The cloud-focused operating system's front end, meanwhile, leverages technologies on top of the Chromium browser. With support for "exotic" components including Nvidia ION, Intel Poulsbo and touch-screens--and by enhancing support for the latest CPU hardware--Jolicloud aims to make version 1.1 of its namesake operating system an excellent choice for all types of computers, not just netbooks, it says.

GNOME and X11

Other components of Jolicloud 1.1 will include version 2.6.35.4 of the Linux kernel; ; GNOME, Nautilus, and Metacity 2.30; and the Plymouth boot-up theme. Chromium 7.0, VLC 1.1.4, Dropbox 0.6.3, Abiword 2.8.2, Banshee 1.6.1, 3.6.10, Gimp 2.6.8, Miro 3.0.1 and 3.2.1 are also planned for inclusion.

For now, Jolicloud 1.0 can be downloaded for free from .

Given the rise of --and, indeed, tablets--it's net yet clear what role cloud-focused netbooks may play for either businesses or consumers, or how Google's Chrome OS will fit in. Still, it's exciting to see another Linux-based contender potentially beating Google at its own declared game. If nothing else, Jolicloud is definitely one to watch.