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• AMD Duron 900 MHz processor
• 200 MHz frontside bus
• 128 MB SDRAM, expandable to 1 GB
• 133 MHz memory speed
• 256 K integrated level 2 cache
• 10 GB Ultra ATA 100 hard drive, 5400 rpm (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)
• 52x CD-ROM drive
• Integrated Trident Blade 2D/3D graphics
• Up to 8 MB shared video memory
• Integrated 3-D enhanced sound
• 10/100 Ethernet connection
• 56 Kbps V.90 Win modem
• Micro ATX tower case (7.06"W x 14.7"D x 13.8"H)
• Total drive bays: two 5.25-inch external, two 3.5-inch external and one 3.5-inch internal
• Available drive bays: one 5.25-inch external, one 3.5-inch external and one 3.5-inch internal
• Total slots: 3 PCI
• Available slots: 2 PCI
• High-speed serial port
• Parallel port
• 2 USB ports
• Game port
• 104-key keyboard
• 2-button mouse with wheel
• Audio port (line-in, line-out, mic-in)
• Stereo speakers
• 1-year warranty, return to Microtel
• Windows and monitor are not included

• AMD Duron 900 MHz processor
• 200 MHz frontside bus
• 128 MB SDRAM, expandable to 1 GB
• 133 MHz memory speed
• 256 K integrated level 2 cache
• 10 GB Ultra ATA 100 hard drive, 5400 rpm (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)
• 52x CD-ROM drive
• Integrated Trident Blade 2D/3D graphics
• Up to 8 MB shared video memory
• Integrated 3-D enhanced sound
• 10/100 Ethernet connection
• 56 Kbps V.90 Win modem
• Micro ATX tower case (7.06"W x 14.7"D x 13.8"H)
• Total drive bays: two 5.25-inch external, two 3.5-inch external and one 3.5-inch internal
• Available drive bays: one 5.25-inch external, one 3.5-inch external and one 3.5-inch internal
• Total slots: 3 PCI
• Available slots: 2 PCI
• High-speed serial port
• Parallel port
• 2 USB ports
• Game port
• 104-key keyboard
• 2-button mouse with wheel
• Audio port (line-in, line-out, mic-in)
• Stereo speakers
• 1-year warranty, return to Microtel
• Windows and monitor are not included

Microtel PCs. Good 'nuff for the classroom, unless you want Windows on there.

It looked like AT/really old HW. 10 386/486 POS boxen are going to be way slower than even a two hundred dollar PC, use 5x as much power, have 1/20th the storage, take orders of magnitude longer to set up, and 10x the space. Plus, it looks as if those pc's had been stripped of all drives, cards, etc.

Computer $199.86

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM Version $119.98
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition OEM Version $199.98

Computer $199.86

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM Version $119.98
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition OEM Version $199.98

Computer $199.86

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition OEM Version $119.98
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition OEM Version $199.98

Other vendors typically have it for less than Amazon. Go to Dealtime and use their book price comparison engine to get the best price. In this case, they report that Walmart has it for $31.49. And if you provide your zip code, they can compare prices including shipping.

And, of course, there's always half.com for used books.

Sorry in my haste I accidently hit the submit button rather then preview and the link was messed up.

Dearest Pet

is hipocritical.

Eyes Wide Shut

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=419 38&dept=4096&product_id=1731382&path=0%3A4096%3A41 938%3A45111%3A45114

And that is all I have to say.

"We're not going to carry any software with any vulgarity or nudity -- we're just not going to do it."

I just don't get these double standards. They sell all kinds of movies and videos where sex and violence are rampant. Walmart sells Sopranos, American Pie and some other R-rated dvds. I am guessing (and hoping) that they don't sell such videos/dvds to underage children.

Then why in the world they refuse to acknowledge the ratings on the games. The rating are there for a purpose. Of all the big games that are out/coming out, violence is a big part of them. And of course, as we all know from TV, sex follows. Read and understand the the ratings on the games and stick to them. Sell the games like cigarettes if you have to, just don't give me your double standards.

"We're not going to carry any software with any vulgarity or nudity -- we're just not going to do it."

I just don't get these double standards. They sell all kinds of movies and videos where sex and violence are rampant. Walmart sells Sopranos, American Pie and some other R-rated dvds. I am guessing (and hoping) that they don't sell such videos/dvds to underage children.

Then why in the world they refuse to acknowledge the ratings on the games. The rating are there for a purpose. Of all the big games that are out/coming out, violence is a big part of them. And of course, as we all know from TV, sex follows. Read and understand the the ratings on the games and stick to them. Sell the games like cigarettes if you have to, just don't give me your double standards.

"We're not going to carry any software with any vulgarity or nudity -- we're just not going to do it."

I just don't get these double standards. They sell all kinds of movies and videos where sex and violence are rampant. Walmart sells Sopranos, American Pie and some other R-rated dvds. I am guessing (and hoping) that they don't sell such videos/dvds to underage children.

Then why in the world they refuse to acknowledge the ratings on the games. The rating are there for a purpose. Of all the big games that are out/coming out, violence is a big part of them. And of course, as we all know from TV, sex follows. Read and understand the the ratings on the games and stick to them. Sell the games like cigarettes if you have to, just don't give me your double standards.

That's just wrong. These people have spent ungodly amounts of time and effort to create something for the SOLE PURPOSE OF SPITING MICROSOFT and you want to buy an Xbox to play games on.

Here are a few points in favor of the $200 Microtel:

While it might not have the same quality components as the XBox, it is a decent tradeoff since it has a "low power" VIA C3 processor and you can actually add PCI cards and drives to it. This makes it more useful for something like a firewall that doesn't have to have an nvidia graphics card.

It has twice (128mb) the memory of an xbox, also expandable.

It comes with a keyboard and mouse: no wiring USB connectors and no $20 USB keyboards.

It comes with a copy of Lindows to play with or give to your grandma.

And, last but not least, by the time you've spent $60 on a mod chip and assuming you have a monitor, it's cheaper.

The article links to a pcmag.com review of the Microtel $200 PC that Wal Mart sells (which these guys were going to review, but review Lindows instead). I've been eyeing these for my 2nd grade daughter as a good starter machine. However, the linked review is pretty weak. Has any thorough review been done of this machine?

Where else are you going to get a 800 MHz PC for $200???

WalMart. Where else?

For $200 you can get a PC with Linux pre-installed: 800MHz, CD-ROM, 10G disk, 128M. If you want to run Xbox games, get an Xbox, but for everything else, a real PC is probably cheaper and better.

This has been pointed out already but the $200 does not include a modem. And I ask you, WTF are you gonna do with AOL on a PC without a modem. Compare - Lindows Windows. The $30 modem price is included in $300 Windows system. So actually windows is $70. Still a good chunk but more like a 30% tax.

I think America on Line-ux is a good idea but I question the viability of an "internet appliance." Most of the technophobes I know still want to be able to do other stuff with their computer even if they never actually do it.

This has been pointed out already but the $200 does not include a modem. And I ask you, WTF are you gonna do with AOL on a PC without a modem. Compare - Lindows Windows. The $30 modem price is included in $300 Windows system. So actually windows is $70. Still a good chunk but more like a 30% tax.

I think America on Line-ux is a good idea but I question the viability of an "internet appliance." Most of the technophobes I know still want to be able to do other stuff with their computer even if they never actually do it.

Don't forget their Mandrake pcs. They're more expensive, but the hardware is better.

Wallmart design your mandrake PC

Why buy a computer with a linux ripoff that charges you $99 a year and has everyone running as root. I almost forgot, they rebrand all the apps other people wrote too.

Mandrake is the OS I'd recommend to new linux users.

If that is the only thing holding you back, (the embarassement of being thought of as white trash), you can order it online: Here

Get it off walmart.com.

Just FYI, here's Walmart's page on Lindows OS PCs.

Isn't that sweet. Their Op-Ed writers are plugging Linux, telling Government units abroad and in the United States and individual computer users should look for ways to support Linux and Linux-based products. Good for them to tell Joe Blow that reads their pack of dead trees with print.

Now how about they take a proactive stance on Linux if they want to plug it in Op-Ed. Here's how, and it hits right home here at /.:

Why doesn't the NYT open its big fat wallet and support Linux itself? Why don't they lay down some cash and support VA Systems, the people who run this (and other) sites that are very proactive in the Open Source community. Not only that, but partner up with sites like /. and offer /.ers free and clear (i.e. no registration needed) access to articles linked from /. itself. Put up a few banner ads that allow this free access, /. earns its keep, and the NYT gets readers.

It doesn't take a nerd with millions of lines of code under his belt or some opinionated schmoe who happens to speak on behalf of one of the world's most read newspapers to figure that one out. The money that OSDN/VA Systems recieves goes into projects within the Open Source community, rapidly expanding the capabilities and usability of the Linux OS. Games get niftier, Utilities become more powerful, and the Internet becomes a halfway decent place to stake a claim. All of it free and open to the public at large (or with a big book and nice looking CDs for $25-30 at Wally World).

Who knows? Maybe a Linux applet or something that fires off real time headlines from the NYT? Stock quotes? Newsy stuff? Gee, wouldn't that get them even more exposure. Not to mention VA, OSDN, and /. getting in on the act as well...

It's Linux Making Money and Making Waves, not Rocket Science...

Linux is very quickly becoming ready for Joe (or Jane) User.

I still don't understand how ANYONE on /. is qualified to make this assertion. Our perspective is incredibly skewed because of our expertise. Sure, every "Linux on the Desktop" article comes with posts about peoples moms, wifes, grandpa's using Linux just fine, accept not everyone has a relative that can install and support them on it either.

Yes, I'm sure I'm biased by my technical expertise. However, it's also one of the reasons I feel I can make that assertion. I'm a software developer. I work with users every day to assure that the programs I've written are easily usable and understood. I've sat behind one-way glass and watched users interact with my software. I have a pretty good handle on what's easy for a novice to use and what isn't. Developments like Lindow's "click and run" are breaking new ground in linux's ease of use for general consumers even though we may scoff at them. If you don't think that usability has been improving and improving rapidly, go ahead and pick up an old linux book with an early version of slackware off a discount book rack then download the latest readhat .iso's. Install both of them on a machine. Find somebody who has installed Lindows or HomeBase Desktop and try it out. Compare where things were 5 years ago to where they are today. The difference is impressive.

As for Windows OEM fees, while I was in college, I worked for a music store that also custom built PC's and sold retail/studio accounting packages (don't ask me how they got into that business). At the time, an OEM copy of Windows 95 was $99. I have no reason to believe this has changed

I'd rather have a Microtel

Plus you don't have to do ANYTHING geeky to put Linux on it. It already comes that way.

But it's shopping at Walmart... that's the part that's like having an AOL address.

Disclaimer: I NEVER shop at Walmart unless I need a gun in a hurry...

$299? Try $199

800Mhz/10GB/128MB

didn't work, try this

While browsing around, I found what appears to be a standalone unit that you can use to browse and record broadcast television, includes no DRM controls, includes a 19inch screen, a remote control unit, speakers, and is contained in ONE unit. It does not record the broadcast digitally but the medium it uses appears to be compatible with 1000's of other units and is cheaper then any memory stick or other removeable device I've ever seen. I imagine a device like this sitting next to your computer would be a more logical choice for only $169.

Complete with 50's-style announcer assuring you that "every kid in the galaxy will want one". The video offers a pretty detailed look at the droid's capabilities, including sound effects. Here's a direct link to the R2 site on Wal-Mart: (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?produc t_id=1819726) The video's in a link on the middle of the page.

From the Wal*Mart page:

Requires 4 AA and 4 "D" alkaline batteries (not included)

Click me

Every major OEM still sells computers without an AGP slot. HPQ, Dell, Gateway, Sony. A significant proportion of computer users are forced to use PCI cards because of this. I was at Dell's website the other day and saw that they were selling a Pentium 4 with onboard video and no AGP slot. A Pentium 4!! So your elitist comments not only apply to the southern, white Wal-Mart shopper, but also to many suburbanites and sophisticated city dwellers.

Wal-Mart is a good choice for high-quality, low-priced tech products. Their website is selling Mandrake Linux PCs. I thought you OSS advocates have dreamed for years of a major retailer offering a Linux computer? Shouldn't you be praising Wal-Mart rather than mocking them and their customers? What a way to support the Free software community!

with any OS, also. Check it out here. Of course, you could also get Lindows, Mandrake and windoze PCs.

$50 more ?

try about $39 cheaper

Here

It only cost $15.88. A large pizza and an order of crazy bread from Little Ceasars costs $6.87, and with a girlfriend that likes the books, along with the movie, I had nothing to complain about except that this was one cheap date.
The only time I remember $20 being alot of money was when I was 16 and unemployed...

Apex AD1100-W's are great and $65 at Wal-mart.

If you can find the 1meg-ROM unit you can reflash it to be MV and region free; the more common 512k-ROM just has the region-free hack right now but the MV fix is in the works. [check the Nerd-Out forums - AD1100 section, pinned topic at the top] All the DVD's I've used on it, the thing just skips everything you tell it to. Even the sometimes annoyingly-long intros on play menus - don't have to wait for it to come up, press play and it actually PLAYS.

And it has some other nice features: plays MP3s, VCDs, SVCDs, and it'll even show you a CD full of JPEGs. There have even been reports it'll show you raw MPEG files burned to CD (haven't tried that one yet).

No I don't work for Apex, but a box that'll do all that for cheap is a pretty good deal. (Sorry, no component outputs, progressive scan or optical digital out [does have coax], but what do you want for $65?)

They are selling both Mandrake and LindowsOS PCs.
Duron 900, 128M, 20G, Mandrake for $391.

Walmart

$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron No OS
$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Lindows OS
$428.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Linux 8.2
$499.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Windows XP Home Edition

$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron No OS
$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Lindows OS
$428.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Linux 8.2
$499.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Windows XP Home Edition

$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron No OS
$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Lindows OS
$428.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Linux 8.2
$499.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Windows XP Home Edition

$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron No OS
$399.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Lindows OS
$428.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Linux 8.2
$499.00 Microtel 1.3 GHz Duron Mandrake Windows XP Home Edition

• 1. su -; password; rm -rf *.*

Lindows installs by root as default, so the su is redundant (as is the ".*", what's with that?). However, that applies equally to XP, so what's the loss?

• Customer: "So, which of this software can I run on this Linux PC?"

Answer: you don't have to buy any of it, it comes with equivelants as standard. And yes, that means that you don't have to pay $394.99 for the Standard edition of Office XP. (That's an Amazon link. Interestingly, WalMart only - apparently - plans on selling OfficeXP to students and teachers. Uh, sure, OK).

Great selling point for users, but, yes, lousy business sense for WalMart. Most computer retaillers effectively give the boxes away, then gouge on the extras and consumables.

Heres the page for Walmart's Duron...

OK, so Walmart sells boxes without any OS installed...here we have a system with no OS, almost identical to this Mandrake system, except that the no OS system uses SDRAM instead of DDRAM...but the Mandrake box is a dollar cheaper...what am I missing here?

Is anyone seeing the price difference The Register mentioned in their article saying that the Mandrake boxes were a little more expensive than the no-OS boxes? If this is the case, is the money going back to Mandrake or is the money going to Wal-mart for going to the time and trouble of installing an operating system?

OK, so Walmart sells boxes without any OS installed...here we have a system with no OS, almost identical to this Mandrake system, except that the no OS system uses SDRAM instead of DDRAM...but the Mandrake box is a dollar cheaper...what am I missing here?

Is anyone seeing the price difference The Register mentioned in their article saying that the Mandrake boxes were a little more expensive than the no-OS boxes? If this is the case, is the money going back to Mandrake or is the money going to Wal-mart for going to the time and trouble of installing an operating system?