Phoenix introduces a technology thats allows a PC to boot in 4 seconds
Phoenix Technologies is best known for their BIOS (Basic Input Output System) – the firmware that starts the computer, initiates tests and serves as the interface between the machine and the operating system. The new technology, coined “Phoenix HyperSpace”, will be built on top of the existing BIOS and should be available on new Windows machines in the 6 to 9 month time frame. (not soon enough)
Woody Hobbs, chief executive of Phoenix, says HyperSpace allows a computer to boot within four seconds to a screen where the user can immediately do some basic tasks such as launching a Web browser or a DVD movie. The software utilizes “virtualization” to set aside a portion of the system memory and hard disk space. In this virtual space, called AppSpace, users can start various pre-installed programs that are determined in advance by Phoenix and the computer manufacturer.