Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Earthlink Sponsors Cheap Linux PCs

Posted by Zonk on from the brand-convergence-for-the-win dept.

prostoalex writes "Earthlink and Microtel are offering cheap Xandros-based computers to anyone who's willing to sign up for Earthlink dial-up service at $22 a month. The desktops on Microtel Web site start at $70 for a basic AMD Sempron machine, Microtel laptops start at $399. ExtremeTech says there is also a SkypeOut gift certificate: 'All Xandros PCs and laptops include free Skype-to-Skype calling worldwide, plus an exclusive bonus voucher for up to 120 minutes of SkypeOut calling to any phone number in the world.'"

2 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. $22/month for dialup? by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Insightful
    > [$69.99] with a 12 month EarthLink membership subscription at $21.95 per month

    Well, at least it's running Linux. Because on dialup, it'd probably take at least 12 months to download the patches to secure XP.

    If you've got $21.95/month for dialup, but don't have an extra $2-4/month for DSL from your phone provider (or $20/month from your cable provider), you've got no business spending $333.39 ($69.99 + 12 * 21.95) or "$69.99" for a low-end PC with no monitor.

    Use $300 to buy a year's worth of broadband, and with the remaining cash, support your nearest surplus store ($50) or computer recycler ($10), garage sale ($50), or even lighten the load on your apartment's dumpster ($0.00).

  2. Button Stealing by Zoc_All_Alone · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's a little unnerving when I view their website and realize they stole their "Customize It" buttons from Dell.