Shuttle's $199 Linux PC shipping next month
Small PC maker Shuttle drew an outsize share of attention at the Consumer Electronics Shows earlier this year when it announced a $199 Linux-based desktop PC.
Shuttle said Monday that it still plans to offer the KPC for $199, in addition to a $299 upgraded version. A $99 bare-bones version will also be available. The company is taking preorders on its Web site, and says the KPC should begin shipping in mid-April.
The KPC from Shuttle is available in mid-April starting at $199.
(Credit: Shuttle)The $199 KPC will get you an Intel Celeron 430 processor, 512MB of memory, and an 80GB hard drive. That version will be available at retail--the only outlet announced so far is NewEgg.com--but note that doesn't include a monitor or keyboard, or an optical drive or PCI Express slot.
And for $299, ordering directly from Shuttle, will buy an Intel dual core processor, 1GB of memory, 160GB hard drive (the upgrade to 160GB is free if you pre-order), and a 2GB flash drive installer for Linux.
Inexpensive Linux-based PC offerings are on the rise of late, but it still remains a smaller niche of computing. Though Wal-Mart Stores began offering the Linux-based gPC from Everex for $198 last fall, and reported that it quickly ran out of its stock, last week the retail giant announced it would be pulling the gPC from its store shelves because it "wasn't what (its) customers were looking for."
Note: The guys at CNET Reviews have informed me they have the KPC in hand and are poring over it. Look for their full review next week.
Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur. E-mail Erica. 
cake without toothpaste.
"a computer without windows is like a birthday
cake without toothpaste."
Who on earth puts toothpaste on a birthday cake? Disgusting!!
With that image, I'd have to agree. Winblows is disgusting, like
eating a birthday cake with toothpaste icing. Note how the
toothpaste icing would likely do nothing to prevent tooth decay
from eating the cake (brushing your teeth is key), so that makes
it very apt an analogy for winblows (a false sense of security at
best).
What you should have meant to say was a computer without
winblows is like a safe without access holes cut through the side
of it.
I'm actually pretty excited about these entry-level Linux PC's.
Somewhat secure by design (not perfect - nothing is of course),
not laden with idiotic DRM schemes and owned by the person
who paid for it instead of it being owned by M$. We need more
of these to prove to the masses that winblows is evil nazi
trashware designed to damn your soul to redmond.
That doesn't mean it'a a failure, only that the customers at Walmart are not the proper demographic for a Linux box.
Shuttle PC's are sold typically online or computer geekery stores for people building their own systems. THAT is a very good target audience.
I don't see it being a huge thing, but the Shuttle design is quite attractive normally ( could do without the Scion-inspired graphics) and should be able to sell decently to the geek market.
- Seems Overpriced
- by johnnysocko March 19, 2008 9:02 PM PDT
- I like the form factor a lot. Perhaps a new coat of paint, though.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(6 Comments)But excluding all of the "standard" items, (ie optical dr., keyboard, mouse, networking??? wired or wireless, etc.) should this thing really cost $300???
I've been looking for a Windows based Mac-mini alternative, but by the time I add all the things to make this thing suitable, I may as well just buy an off-the-shelf slim HP from WorstBuy for less money.
Nice try, but I still no how to add it up, and this just doesn't compute.