SplashTop - Free Operating System for Fast Browsing

SplashTop OS: A Lightweight Chromium-Based Operating System

SplashTop, the developer recognized for its rapid-boot technology integrated into numerous netbooks, has made its Chromium-based operating system available for general installation.

This OS is engineered to be exceptionally lightweight, featuring a pre-installed Chrome browser and delivering impressively quick performance.

Key Features and Benefits

For users currently utilizing Windows, SplashTop presents a compelling alternative. It’s designed for dual-booting capabilities, enabling a swift transition to an internet-ready environment within seconds.

The system leverages the functionality of Chrome web applications, expanding its utility and providing access to a wide range of online tools.

Performance and Design

The core design philosophy behind SplashTop OS centers on speed and efficiency. Its streamlined architecture minimizes boot times, offering a near-instantaneous online experience.

By integrating Chrome directly, users benefit from a familiar and robust browsing platform without the overhead of a traditional operating system.

SplashTop provides a viable solution for those seeking a fast and focused internet experience, particularly on netbooks or older hardware.

Getting Started: Download and Installation

Begin by visiting the SplashTop website to obtain the most recent version of the SplashTop OS. The initial download is a compact 2MB file.

Upon launching the downloaded application, a further 312MB of data will be downloaded via your internet connection.

Importing Settings

Following the completion of the installation process, you’ll be presented with the opportunity to import your preferred settings.

These settings include bookmarks from Internet Explorer or Firefox, as well as your saved Wi-fi network configurations – a convenient feature.

Booting into SplashTop OS

A system restart is required after the import process.

The boot menu will then display SplashTop OS as a selectable option.

While not instantaneous, the boot-up time is noticeably quicker when compared to Windows.

This provides a faster route to accessing the internet and utilizing the operating system’s core functionalities.

Key Features Overview

• The Internet, accessed through Google Chrome.
• Integration with Chrome Apps.
• Operation within a sandboxed environment.

Essentially, this is the core functionality. It isn’t intended as a replacement for a full operating system like Windows. Instead, it offers a streamlined, uncomplicated method for accessing the internet.

Accelerated Startup

Users avoid the lengthy loading process typically associated with Windows. The delay isn’t limited to desktop appearance; often, further waiting is required for drivers, antivirus programs, and automatic updates to complete before simple tasks like a quick web search can be performed.

If a browser constitutes the majority – around 90% – of a netbook’s usage, the overhead of Windows becomes unnecessary. SplashTop presents a more efficient alternative.

Improved System Responsiveness

When Windows runs numerous background applications despite the user’s primary need being internet access, closing these applications after a restart to achieve faster performance can be frustrating. On netbooks with limited resources, maximizing every bit of processing power is crucial.

Enhanced Security Through Sandboxing

File downloads are restricted to USB drives, preventing storage on the hard drive. While potentially inconvenient, this significantly enhances security by mitigating browser-based threats – a concern that is largely absent with Chrome itself.

Simplified System Restoration

A Restore Defaults option, found under Environmental Settings -> General, allows for easy system resets. This feature wipes all data and reverts the OS to its original state, providing benefits for both security and anonymity.

Revitalizing Older Hardware

While Windows installation is initially required, SplashTop OS can then be installed for everyday use as a dedicated internet access point. This allows older computers to find new purpose.

Although capturing screenshots within the OS proved difficult, SplashTop provides a short promotional video to showcase its capabilities.

Concerns about testing on a primary machine are addressed by the fact that SplashTop does not function within a virtual machine environment (at least, this was the case during testing). However, a straightforward uninstall option is included in the Windows installed programs list, facilitating easy removal if desired.

Final Thoughts

Although marketed with Bing integration, my testing revealed that all searches initiated through the browser bar utilized Google as the default search engine. This should alleviate any concerns regarding the Bing branding. The operating system remains remarkably streamlined and lightweight, making it ideally suited for use on netbooks or similar devices.

It isn't intended as a replacement for a full Windows setup, but rather as an addition to it. For individuals heavily reliant on cloud-based services, this system offers a compelling method to streamline their digital workflow.

We encourage you to share your impressions and feedback in the comments section below.