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Walmart Offers Sub-$500 laptop With Linspire
Posted by
timothy
on Mon Dec 20, 2004 06:15 PM
from the how-much-is-that-in-simolians dept.
from the how-much-is-that-in-simolians dept.
LehiNephi writes "Cnet reports that Walmart is offering a sub-$500 notebook running Linspire. The specs are less-than impressive: a 1GHz VIA C3 processor, 128 MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, and a plain vanilla CD-ROM. Seems overpriced for what you get, but cheap nonetheless. And yes, it does run Linux."
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Seems cheap for what you get ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Seems cheap for what you get ... (Score:5, Interesting)
For $499 you get:
VIA C3 processor 1.0 GHz
14.1" LCD panel
Lindows/Linspire version 4.5
128 MB memory
30 GB hard drive
CD-ROM drive
For $549 you get:
1.1 GHz Mobile AMD Athlon 4 processor
14.1" XGA TFT LCD screen
40 GB hard drive
128 MB RAM
DVD-ROM drive
Integrated 802.11b wireless networking
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Notice the cheapo monitor doesn't say TFT. Besides that for the extra $50 you get Windows Xp Home(Ebay?), Althon & .1 GHz, DVD vs CD, 10GB Xtra HD, Wireless.
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Re:Seems cheap for what you get ... (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:Seems cheap for what you get ... (Score:5, Informative)
They are 2-4 times faster on IDE access then any 32bit P3-4 system including Xeons. Rest of the IO is also quite good (around 2 times better then comparable P3). As a result they make very good small servers.
CPU performance is nothing to shout about, but hardly slow. It is similar to PIII at the same speed. Possibly 10-20% slower, but not more. Actually it depends on what are you doing because they have smaller cache then PIII (only 64k).
Thermals are phenomenal. A C3 eats 1-5W where P3 eats 70+.
They are rumoured to be extremely sluggish for a completely unrelated reason. The early EPIA (as well as some current non-Via system) motherboards shipped with a Cyberblade on board. It has shared memory. So when a geek takes it his first reaction is to pump up the video frequency and resolution as high as the system can bare. As a result the video is accessing the memory at 150MHz pixel clock. That into a considerable portion of the memory bandwidth. In fact the slowing down between 60 and 90Hz vertical sync is clearly visible. This is no longer the case with newer motherboards which have a fairly decent 2D video with its own memory.
Overall it depends what you use it for. If you want a silent low maintenance server or test box. It is perfect. If you want a silent typewriter/mail desktop it will do the job. If you want to play doom3 you are got to be kidding.
Parent
Runs Linux (Score:5, Funny)
Well, I think this is the reason there are no posts. ^_^
Equates Linux with Cheap?? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Equates Linux with Cheap?? (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:Equates Linux with Cheap?? (Score:4, Insightful)
a) Wipe it out and replace it with Windows
b) Throw the computer into the trashcan
c) Continue to use Linux because it gets the job done
I think c) is perfectly ok, b) is rather unlikly and if they do a), what do you expect? Either WinXP will run even more slow or it will be a faster, if its slower, no lose, people will figure its not Linux fault that the computer is slow, if XP is faster, then well, Linux IS actually slow and people will remember it, because its the truth. Can't see anything bad with that.
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What everyone wants to know.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, with 128MB of RAM according to the specs, I wouldn't try iy. At least not a recent version of windows.
Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:4, Informative)
I would be more concerned about KDE running happily under such a load. I'd put IceWM on there instead. And don't even think about running OpenOffice.Org...that would kill it DEAD.
Parent
Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:4, Interesting)
To be fair, modern Linux distros don't do well with only 128 MB if your using the latest KDE or Gnome. If you switch to Fluxbox, IceWM or another low-mem desktop like XFCE, then it works fine. But switching desktops is not really a good option under MS Windows. There are only a few poorly done desktop replacements for explorer.exe IMO. Not that I think explorer.exe is anything great. It is the cause of _all_ my problems under WinXP, but is is better then the replacements I have tried.
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Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:5, Funny)
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Re:What everyone wants to know.. (Score:5, Funny)
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Plain AND Vanilla! (Score:3, Funny)
I wonder if they include a disclamer... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'd almost wager that 80% of the people who buy these (or who buy a computer from WalMart in general) are n00bs, and will try returning the devices because 'there's no microsoft word or internet explorer on it'.
Re:I wonder if they include a disclamer... (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, put a 'W' icon linking to Openoffice or AmiWord and a 'E' 'Internet' icon pointing to Firefox and I bet they wouldn't know the difference.
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Re:I wonder if they include a disclamer... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I wonder if they include a disclamer... (Score:4, Funny)
And if I were your parent, I'd smack your dumb, ingrateful ass around for bitching about the laptop that I just bought you with my hard earned money.
Then I'd make your lazy ass go get a job and buy your own.
Parent
Re:I wonder if they include a disclamer... (Score:5, Funny)
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I don't think anyone will see the box.. (Score:3, Interesting)
The previous Linux/Walmart boxes were never available at the walmart stores, only at walmart.com. While the CNET article doesn't say that it won't be sold in stores, it starts out with with "Walmart.com and Linspire revealed.." and ends with "the computer is available at walmart.com". No mention that it would be available at stores.
My guess is people who buy computers online are somewhat more savy than those who buy at Wal-Mart stores.
Call me when... (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously, I feel bad for whoever is putting these together for WalMart. They just got a hugenormous client (WalMart) who will be both the best and worst thing that ever happened to them.
Where I work we split our time between trying to provide excellent service to our non-WalMart customers while keeping WalMart happy because they account for such a huge chunk of our revenue it's not even funny. And that's pretty normal for any company WalMart does business with.
Re:Call me when... (Score:4, Informative)
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How ironic (Score:4, Insightful)
Then I saw the other machine that has an "Athlon 4" CPU in it (whatever that is) for fifty bucks more and comes with built-in wireless networking. "Oh boy," I thought, and headed over there to check that one out. And of course, the one that has wireless networking comes with XP.
Gonna be real easy "taking over the desktop market" when you can't even get installed in a machine with wireless networking support...
Parent
low spec? (Score:5, Insightful)
Not too shabby. (Score:3, Insightful)
Not awesome? (Score:3, Insightful)
That was about 10 years ago.
Sure, this thing isn't going to be a screaming game machine, but honestly, how much horsepower do you need for text editing, email, and some casual browsing, anyway?
Re:Not awesome? (Score:5, Informative)
This laptop has the right cpu for long battery life. I suspect it has useless batteries in it. And does not have that many power friendly peripherals.
Apple 1GHz G4 laptop gets about 4.5 hours on a charge. But they have an 8 cell(i think) li-ion pack. As if the number of cells means anything. (Did Walmart print the mAh of their battery pack?). For twice the price you get 10x the laptop.
P4 laptops go about 2.5 hours on their batteries, typically. (intel's speedstep power management helps dramatically). And Pentium M laptops go 5-6 hours on a charge.
Really you can pay $200 more for a laptop that goes three times as fast and lasts twice as long. Or pay double and get something that lasts 4 times as long. I really don't see any advantage to buying this laptop. A used celeron laptop would probably be a better deal if you absolutely can't spend more than $500 on a laptop. (my NiMH 600mhz celeron laptop gets about 2.5 hours on a charge, but only after I replaced the NiMH pack with a fresh one)
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Re:Not awesome? (Score:5, Insightful)
its all a matter of perspective. to some people that want/need a laptop but dont need a lot of power, cheaper is always better. also, i think there is something about $500 for a laptop. people see that to get a dell desktop is about $500, but to get a walmart laptop ('hey, walmart is a well-known brand' they think to themselves) is now the same price. okay, maybe you need the $550 model to get windows to make that a little more fair. my point is that $500 for a laptop is mad cheap, regardless of the quality. that amount of money has not gotten you a laptop new for some time(if ever). the battery life is terrible, however, ill give you that.
well, crap. i typed all that and just now saw your recommendation for a used celeron. that is a viable solution, theres a 1ghz dell on ebay for $400 right now.
Parent
hmm (Score:3, Interesting)
But what about the midrange? (Score:3, Interesting)
Overpriced? (Score:5, Interesting)
I can't speak for the US market, but up here in Canada the cheapest new laptop runs you about $1,000, which is about $800 USD. Granted, this is with a 2+ ghz cpu, 256 MB RAM, 20-30GB drive and a dvd-rom.
However, to pay anything less than this requires checking out the used laptop market. Here we see such gems as a P3-700, 64-96MB RAM, 8-10GB drive selling for $5-600 all the time. Say about $4-500 USD.
I don't know about you folks, but this looks like a pretty nice deal for those folks who aren't planning on running Doom3 on their laptops. The ram's a bit scanty for any modern OS, but otherwise this is a perfectly good machine to do 99% of what people do with a laptop.
It runs Linspire (Score:5, Interesting)
Can a Red Hat Guru Survive on a Lindows Laptop? [linuxjournal.com]
C3 makes for a terrible laptop (Score:3, Informative)
This is a bad choice. I have a C3 933Mhz processor. It performs roughly equivalent to a 300Mhz PIII. Not only this, but it is extremely hot. The C3 was supposed to be cool, but this is one of the hottest laptops I've used. I haven't objectively measured it with a thermistor yet, but the external temp seems about 55 C to 60 C. If I put the laptop on my bare chest it leaves red marks. It may be because the laptop is so thin, or maybe the HSF construction is shoddy.
The PIII/M is cool, and embarrasses the C3 in terms of performance. This is partly due to C3 being a bad processor, but also largely due to PIII/M being a good processor. In fact, if I was getting an x86 notebook, I wouldn't accept anything except a PIII. I've personally experienced Athlon notebooks, P4 notebooks, and VIA notebooks, and can tell that they are all inferior. I can't speak to Transmeta or Apple branded notebooks.
If this C3 notebook is at all appealing to you, my advice is to get an old PIII off ebay or reburbished from one of many dealers. You'll pay the same price and get a much higher performing, cooler laptop.
Re:Gotta love Walmart... (Score:3, Insightful)
Warts? They are more like sucking chest wounds.
Anyone who shops at WalMart is party to the destruction of the american middle class, the 40 hour work week, and employer paid health care.
Re:Gotta love Walmart... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Gotta love Walmart... (Score:3, Insightful)
Seems someone has been watching a bit too much South Park.
*Referring to South Park Episode # 8-09*
Re:Gotta love Walmart... (Score:3, Insightful)
Some people have no friggin concept of the economy and capitalism whatsoever. As if the great founders of America implanted a economic system based around freedoms and capitalism... but they had NO IDEA there would be someplace like Wal-Mart!!! I mean... we just can't compete!!!
Complete ignorance. People like you put us on
Re:Gotta love Walmart... (Score:5, Insightful)
Now (25 years later) we are finding that we (the US) have overpriced our labor to the point were we are non-competitive in any basic industries. Now my former classmates are unemployed, or on strike for years at a time, and up a creek. The slightly more enlightened among them are at a community college trying to make up for lost time.
Wal*Mart charges a low price and pays a low rate. Don't like it, go to school and get a job doing something other than stocking shelves. No other jobs in Podunk other than Wal*Mart? Move.
Grow up, people. Wal*Mart only controls the job supply if you let it. Train yourself for something other than stocking shelves or waving UPC's over scanners. Especially since we're automating that function, too.
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Re: Healthcare as a business expense (Score:5, Interesting)
The American people let the legislators pull the wool over their eyes by allowing absurd jury awards, shuffling personal responsibility off to the nearest set of (presumably) deep-pocket targets, and otherwise fostering the stupidity du jour. So mostly, I think they get what they deserve. Eventually, maybe they'll get up off their lazy asses and force the legislature to behave responsibly. I try, and I get a lot more done than you'd think since I can use $$$ as a lever, but it's not enough. The insurance companies and the lawyers have more.
I'm a business owner. I pay for healthcare for all my employees. They get a full ride -- dental, eyes, health and life. You don't even want to know what it costs me. The only good news is I can still afford to do it. In about five years, if things keep going as they are, I'll be forced to raise our software prices, because there won't be any margin remaining to cover it. And that's for a product that technically has paid back our investment in it; originally, it was $499, and these days we sell the same thing, plus tons of upgrades done in the meantime, for $50 -- we're that far down the curve. It absolutely sickens me that the curve is reversing because of lawyers and other parasites.
Gah. I hate this subject.
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Re: Healthcare as a business expense (Score:4, Informative)
As for the suits against doctors, the majority of suits are against just a few doctors in any state. The states where the medical association actually disciplines doctors they get complaints against end up with much lower malpractice insurance, because there's less malpractice, because in medicine as in most professions it's about 10% of the people who make 90% of the screwups. So what malpractice insurance gives doctors is the freedom from having to discipline their own. Start yanking licenses from the idiots, and the problem goes away. But of course the insurance firms don't want the problem to go away. They make money coming (medical insurance) and going (malpractice insurance).
It's a protection racket.
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Re: Healthcare as a business expense (Score:4, Insightful)
I agree. However, the insurance companies can only do what they do because the chain of responsibility that turns the legislators into power brokers for the insurance companies enables them to.
I see the chain of responsibility in this order:
The insurance companies have what amounts to a license to mint money. The legislators gave it to them.
The lawyers also have a license to mint money, and the legislators gave it to them as well.
The political parties only produce candidates that will toe the line and produce pork.
The people give the political parties the the power to do this, and they have not moved to take it away.
The legislature has in turn very carefully made it very difficult (with the single exception of California as far as I know) for the people to have any power whatsoever in changing how the system works. They do this by distracting the gullible majority with bullshit issues like drugs and "obscenity" and useless, unproductive wars in third-world countries, while they avoid dealing with healthcare and tort reform as if it was the plague. And of course, to them, it is the plague, because of the level of political pork that arises from the back room intercourse they engage in with the insurance industry. Screw that up, and they could lose income and the cushy job. And they know it.
The tea went into Boston harbor for far less reason than all of this adds up to. American citizens are the ones bending over; so who can really blame the legislature if they go for a quick sample of ass? Stand up for yourself, vote the incumbents out of office -- no matter who they are -- next time around and send a coherent message. Or don't, and pay through the nose for your healthcare.
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Re:Notebooks for $500.00? (Score:3, Funny)
Way too many stereotypes (Score:5, Insightful)
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Re:Not bad (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Incredible (Score:3, Insightful)