Computing infrastructures are growing rapidly. Hardware has become less expensive and their form factors smaller and smaller. With the advent of grid technologies, virtualization,and other distributed computing methods we need to find better ways to manage the the sheer number of resources being created.

If you ever want to carry a functional linux distribution around on your keychain you may want to look at "Damn Small Linux" (DSL).

DSL was originally developed as an experiment to see how many usable desktop applications could fit inside a 50MB. It has since evolved to be a complete desktop system.

Some advantages of DSL include:
1) The ability to boot of USB or CD
2) Ability to boot DSL from within Windows or other OS's.
3) DSL can also transform into a full Debian install using a traditional hard drive.

EyeOS is trying to redefine the operating system. It is an open source initiative that aims to create an operating system that is accessible over over the web from anywhere around the world. OuterVillage in its top five strategic technologies for 2008 suggested the need for "enhanced web platforms that deliver applications over the web reducing the need for stand-alone OS's". That is what EyeOS seems to want to deliver on.