Smart Technology
Basic and Cheap PCs
New low-price models appeal to everyone from geeks to grandmas.
By Anne Kates Smith, Senior Associate Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, April 2008
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Several new computers unveiled in recent months have something in common besides their budget-minded price tag: All come preloaded with the Linux operating system instead of Microsoft's Windows.
Until recently, Linux catered to techie do-it-yourselfers, who loaded the free system themselves and were free to distribute or modify it as they wished. But pre-installed versions of Linux are now turning up on PCs and laptops aimed at more-casual users and available at mainstream outlets such as Wal-Mart and Sears.com. These "just enough" computers are worth exploring if you need e-mail, Web browsing, word processing and spreadsheets, but you aren't wedded to a Windows-based program or game, whether it's Turbo-Tax or Halo 2.
In the $200-and-under desktop category, Everex introduced its gPC last fall; Shuttle's KPC will debut soon, and Mirus Innovation's Linspire model ($199 after a $100 rebate at Sears.com) came out in January.
None is a complete system: The gPC, Mirus and Shuttle don't come with a monitor; Shuttle's price doesn't include a mouse or a keyboard, either. Laptops include the EEE PC, from Asus, and the CloudBook, expected soon from Everex. Both are tiny, with modest prices of less than $400.
Reader Comments (3)
Posted by: vank66 at 04/15/2008 01:37:41 PM
Kudos to these manufacturers for choosing a Linux platform, it's about time the PC users get out from Microsoft's domination..
Posted by: eliezer at 04/16/2008 01:43:09 AM
...I think a better thing would be to add alternatives to Microsoft compatible programs that work with Linux and where to get them. most of them are for free. Also how about user ratings, or at least have the author tell his experience with the low cost computer...
Posted by: John Hamersmith at 04/19/2008 02:44:04 AM
These entry level Linux distros like G-os that comes with the Everex Cloudbook PC are fraught with problems. Not going to run MS-Windows programs without Linux emulator like WINE or similar. Besides, if you want to run Windows, buy a PC. I am writing this post on Everex Stepnote cost= $350.00 with Vista.No problems! $400.00 is a large amt for a bare bones 512MB Linux PC when you can buy entry level Acer at Walmart or Radio Shack for same price. I have used Linux and recommend Suse or Red Hat. Ubuntu-Debian distro also good...Apple OS-X is even a derivative of BSD Linux.G-Os not a copy!