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AOL's $299 PC
cmj writes "Internet.com reports 'Looking to attract households that still aren't online, AOL is offering new customers a $299 PC system if they sign a one-year $23.90 dial-up Internet service contract.' A click through AOL's ecommerce site reveals the the specs as 1.7 GHz Celeron with 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive, 56K modem, 10/100ethernet card, 17" monitor and Lexmark printer. The PC is running Windows XP, and includes 'AOL Office Powered by Sun'. Also of note is the fact that the $299 appears to be financed at around 22%. The math ( (12*23.90)+299 ) seems to suggest that you can get a $699 computer for $585.80 plus any finance charges. Setting aside the question of whether this is a good deal or not, one has to wonder whether AOL is desperate for new customers and resorting to bribery, or just progressing to the next step of branding. With this action AOL controls everything from the OS to the Word Processor to the web sites their customers browse."
For a lot of users out there, the only thing that will change is that they'll have the logo on the physical box. It's not like they don't already control systems their software is already installed on...
Damon,
http://actionPlant.com
This is a crappy deal just like everything else AOL has ever been or done.
New Dell PCs of roughly twice the power are less than twice the price, even if you don't take into account the fact of the intolerably fecal dialup service that AOL offers.
This is a loss-leader trying to recoup their market share.
It's a good thing that Time Warner is a media monopoly; otherwise they'd be losing customers to competing broadband companies. As it is, they don't have to worry about that. Yes, I know I exaggerate, but not by much. I'm so sick of media conglomerates that I could scream.
Intolerance for ambiguity is the mark of the authoritarian personality.
Why not? It's got to be better than leaving them with XP. You can already get $200 Lindows computers at Walmart. Add a $10/month ISP and a little TLC and the user has the same thing AOL delivers for $320, less the history of bad cracks XP has.
Seriously though, these are the kind fo people who would whine about Lindows since it's different. Doesn't matter how much the same it is, they'd whine and not use it. ... No man, you do NOT want these people on Linux, espically not one that is logged in as root by default.
Quit being such a snot. What I want for my clients is what my clients want. When they get tired of having their computers rooted and wrecked, I'm happy to tell them about free software, show them a Knoppix CD and let them make up their own minds. Microsoft makes the worst software on the market, bar none.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
One was that when you open explorer in 98 it goes to the C drive, in 2k it goes to your home directory. She bitched and moaned that this was confusing/difficult/took time/etc till we found a fix.
Tell her to piss off. Ive always taken the tact, when users complain (luckily end-user support is not my job, but try explaining that to users....(while still trying to pleasant w/ coworkers)) that if the comptuer *works* then Im done.
If your user doesnt know how to *USE* their tool, maybe they are not qualified for the job? Does the company train people how to drive just because they provide a parking space? if she needs training, have the company pay for it... if she is totally clueless, she better bone up on her skills. Not knowing how to use the tools you provide for them is != the tool having problems.
either learn to use them or dont use them. not your responsibility. "Do the accountants in the office all come around and operate your calculator for you?" Is a favorite question.... in these situations. "Do the electricians in maint.dept. turn the lights on and off"?