently in its "pre-beta" form.

Now, I will be the first to say that jolicloud is probably "not for me."? Then again, neither was early Windows, Apples, Macs and whatever have you.? The reason being that ... I will admit it ... I am more suited for permanent betaland.? I have to tinker.? I have to know how it works.? Sometimes I have to re-write it.

So, back when my "windows" program was a batch file menu that launched all of my regular programs via single letter key input (which progressed to "Desqview" so I could multi-task), it was pretty difficult for me to understand why anyone would want to push a mouse around and click on little pictures.

That is to say, I am clueless.? But, little by little I have come to understand the role of ergonomics in computer adoption by? 99.9% of computer users who are not ubergeeks like me.

And I would have to say I think jolicloud is coming closer than KDE 4.? Now, granted, KDE 4 has a netbook version and is reorganizing its vision to adopt cloud interactivity.? But you would be hardpressed to say of KDE "it just works."? Because it doesn't and that is the subject of my next post.

But let's say my mother wanted to try linux.? Now she's got a plain vanilla Windows Vista computer.? My brother-in-law managed to associate the document icons with the wrong version of Word.? He also managed to get some unfamiliar programs into the main start menu.? So last weekend we had a family IT crisis and it was necessary for me to go do some minor remedial work so Mom could use her computer.? You see where I am going with this.

Mom is not going to install OpenSUSE linux.? In fact, no one I personally am acquainted with is going to install ANY version of linux unless I do it for them, and it will only be a matter of days before they become too frustrated to even boot the system.

The rest of us live in a microcosm.? Two weekends ago I was at SCALE lauding the virtues of KDE.? But then again, every single person I talked to was already running some version of Linux and was able to debate the comparative virtues of different installs and how to solve various hardware problems.

I couldn't get my wife to check email until last month when she got an iTouch to replace her Palm Pilot and proceeded to tell me she did not know how she got along without this device.

But, I digress.? Let's say my Mom has this Windows Vista machine and wants to try Linux.? She goes to the Jolicloud website, clicks on "download", runs the exe file and Jolicloud does everything else.? Computer reboots and she's got a choice between Jolicloud (linux) and windows.

From there, she creates a Jolicloud account, which has a dashboard from which all of the applications she will ever want to use are installed.? One click.? Twitter style explantions of the apps.? Tons of social networking.

Now, Jolicloud doesn't care about compositing or fancy graphics techniques.? But what it HAS done is integrate a number of web based apps. into the desktop.? The entire desktop is a start bar (and yes, KDE has this option in 4.4 and yes I like it).? There's a full desktop Hulu application.? The computer is suddenly just a friendly web appliance -- which is how most people use their computers, anyway.

And, since I don't social network with anybody, largely useless.? But I would say this is a linux install that is very forward looking and (when it gets past pre-beta) will be very adoptable.

I don't understand their business model, but I must admit I envy their career trajectory:? travel around the world, hang out in Paris and write your own linux flavor, get venture capital backing.

Last few observations:? (1) the install was very impressive to start with an exe file running in Windows 7 starter and end up with linux running on my Aspire netbook. (2) I was demoralized when the desktop installed with 800x600 and I couldn't change the resolution -- but this got solved during the online update process. (3) the email with my verification code went to my spam filter and there didn't seem to be any way to recover from the verification screen.? (4) for some reason, the initial install was blazingly SLOW, which convinced me I probably wouldn't have much use for this install.? However, things seem to have improved considerably after the update, logout and log back in (I did not reboot yet because I'm installing software via the one click installers).

In about a day or so, I will be whining that there is not enough available software and I will be loading OpenSUSE onto this machine.? But then, I am not satisfied unless I have massive quantities of new stuff to try out.

Whereas, for a person who just wants to take that new netbook and get on with social networking, the one-click Jolicloud install seems to me a lot more user friendly than Windows 7 starter, and amazingly easy to get running.? If this is "pre-beta", Jolicloud is likely to be very well positioned when 1.0 rolls around.

BTW -- Jolicloud would seemingly constitute a "rolling release" or whatever consistent with the reason I tested Arch Linux for awhile.? Let's see if they can get version updates to run as smoothly as the initial install!