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Will Microsoft add an "Instant On" feature for Windows
No.
Companies like Splashtop have already developed software that lets you boot up a stripped down, Linux-based operating system that will let you launch a handful of applications just a few seconds after hitting the power button, without waiting for Windows, Ubuntu, or whatever full OS you're using to boot up. Now it looks like Microsoft could be working on something similar. Or at least considering it.
Engadget reports that Microsoft is sending out surveys to some people seeking opinions about an "Instant On" feature. Much like Splashtop, Instant On would apparently let users run certain programs without loading a full operating system. The survey asks users what kind of programs they would expect to use in an Instant On environment, ranging from chat applications to DVD players. My favorite option? "Full use of everything in Windows." Because that's clearly possible. Wait, no it's not.
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentsthis-is-meOct 15th 2008 11:38AM
Where is this survey? Please provide a link! I definitely want to tell microsoft to add this feature! I NEED a webbrowser in 8 seconds!
BrianOct 15th 2008 12:03PM
You'll get it in a email maybe...
Racetrack_OwnerOct 15th 2008 12:02PM
Resume from sleep is damned near instantaneous on my laptop -- grabbing the WiFi connection is the only appreciable delay, not really anything MS can do about that. Resume from hibernation is pretty quick -- the great majority of the delay is hardware, not software. I'd rather see more emphasis on faster-starting hardware for ALL scenarios, rather than some mickey-mouse half-assed mini-OS.
JamesOct 15th 2008 12:24PM
One other thing to investigate is "Hibernate Once, Resume Many" (HORM), a concept that kind of accidentally emerged from XP Embedded's support for read-only file systems. If you hibernate the system, then turn on write-protect for the OS drive, the hibernate file can't be deleted, so every power-on is treated as a resume-from-hibernate. There's already mechanisms in place to bypass resume (in case you need a "full" reboot for some reason), but there's no reason resume can't be the default load state, instead of a "real" boot.
Also, as others are saying, sleep in place of rebooting is becoming more and more feasible, as new versions of Windows carry better uptime. You could never do it on a Win98 box, but with Vista, you pretty much only have to reboot to install (some) new drivers.
brain.rettieOct 15th 2008 12:03PM
From pressing the power button to my desktop with everything loaded takes about 6 secounds.
I'll keep that kthxbai.
p.s oh yeah, I'm running vista btw. Strip everything from starting up, that means useless services and programs and your pc can boot up to your desktop much quicker.
timothy.brazerOct 15th 2008 11:50AM
Instant on already exists. It's called Sleep. When I put my Windows notebook to sleep it takes maximum 4 seconds. When I need to resume it takes about 3 seconds, and that is with the ability to use all programs.
I do see what Microsoft is going for here. It's a great idea.
UnknownOct 15th 2008 2:10PM
you do know the computer consume energy while in sleep mode right
Erik SagenOct 15th 2008 11:51AM
I like this idea, alot.
Jash SayaniOct 15th 2008 3:35PM
How can you remotely turn-on a computer when the power is off...?
mvpOct 15th 2008 5:18PM
Allow me instant on to gaming like any console and ill be a happy camper.
UnregisteredOct 16th 2008 7:45AM
Wasn't that the dirty trick they tried to pull off on Vista users?
QuikboyOct 16th 2008 7:45AM
Why not have Instant On immeadiately allow you to access your favorite apps first, while slowly loading the rest of the system in the background?
Sounds better than either waiting for the start-up of the entire system, or having near-instant access to only a handful of programs. It just makes more sense this way.
JonOct 17th 2008 7:52AM
Yes it obvious that there are many impatient people out in the world. I guess some want faster access to the internet they cant live without their porn.do people really use the internet for anything else? i don't see the point in this my PC is fast and doesn't take long to boot and load my OS