Slashdot Mirror
Mirus to Ship Desktop Computers with Linspire
segphault writes "Ars Technica reports that Mirus has teamed up with Linspire and plan to ship budget desktop PCs with Linspire preinstalled. From the article: 'Designed specifically for optimal Linux compatibility, the Mirus Koobox line computers feature AMD processors and Linspire preinstallation. The Koobox systems, which start at US$299, will come with a variety of open source applications, including Firefox and OpenOffice. [...] At this point it is hard to assess the potential of the Koobox systems. If it succeeds, the product could help legitimize desktop Linux and bring it further into the mainstream. Regardless of how many get sold, the availability of yet another budget Linux PC illuminates the growing popularity of the Linux platform, and contributes to the perception that Linux is applicable to desktop computing. With Dell selling low-cost computers sans OS, and Apple selling the popular Mac Mini at a price that doesn't look as much like typical Apple extortion, Mirus is going to have to fight an uphill battle to pick up a worthwhile chunk of the desktop PC market.'"
But the price is compelling, and the hardware specifications don't seem that bad.
The $299 system is pretty good - Sempron 2800+ (S754 variety I suspect), only 256MB RAM, only a CDRW, only a 40GB hard drive. It's the cheap system that few people buy, but gets the eyes onto the site.
The $399 system is much more sensible. Sempron 3000+, 512MB RAM, DVD-RW, 160GB hard drive. That's not a lot of money more, but it gets you essential memory, and decent storage options.
Issues are: 90 day warranty. That's piss poor for an item of consumer electronics.
However it'll outperform today's Mac Mini that costs $499. Will it out-perform the Mac Mini that'll be announced on Tuesday (allegedly)? That might have a dual-core Yonah, and it'll certainly have Apple's industrial design.
As for the OS, I'm sure it works. Hopefully it isn't a cluttered desktop though. That'd scare away users.