Phoenix introduced its own quick-boot environment for netbooks called HyperSpace Dual at CES. Offered as a quick-boot option to Windows, many of the applications included in the instant-on Linux software are browser-based. It can be installed on netbooks or laptops, and can be downloaded from Phoenix's Web site. It is priced at US$39.95 for one year and $99.95 for three years.

Conceiving netbooks as always-on Internet-connected devices, Freescale Semiconductor and Qualcomm also talked about plans to build in quicker boot capabilities. As netbook adoption increases, the devices will need to start as swiftly as smartphones do, the chip makers said.

Qualcomm wants to add instant-boot capabilities to netbooks based on its Snapdragon platform, which will go into always-on, always-connected netbooks and mobile devices. The platform includes a CPU, 3G modem and a 3D graphics core.

"You can always get your e-mail, you can always open it up and browse the Web because it's 3G-enabled and you have ubiquitous connectivity," said Mark Frankel, vice president of product management at Qualcomm. A netbook will provide instant access to information just like a smartphone, and it will be unlike a mainstream laptop, which takes more time to boot, Frankel said.

Freescale is also looking to add fast-boot capabilities to future Linux-based netbooks with its Arm-based i.MX515 processors, which the company introduced at CES. The company demonstrated an i.MX515-powered netbook made by Pegatron, an Asus spin-off, at the show.