Does the $200 Linux PC Matter?
A lot of people are sending me links to the $200 desktop running Ubuntu Linux
that Wal-Mart is offering. While it's a fairly low-end box, it packs some decent
power for short money. The Everex Green gPC TC2502 (how's that for an intuitive
name) has 512MB of RAM, an 80GB drive and a CD burner (the DVD is unfortunately
read-only).
What's most interesting is just how much usable software one can get for free,
and gPC has it all -- Mozilla, OpenOffice and every Google app that ever came
out of Mountain View.
The bad news is there's no built-in wireless, and reviewer Gary Krakow of MSNBC
found it rough
around the software edges. The worst news is that Wal-Mart may not be planning
to carry it in all its stores (though my local Wal-Mart has plenty).
I'm hoping for broad distribution and a good, hard marketing push. We'll know
if Linux is an alternative only by having loads of people (and not just Linux
geeks) give it a whirl.
I'm very tempted to pick one up for my sons, who yearn to be Linux geeks. But
before we all get too excited, keep in mind that for an extra $100, Everex will
give you a machine with twice as much RAM and Vista pre-installed. And before
you get too excited about that, keep in mind that neither come with a
monitor or a wireless card.
Posted by Doug Barney on November 05, 2007