The present economy has the technology industry in an interesting position. Computer manufacturers and system builders (such as Dell, ASUS, and MSI) have focused on using full desktop chips (Intel and VIA) and components, and shrinking them down into small, inexpensive devices that are capable of performing basic computing tasks. It's been difficult, however, to fully break from the full desktop school of thought -- and these small machines, for many, are a little too expensive for what they deliver.
Embedded chip manufacturers feel they have something to offer, and that using their processors in these settings will be both cost-effective and a better computing experience. The embedded chips are quite powerful, and a few embedded chip companies are firm in the belief that open source operating systems are the best way to bring out the best in their processors, and the devices they power.
MIPS Technologies, a producer of embedded processors, analog IP products and software tools, announced this morning that it has joined the Linux Foundation. MIPS vice president of software engineering, Udi Kalekin, says that the majority of MIPS developers use Linux for product development, so membership in the Foundation seemed a natural way to support their efforts as well as contribute to the larger Linux community.
