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Building 2011's Sub-$200 Computer

Posted by timothy on from the trade-one-form-of-depreciation-for-another dept.

adeelarshad82 links to PC Magazine's recent account (updating a similar quest detailed last year) "to see if a decent PC could put together for less than $200. Turns out that between some great deals, an AMD processor, and a Linux OS, it can actually be done." They actually come out with a decent-enough system for that money — but omitting an optical drive in a full-size desktop computer build seems something like cheating.

5 of 394 comments (clear)

  1. re: optical drive by ZankerH · · Score: 5, Insightful

    but omitting an optical drive in a full-size desktop computer build seems something like cheating.

    It's 2011, dammit, why do people still use optical drives?

  2. no, it's time. by tverbeek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "omitting an optical drive in a full-size desktop computer build seems something like cheating"

    Optical disks? How quaint! :)

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    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    1. Re:no, it's time. by JanneM · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "You do realize people still buy software, and that it still comes on optical disks."

      This is a Linux system they built, though. Shrinkwrapped software is very rare, verging on nonexistent, for that OS.

      --
      Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
  3. Press F2 to continue... by CaptCanuk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Missing:
      - keyboard
      - mouse
      - network cable
      - monitor?
      - USB key to install from
      - Friend to copy OS onto your USB key
      - taxes (for those lucky to have them)

    I think the real cheat is any budget that involves a mail-in rebate.
    The article starts out about financial difficulties and then provides a price that doesn't reflect the walk home price. 3-6 weeks you might make that money back IF you are lucky that the rebate was honored.

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    ---- The geek shall inherit the Earth.
  4. Re:Don't even have to build it yourself by Pharmboy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Browsing isn't what it used to be. For many people, browsing means playing Farmville on Facebook, which will eat up a lot of CPU and memory. And no, Zinga programmers don't really care about efficiency on your computer, only on their servers.

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    Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!