Mike McMullen said:
Not completely true. I go to the local Fry's and buy an 800MHZ Celeron, 40GB HD with CD-R, 128MB, 100Mb NI for $199. No MS but something called ThinLinux or something like that on it. I add more memory for about $20 and install RH or FC1 on it. Works likes a champ as a cheap server or workstation for our office.
ok, so i did a google search for "fry's electronics", you should too... there's a disclaimer for lynx users in their frames, which google picks up on =]
http://www.frys.com/localframe.html
fry's is very regional. sure, you can get cheap pcs from wal-mart with basically the same specs. but they don't sell the $199 anymore, it's $299 and up.
it's hard to find any computers in normal stores without ms on it, or mail ordering from dell/gateway/whatever is impossible. this is what typical people see, they don't go to fry's... they hit compusa, circuit city and best buy.
ebay can get you great deals too on offices changing out their systems.
The keyboard actually isn't that bad but the speakers are tinny. In an office audio isn't so important. The price doesn't include a monitor.
you can get a 15" monitor for like 75 bucks now. insane.
-d
+( duncan brown : duncanbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx )+ +( linux "just works" : www.linuxadvocate.net )+
-------------------------------------------------- Understatement of the century: "Hello everybody out there using minix - I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones" - Linus Torvalds, August 1991 --------------------------------------------------
When I was getting quotes on a new computer, all quotes included the cost of Windows XP as a seperate item, not as a package. I didn't have to get Windows if I didn't want it. Of course I didn't get it as it would have been a waste of money.
I do agree about places like Dell/etc being in Microsfts pocket (at least on the desktop). We have a Microsoft site licence and we still cannot get computers without a pre-installed OS. Part of Dells warranty program I was told. Oh well, I don't run Windows but FC1 at work.
-- Robin Laing
