A lot of comuting power for $199:
Neat idea 
Sounds like a nice *Cheap* server box to me. Don't need all the fancy graphics cards and the like - a simple box with a CLI running my FreeBSD!!!
Sounds good to me!
The reason why these things are so cheap is because there's no Windows tax attached, I'd guess.
It'd make a great headless server for a small network. It'll be interesting to see if the "big manufacturers" (Dell and the like) follow in making extremely cheap machines.
crosses his fingers and waits for a cheap laptop
I know the $199US price was good the day the story was posted, because I checked it out myself.
But as of 2002-12-17, the lowest price I can find on the Wal-Mart site is $299, for what appears to be a similar system, though it has been upgraded, I believe. F'rinstance, there's a modem, 256MB. Were there speakers with the $199 system? And of course, there's still no monitor. But all the upgrades I mention don't add up to $100 (for a very low end system nowadays, though it's still faster than anything I have at home :p).
- VIA C3 800 MHz processor offers comparable performance to the 800 MHz Celeron processor
- 133 MHz frontside bus
- 256 MB SDRAM, expandable to 1 GB
- 133 MHz memory speed
- 40 GB Ultra-ATA 100 hard drive, 5400 rpm (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)
- 52x CD-ROM drive
- 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
- Integrated AGP 4x graphics
- Up to 8 MB shared video memory
- Integrated AC '97 sound
- 56 Kbps modem
- Integrated 10/100 Ethernet connection
- Micro ATX tower case (14"D x 7"W x 14"H)
- Available drive bays: one 5.25-inch external, one 3.5-inch external
- Total Slots: 1 PCI
- Available PCI Slots: None
- High-speed serial port
- Parallel port
- 2 front and 2 rear USB ports
- Game port
- 104-key keyboard
- 2-button mouse with wheel
- Audio port (line-in, line-out, mic-in)
- Stereo speakers
- Operating system not included
- 1 year warranty, return to manufacturer
Available PCI slots:none
No room for PCI expansion is the only real minus I see so far...
A $199 machine can be purchased from Fry's Electronics but it is not as "beefy" as the previously mentioned machine.
I think it is a 733 MHz Via C3 machine with 128 meg SDRAM and 30 gig HD and pre-installed ThinzLinux.
Seems the $199 Linux PC deal is over and that PC is now almost $299.... maybe it was an advertising ploy to get attention:
Here are the quick links for Mandrake and Lindows systems at Walmart:
and
and one more linux system at Walmart:
Online only. LindowsOS only. Least expensive "no OS" PC costs more (but is more capable).
The details:
- VIA C3 800 MHz processor offers comparable performance to the 800
- MHz Celeron processor
- 133 MHz frontside bus
- 128 MB SDRAM, expandable to 1 GB
- 133 MHz memory speed
- 10 GB Ultra-ATA 100 hard drive, 5400 rpm (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)
- 52x CD-ROM drive
- Integrated Trident Blade 3D/Pro Media AGP 4x graphics
- Up to 8 MB shared video memory
- Integrated AC '97 Audio with 3D enhanced sound
- Integrated 10/100 Ethernet connection
- Mid Tower ATX case (7.5"W x 15"H x 17.5"D)
- Available drive bays: two 5.25-inch external, 3.5-inch external
- Total Slots: 1 PCI
- Available PCI Slots: 1
- High-speed serial port
- Parallel port
- 2 rear USB ports
- Game port
- 104-key keyboard
- 2-button mouse with wheel
- Audio port (line-in, line-out, mic-in)
- Stereo speakers