"The netbook usage scenario is kind of a grab it, use it, put it back sort of situation. We believe it optimizes for that quick boot-type of environment," Merrigan said.

Lenovo doesn't plan to deliver a quick-boot environment for mainstream notebooks, Merrigan said. Mainstream PCs are used for a wider range of applications, including tasks like content creation, which are better achieved by running a full-fledged OS.

"For mainstream notebooks when you are doing a greater variety of things... the quick-boot environment doesn't support that all that well so we think that it's better left to netbooks at this time," he said.

Full-fledged operating systems are cluttered with applications and drivers that slow down PC boot times, said Anand Nadathur, director of product management at Phoenix Technologies, which makes quick-boot software for PCs. Users could either wait and stare at the boot screen, or use instant-on capabilities for quick access to the Internet.

"When users start their PC in the morning, they are not looking for the full-fledged OS to come up and do some amazing things. They just look for a simple browser so they can check e-mail," Nadathur said.