WOW what a deal.

The speed of a Linux in a $200 box = Windows in a $1500 box

Specs Specs Specs

Any Specs? Sub $200 is great but only depending on what they are selling.

If it's $200 for a single core 1.8GHz chip, 80GB HDD, 256MG Ram, in a cardboard box case and what not is NOT impressive.

There is more to PC pricing than the MS tax...

Yea Right

Well as long as it's not running KDE or Gnome it probly will be faster than the 1.5K Winblows box.

If it is running one of those well I pity the foo.

the eee

is asus not a well known name

What he said

Certainly true of the latest version of Windows. Having used a Vista-based 3GHz system and the Linux-based sub-GHz eee PC, the latter is much more usable.

This is when it starts hurting for MS.

That may be true, LeadSled.

But I see it from a different angle...

For too long MS has obscured its software license price of Windows in the overall price of a system. As a result, many people believe it comes free with the system. (Some OEMs will do deals with third-party software in order to reduce the Windows license cost...Hence the result of extra bloated crap that no one likes being pre-installed).

The reality of it is that its not free. And its cost contribution to the overall system shows up more clearly in affordable systems. This is why manufacturers or organisations building and selling these types of low priced systems aren't using Windows as default. (such as ASUS, OLPC, MSI, Shuttle, etc)

Its a new trend that MS can do very little about. Sure, they could release a cut down version of XP, but they can't give it out for free indefinitely, can they?

And then the question arises: How can they compete like that? (A cut down version of Windows at a low price vs fully featured distro of Linux for free?)

Granted, Linux isn't typically suited for everyone, but ASUS's effort in their EeePC shows the potential that's there. Linux can be made for the masses in a simple and easy to use manner.

Its just the masses are waiting for someone to get off their butts and make it happen!

Ummm

Everex might not be that big a name, but this is a subbranch of FIC which is quite large.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7754614

They have been selling this for quite some time now and can barely keep it in stock.

Thanks, Charlie

Hi Charlie,

This is my first comment in the INQ. I just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you for the all the Linux stories. Keep up the good work.

Casing only or fully functional CPU

what do you mean by box?
If it is a fully functional CPU, than what is the spec?
If it is ONLY a chasing, that I thing $200 for only chasing is really expensive.

hah

Yeah, a $1,300 windows license.
Great math!

Wow thats a really cheap PC!

I wonder what kind of specs this system has? I never even thought that Microsoft taxed PC builders that use their OS'es. God damn Microsoft.

wow run away from that computer fast

actually not a first. One recently was selling in the US for $US199, it is amazing the amount of reviews it got saying it was a piece of crap, can we expect the same from this $200 box. The problem is linux computer do need more than the bare essentials these computers are coming with.

We've heard this before

Now they're saying it'll be $200, but we've had some other pc manufacturers make such announcements before. Then slowly you see the expected price creep up a bit, then a bit more.

So I'll have to see it in the stores at $200 before i believe this.

New ???

What about the everex that went on sale at wall mart a couple of weeks ago ? Was $199 too...
Cheers

A shuttle that isn't overpriced? Whatever next!

Surely there must be something missing such as a case, RAM, CPU, graphics card, optical drive, fans and a mouse?

Or have Shuttle finally realised they sell overpriced, badly targeted tat (Such as the home entertainment shuttle that wouldn't play hidef sources...)

Not the first

Everex has been selling a $199.00 Linux computer throuhg Walmart for several months. Who is Shuttle anyway? You refer to them as if they are a "big name" PC manufacturer, but I've never heard of them.

Shuttle should

Shuttle should sell their mini pcs with linux installed to the masses. You know the little mini cube like pcs. The look neat and have a totally different look than the bulky towers. Like: http://us.shuttle.com/ModelsG2.aspx

Small is "in". See Asus' Eee mini laptop. Should be a good move from Shuttle if they install it on a small mini pc.

Energy

I am currently thinking about buying a new system and the main point is Linux support and the second is energy consumption. And I see a trend in this direction. Maybe not the Linux thing, but the energy point.

Every time a customer asks for a new box, I am thinking about using Linux, but it is a little too experimental. What if they ask, why the software from their supermarket doesn't work? I cant think of anything to explain someone what a computer really is. It's just not that simple. But software companies are preaching the simpleness of computers.

Old News

Sub $200 unix box (gOS) is already selling in the states at WalMart. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7754614

Money in free software

There still is money to be made in free software. Instead of purchasing the software you can purchase commercial support. You can buy as much or little of it that you need. About two years ago I bought a system76 computer with two years support. I really only needed about two months. After my system was configured as I wanted it, the system has stay very stable. One of things about Linux is you do some work at the start of using your system and then almost none for the rest of it's life.

Lemmings v2.0.0.8

Looks like Lemmings will be top of the charts again this year - and this version dose not require (or run) on Microsoft...

Its the trend and the market is bowing to consumers needs. Hey, even if it is for old Mom & Pop and not forgeting Gran.

PRediction

With hardware/software releases like this how much longer do any of us think it will be before Balmer & Co. start to seriously assert their "patent infringement" threat? Especially now that the strategy in "big" tech seems to be: If you can't innovate, you can always legislate.

Windows OEM costs only...

The Microsoft "tax" is only about $50-100 for each PC, depending on which version of Windows you're getting with it. So while it is a cost, it's a small part of the overall cost. But when you start trying to get down to these sub-$200 and sub-$300 PCs it's a larger percentage of the total cost. Also, if it's Vista you'll need faster hardware to operate it properly, which makes the machine more expensive as well. MS banks on Moore's law (more computer power over time for the same price), not a demand for smaller PCs with adequate computing power to do most computing tasks people need to do.

uh

a linux box doesn't really need high end hardware as much as a windows box does, which obviously drastically lowers the cost.

hence the $200 linux box vs the $1500 windows box comparison...

Specs are important

Walmart has had a $199 linux box out for a good part of 2007.

But, the specs on that box are pretty low. It uses a VIA C7-D processor.

In short, Shuttle's solution may be another "you get what you pay for!"

Doesn't shuttle make barebones?

I'll have to wait and see the specs. Shuttle makes mostly barebones computers so there IS no cost for windows in the first place. Wouldn't it bump the price of their computers up if they went through the trouble of putting in a harddrive and operating system?

Sounds to me like they are just releasing a worse-hardware, cheaper system and trying to jump on the LiNuXbOxZoMgZoRs hype wagon or something. Linux is free... let us install it ourselves on your barebones and maybe the cost of the computer would be $179 instead of $199?

Actually I just found the info on their main website:
http://us.shuttle.com/CES/index.htm
Looks like the same computer comes as a barebones system for $99. Given that they can probably get a harddrive in there for $50-80 as a manufacturer, that means there is a $20-50 "linux tax". That barely beats the $100 windows tax, and windows has always been a lot more (non-expert) user friendly.

Small form factor?

Shuttle specialize in small form-factor PCs. If Shuttle do release a tiny Linux computer with an optical drive, we'll probably see Apple discontinue the Mini (or try and find a way to make the Mini smaller).

$93.95

My favorite supplier, here in Silicon Valley, feels that the Microsoft tax for "XP Home" is $93.95:

http://www.centralcomputers.com/commerce/catalog/configurator/configurator.jsp?product_id=18992&czuid=1199821346984

KDE needs memory more than CPU

In my experience, KDE is more demanding of memory than CPU. 512MB will leave it running current apps quite happily, even on my ancient 400MHz Pentium II. (You notice stuff like GIMP chewing up the CPU, but Firefox etc is fine.)

GNOME is a bit more demanding of CPU - they've adopted the (sensible IMO) Apple position that burning up CPU and RAM on user interface is well worth the investment - but, again, memory is mostly what you want.

I don't see what the specified memory is - do you have details on the included memory and the motherboard memory capacity?

His math is right

To get a comparable system to what you can do with Linux, you would need a $1000 ($780 oem) or higher software license (Windows 2003 Server to allow multiple, simultaneous users). You would also need to pay the MS-Office fees of $300+ for OEM or $400+ for retail. Throw on costs for cd-burner software, quicktime pro (to watch mov files in full-screen), dvd player and some others and you'll hit $1300 pretty easily.

I think his point was that you'll need over $1000 in extra hardware to make Windows as fast as Linux. Which is more than true in most cases. Personally, I find the user interface in Linux so much more elegant that I'd place my machine (with a couple $100 in upgrades) against an 800 core 100 THz Windows Machine with the entire system (storage and RAM) running out of 10,000 TB of battery-backed PC-1000000000 RAM. ZDnet, however would still find reasons to defend the badly beaten Windows and refer to Linux as some worthless junk that isn't ready yet.

It is, what it is

Ok, PCs are getting cheaper and cheaper. I can buy parts from vendors like NewEgg to make a fairly powerful Windows or Linux box. (Not including the price for Windows).

Keep in mind guys that even Dell has PC's for under $500 although sometimes you have to look for the sales.

What is important here IMHO:
Specs,
can it compete with Dell, Compaq, and is it close to or better then the cost of me buying the parts.

Size,
For this to be appealing it needs to be about the size of a shoe box or smaller.

Installation:
If I buy a box from an OEM, I want the OS installed and all driver issues to be worked out atleast for the hardware thats in the box. (BTW, guys, doing this can take time)

It's purpose,
If I'm buying a $200 box, I'm expecting it to be able to surf the web, use email, work on documents for school/work, and play some casual games that have no more then graphics that were out in 2003.
Can this box do this?

This is what I care about. If the answer to all of the above is good then it's worth it. It's something that I can recommend to others because it just needs to be plugged in to work. Grandma can most likely use it.

Linux is teh sukz

Sorry guys, but Linux(any version) sucks as an OS. Third party support is almost non-existent, you can only play a select few games on a linux box, and support...right.

Would think about picking up a box to format and toss Windows98 or ME on it though. $200 if it has decent hardware would make a nice little Windows work station.