Presto Turns Your Notebook Into a Fast-Booting Netbook

Do you have an old notebook that's collecting dust? Have you ever wished for a way to quick-boot your current notebook so you could hit the Web or check e-mail? Presto is a compact, fast-booting Linux OS that's a snap to install, easy to use, and completely non-invasive -- meaning it runs alongside, not in place of, your current OS. You can see Presto in action in this exclusive Business Hacks video.

Unlike most Linux variants, Presto installs right from Windows. You don't have to mess with partitions or command lines or boot menus. In fact, Presto automatically adds itself to the Windows boot menu: The next time you start your machine, you'll have a choice of operating systems to run.

On my Acer notebook, which takes a good two minutes to load Vista, Presto boots in exactly 16 seconds. The OS comes preloaded with Firefox, Skype, the Pidgin instant-messaging app, and an "App Store" that includes OpenOffice, RealPlayer, Acrobat, and a link to an actual online store where you can download other Linux apps.

Curiously, there's no e-mail client, though it's easy enough to download, say, Thunderbird. Unfortunately, there's no obvious way to add it to the toolbar, or indeed to modify the toolbar itself. Presto definitely is not the OS for users who like to tweak and customize.

It is, however, a fantastic option for users seeking a simple, quick-booting alternative to Windows. Presto is free until April 13, at which time it'll cost you $19.95. What's that? Pay for Linux? Sounds like sacrilege, but I think that's a bargain. Presto is one of the coolest things I've seen in recent memory. [via Lifehacker]