Fry's $159 Linspire Computer
Submitted by srlinuxx on Sun, 11/06/2005 - 17:52.
One of the fixtures around Silicon Valley is Fry's Electronics. While the chain has spread throughout the west, Fry's started here, and has always had a geeky sort of reputation. It's always a bit surreal to wander through Fry's and see components for building breadboards right alongside PC components. They also offer some spectacular deals occasionally. So when I opened the local Fry's ad circular that was embedded in the San Jose Mercury News, one of the first things I spotted was the ad for a complete PC for $159.
As you might guess, this PC for tightwads doesn't run any flavor of the Gatesian OS (Windows). Instead, according to the ad, the system ships with Linspire, the OS formerly known as "Lindows."
Can a PC that sells for $159 really be a viable option? We took the plunge and bought one, just to find out.
Linux Cost vs performance at Fry's?
Fry's bought very large quantities from great quality computers and often sold at cost to reduce inventory. My two great quality were bought at $99.00ea but they were supplied with 1.2ghz Via running at 800 mhz. ThizLinux supplied only needed 128 mb dram; but Linspire insisted to be 256 mb that GQ did not supply. Beijiang will hear of it and correct the mistake immediately. Nothing like poor planning to kill off the Linux market in the US by not supporting Linspire 5.0. On the other hand, the policies of low cost cpu using last generation design is very positive for the third world market on price points. 256 mb of dram will make a huge difference of confidence building in the market place. Exotech as usual disected the computer and give us a bird's eye view of the hardware available for the third world. I like the GQ design and think that Fry's could also offer another enbedded livecd which only uses 128 mb to supplement Linspire 5.0 on 40 gb hdd. Great quality also have to educate their customers to face the small speakers closer together towards the wall(not people) to reflect the high frequencies to make them sound better. Auditorium trick is always to make sound reflected to give depth(or echo/resonance).
Outpost.com's $159 pc
Outpost.com has them in stock as well if you don't live around a Fry's.
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You talk the talk, but do you waddle the waddle?
Walmart microtel Linux machine is a real bargain?
Not the bare bones at $199. But the one at $219, which has everything but modem(DSL modem is free and cost is coming down to $14.95/month) and floppy(you have to use USB flash drives $6-10 instead or store data in portal email accounts 1gb at Yahoo). The bargain is you have to buy online then pick up at the nearest Walmart store to avoid shipping cost which is pretty big. You can then sell the hdd to reducing your original cost and use USB drives instead for small data storage in order to run your linux machine faster with livecd(s)? Its shipped with Linspire 5.0 which has livecd option.
On ebay Ibex 4210 $599 mid range dual boot computers?
Many merchants large or small are on ebay. In Des Plaines, Ill. Ibex is selling a Linux dual boot machine model 4210 with both WinXP and Fedora4.0 installed. It has AMD 2600+ cpu and 80 gb hdd. Others included are floppy, network card, 512 mb DDR, cdrw, and DVD. Plus the usual keyboard, mouse and modem, no speakers or monitor combined in this deal. Its a mid range offer that could be interesting but not dedicated for Linux users. As in the past, people soon decide to forget about Linux which may need too much work to upgrade while microsoft took care of auto-updates. Set it up and forget it is Microsoft's way. However, still, low end Linux machines have a better chance to train more Linux users with livecd and develop an installed base for the future with swapable livecd(s) embedded(single task) Linux systems. ibexpc.com Linux computers starts at $318.
TigerDirect's $269 Linux machine ?
Wintergreen systems in Indiana is the integrator for TigerDirect, and may even paid $10,000 for each single half a page of advertizement per catalog. As usual, it uses AMD 2400+ platform and Linspire 5.0 operating system. The motherboard is fully integrated for cost effectiveness, 333 mhz FSB, network, video, audio, USB, serial and parallel buses. The only included peripherals are 256 mb Pc2700 DDR, 80 gb hdd, DVD/cdrw, and PCI modem plus keyboard and mouse. The case is simple and void of fans, other than the 430 watt power supply. Its bare minimal and sophisticated in concept for a LInux machine. TigerDirect had many years of experience with Linux machines. Liquidating Intel dotstation was one of frustration. Ian Murdock had a poor Linux operationg system done at Progeny for Intel. Even KDE was unstable, due to keystroke prediction feature. But Wintergreen was tenacious and hanged on for Linspire 5.0 to prevail. If you like direct mailing shopping by telephone; TigerDirect shipping cost has to be accounted for the overall expenses. And you might add a case fan blowing in at the AMD cpu to cool better.
The logic of certifying Linux distros on W/F/T computers?
It seems Linux distros have not been certifying their Linux drivers on current computers available from recent production. Each Linux distro is taking pot luck by asking people to test them on older computers. There is a good logic to get your distro to work on current production computers. At least you can test your distro and know some one buying a new computer can use your distro. Walmart, Fry's and TigerDirect have current production computers from Microtel and Great Quality. They are available for distro to test their work in progress. Asking people to test or debug on their old one of a kind machines and failed or suceeded, is not going to help Linux popularity, period.