Opinions on these two Lindows PCs?

[mechBgon]

What do y'all think of these $169 jobbies:

• Exhibit A: Lindows WebStation with 1GHz VIA C3 on PLE133 motherboard with PC133 memory... hard drive optional
• Exhibit B: Lindows WebStation with soldered-down 1.1GHz Duron on SiS730S motherboard with PC2100 memory... hard drive optional

Comments? Anyone here run their OS from CD-ROM, and if so, how well does that work for you?

Edit: to clarify why I'm asking for comments, I posted this further down:

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I appreciate your input so far, folks

To steer this topic a bit... for my purposes at the office where I work, we would be using these computers for full-time office work in a networked environment: spreadsheets, databases, documents, publications, presentations, email, etc, with a fair amount of multitasking by some employees.

To lend some perspective, here's what I've been building for our office so far: nForce IGP/AthlonXP/Antec/Crucial/Sony/Maxtor rigs Intended lifespan: five years, with a sprinkle of hard drive failures expected towards the end, due to wearout. The WebStation is obviously a lot less expensive up front, which is part of the reason it was brought up for discussion.

 

[Schadenfroh]

/barf

 

[Budman]

I like Exhibit B:.

Add 256 more megs and a hd then format and install win XP.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

As far as booting/running from cd goes, download and try knoppix, that should give you at least an approximation of what it will be like.

 

[magomago]

*gasp* :Q MechBgon actually asking for advice? This must be a first since we are usually the ones asking him


Hrmm... #2 because that Duron is a LOT more powerful....

But then again I shy again from the Duron because it comes from Tiger Direct :\

But if you were getting one I'd take the Epia just because it isn't from Tiger Direct. In all situations that Duron = cool [especially soldered onto the mobo...how cool is that!]

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
What do y'all think of these $169 jobbies:

• Exhibit A: Lindows WebStation with 1GHz VIA C3 on PLE133 motherboard with PC133 memory... hard drive optional
• Exhibit B: Lindows WebStation with soldered-down 1.1GHz Duron on SiS730S motherboard with PC2100 memory... hard drive optional

Comments? Anyone here run their OS from CD-ROM, and if so, how well does that work for you?

I'd choose option B if you want a little more speed otherwise Option A will probably run a little quieter and produce less heat.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
What do y'all think of these $169 jobbies:

• Exhibit A: Lindows WebStation with 1GHz VIA C3 on PLE133 motherboard with PC133 memory... hard drive optional
• Exhibit B: Lindows WebStation with soldered-down 1.1GHz Duron on SiS730S motherboard with PC2100 memory... hard drive optional

Comments? Anyone here run their OS from CD-ROM, and if so, how well does that work for you?

Wal Mart carries Lindows PC's as well if yo u're interested. Click here

 

[Macro2]

the walmart 1.2 duron is a better deal. you get a faster chip and a 20 gig hd for $30 more.
adda floppy for $8 and your good to go...slow, but go.

 

[StevenRFrancis]

I was thinking of building a jukebox. How do you think option A would fare if the only thing it did was run winamp, windows xp, and store lots of music on a 200GB hard drive I already have? It has one slot, so maybe I could add a sound card like a SB Live or something? What do you think?


EDIT: BTW here is what I was thinking of using. Which will run better and quieter?

Lite On 52x Black Cd Rom - Model LTN-526 -Full OEM PACK $15.99
Raidmax Black 10-Bay ATX Mid-Tower Case w/ Front USB 2.0, Model 289WBP(Black)
$36.00

SAMSUNG (Original, made by Samsung) 256MB DDR RAM PC2100 6 layers CL2.5- OEM
$34.00
MSI Motherboard for Socket A Processor Model# K7T TURBO2 $45.00 (Has built in TV out, so I dont need a monitor)

AMD Athlon XP 1800+/266 FSB Processor CPU 1800+/ 1.53GHz -0.13 micro Thoroughbred Core Retail $56.00

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! Dolby Digital 5.1 SB0220 ? OEM $33.00

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: StevenRFrancis
I was thinking of building a jukebox. How do you think option A would fare if the only thing it did was run winamp, windows xp, and store lots of music on a 200GB hard drive I already have? It has one slot, so maybe I could add a sound card like a SB Live or something? What do you think?


EDIT: BTW here is what I was thinking of using. Which will run better and quieter?

Lite On 52x Black Cd Rom - Model LTN-526 -Full OEM PACK $15.99
Raidmax Black 10-Bay ATX Mid-Tower Case w/ Front USB 2.0, Model 289WBP(Black)
$36.00

SAMSUNG (Original, made by Samsung) 256MB DDR RAM PC2100 6 layers CL2.5- OEM
$34.00
MSI Motherboard for Socket A Processor Model# K7T TURBO2 $45.00 (Has built in TV out, so I dont need a monitor)

AMD Athlon XP 1800+/266 FSB Processor CPU 1800+/ 1.53GHz -0.13 micro Thoroughbred Core Retail $56.00

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! Dolby Digital 5.1 SB0220 ? OEM $33.00

I'd go with the via cpu system, it'll be WAY more than enough for playing mp3s, and it'll probably be quieter.

 

[StevenRFrancis]

Thanks, it should save me a bunch too. The slot in the case is PCI right? It should fit a Sound Blaster Live right? Would I need one just to run MP3, WAV's, WMA's?

 

[Dennis Travis]

I would also go with System B with a HDD and maybe more RAM and it would still be cheep. The Duron would easily beat the Via C3.

 

[StevenRFrancis]

Well I know that B would beat it. I have some comparisons saying that the 1MHz via only performs at like half that compared to a Pentium. However, would I actually need the extra power just to play music. Another review of one of the 1MHz vias said that playing an mp3 only took up 8% of system power.

 

[mechBgon]

I appreciate your input so far, folks

To steer this topic a bit... for my purposes at the office where I work, we would be using these computers for full-time office work in a networked environment: spreadsheets, databases, documents, publications, presentations, email, etc, with a fair amount of multitasking by some employees.

To lend some perspective, here's what I've been building for our office so far: nForce IGP/AthlonXP/Antec/Crucial/Sony/Maxtor rigs Intended lifespan: five years, with a sprinkle of hard drive failures expected towards the end, due to wearout. The WebStation is obviously a lot less expensive up front, which is part of the reason it was brought up for discussion.

 

[mechBgon]

One bump for the weekend crowd before I let this die

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
One bump for the weekend crowd before I let this die

I'd honestly say no to the Lindows PCs. Sure you may save a few bucks on the computers themselves, but how experienced are your current employees? Can they all handle the transition from their current OS to Lindows without any problems? In the vast majority of cases the answer is no. Or even if your current employees can, what about your future employees? Even just one hour of training means you lose productivity for BOTH your computer expert and your employee - and how much does that cost you to pay BOTH of them for that hour? Repeat for all your employees and solving their transition problems. Suddenly you see that the expense may be much higher than the initial $169 price tag. Or just think of the lost productivity by not having a hard drive. Employees cannot save files easilly, or how the heck are they going to run Lindows Office without a hard drive (note Lindows Office probably doesn't come with those $169 computers), etc?

Even if those aren't issues to you, is this the best computer for your 5 year needs? Honestly would a 1.1 GHz Duron be enough 5 years from now? What if 3 years from now your employees need to actually install and run a new program you didn't think about? Suddenly you need to go out and buy a lot of hard drives. What if the new program doesn't work on Lindows? Suddenly you need a new OS. They just seem too inflexible to me.

Yet there are other much more flexible computers such as this. It is an Athlon 1500+ XP with hard drive for $181. Note it doesn't have an OS, but you can get an OS (even Lindows) for pretty cheap. The faster processor and actual hard drive might make this a much better deal in the long run. And in a few years you can just pop in a much faster Athlon XP for next to no cost at all. I'm just thinking in the long run, the computers you have linked may cost more than a better planned computer bought now for a slightly higher price.

If those aren't up your alley have you considered refurbished computers? You can often get a much better computer than the ones you listed with an actual Windows OS for less than that $169 price tag.