Ubuntu must win this contract !!!]] @ $199 for a PC with Linux

[Lindsay]

> Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 00:27:14 -0500
> Hi Lindsay,
> 
> Monday, April 11, 2005, 9:32:55 PM, you wrote:
> 
> >> However I am a bit surprised, they say that the PC will cost 500 Euros.
> >> that sounds very expensive ! You can put a machine together for a lot
> >> less, and probably a LOOOT less if you were to order millions of them
> >> like seems to be the case here !
> 
> http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3380786
> Microtel PC With 1.5 GHz AMD Sempron 2200+ Processor (with Xandros OS)
> US$199.98
> http://www.xandros.com
> 
> 
> http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3356850&cat=86798&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A86798
> Microtel Desktop PC, 1.5 GHz AMD Sempron 2200+ Processor (without OS)
> US$188.00
> 
> 
> >> MAybe computer parts cost more in Brazil than in Europe ? Import
> >> duties ?
> 
> As of this writing:
> 500.00 EUR  = 648.956 USD
> http://www.translatum.gr/converter/currency.htm
> 
> 
> They must not have been conquered by WalMart yet... :)
> As you can see, they've been invaded:
> http://www.walmartbrasil.com.br/wmbrazil/wmstores/HomePage.jsp
> 
> 
> **********************
> 
> Speaking of which... I've bought some parts for a new system:
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-121-179&depa=0
> ASUS nVIDIA GeForce 6600 Video Card, 256MB DDR, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, PCI-Express, Model "EN6600/TD/256" -RETAIL
> $154.00
> (I went for nVidia because it suports some things that ATI doesn't,
> even though I like ATI.  This is the prior generation, since the
> current generation cost more than I want to pay; I'm not a hardcore
> gamer)
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-497&depa=0
> AMD Socket 939 Athlon 64 4000+, 2.4 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - Retail
> $544.99
> (Supposedly this is the same as the FX-53 -- which costs $240 more.
> Got retail version since it has a 3-year warranty, compared to 1 year
> for OEM. Oh yes, OEM costs $100 more, too.  Go figure.)
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=21-117-001&depa=0
> Apricorn 3.5inch Slim portable external Floppy Disk Drive, Model AFD-USB-2X
> $29.00
> (I'm getting this instead of an internal because I'm seeing a few
> computers now that don't have floppy drives)
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-154&depa=0
> Western Digital 250GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD2500JD, OEM Drive Only
> $132.00
> (For paging file/Storage.  Got OEM since it has a 3 year warranty
> compared to 1 year for Retail, and is cheaper, too)
> 
> http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-160&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE
> Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD740GD, OEM Drive Only
> $180
> (For Boot/Windows.  Retail and OEM have the same warranty, so got OEM,
> which is cheaper)
> 
> 
> I was going to order this, but it's out of stock at present:
> http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=15-116-624&depa=0
> Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-usb2, Model "WinTV-PVR-usb2"
> $129
> 
> 
> I have the motherboard and memory already, but don't have specs on it
> handy.
> 
> 
> Ok now, can someone please explain to me the logic of charging less
> money for a longer warranty? I can understand retail versions costing
> more, since you typically get other stuff in the package, and the
> vendor has to deal with uneducated folks who try to hook up a CPU or
> hard drive backwards. I don't understand OEM versions with a shorter
> warranty and higher price -- why should a computer builder buy an OEM
> when the Retail is far a better deal in every way? I don't understand
> why some CPUs have a longer warranty for retail versions, and some
> hard drives have a longer warranty for OEM versions. I assume that
> there's some logic here, but I don't know what it is.
> 
> -- 
> Scott.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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This may be of interest to some who can afford only a cheaper PC in the
USA.  Buy one and give it away with Linux already on board.