InternetDon't Buy Linux From Wal-Mart

Though $199 may sound cheap, you can save more if you're willing to do just a little work.

You can now buy a Linux PC at Wal-Mart! Woo hoo! The only problem is that it's really more of a Google network PC that could easily be run on hardware that costs significantly less than $199. Don't get me wrong -- I'm a big fan of the world's largest retailer. I shop at Wal-Mart all the time. The store often really does offer the lowest price you can get (love those Rollbacks!). I'm not so sure that's the case when it comes to running a bare-bones PC, however. Computer hardware vendor Everex's new gPC is supposed to be a really inexpensive PC that could meet the basic needs of computer users. As my esteemed colleague Andy Patrizio reported earlier this week, the gPC comes loaded with Google's suite of applications -- such as Gmail, Google Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Calendar, Google Product Search, Google Blogger, YouTube, Google Maps, and Google News. Other free apps include Meebo for instant messaging, GIMP for image editing, Firefox, Xing Movie Player, RhythmBox, an iTunes substitute, Facebook, Skype and OpenOffice.org 2.2. From a hardware point of view, the gPC is a mini-tower system that comes with a Via C7-D low-power x86 clone running at 1.5GHz. Sounds pretty snazzy for only $199, doesn't it? The reality is that you can to do better. If cost is your primary driver for choosing a low-end PC, let me give you a tip from my own personal archive. Pick up a PC from the trash -- literally or figuratively. I've actually done both. There are countless... [ Read more on www.internetnews.com ]

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