Google-friendly PC by Everex for $198 (No Microsoft Software)

Everex has teamed up with open source players to create a $198 PC (sans display). The Everex Green gPC TC2502 runs a Linux OS and is loaded with (or has links to) free applications, including Gmail, Google (GOOG) Docs & Spreadsheets, Google Calendar, Google Product Search, Google Blogger, Google YouTube, Google Maps, Google News, Meebo (instant messaging), GIMP (image editing), Firefox, Xing Movie Player, RhythmBox (iTunes substitute), Faqly (tech support), Facebook, Skype and OpenOffice.org 2.2. The gPC will be available in Wal-Mart stores and at walmart.com this month.

“Sub-$200 is magical price point for impulse buyer, and we can deliver 65 to 95 percent savings with open source software,” said Paul Kim, Everex director of marketing. Everex will have about 20,000 gPCs in the pipeline this quarter, he added.

Somehow the $198 gPC become the $199 gPC

The target market is people looking for a cheap, easy to use desktop platform. “Initially we thought of first time users,” Kim said. “We did some studies and found a lot of the older generation were interested.” Everex wil provide free telephone support for gPC customers.

With the name gPC and all the Google software, you could think that this is a Google PC. Everex is careful to state that applications from Google are an integral part of our product, however, gOS is an entity entirely independent from Google. Everex did get approval from Google to use the icons and trademarks on its gPC.

Besides green, the “g” stands for the gOS, the Ubuntu 7.1 Linux desktop developed by an open source startup of the same name. “The gOS is an alternative operating system that makes it apparent that Google is your entire computing experience,” said gOS founder David Liu. “When you make Linux look pretty and put ton of Google apps on it, you pacify it for consumer. You could say gOS is Google inspired but not official stamped.” gOS uses the Enlightenment window manager and has taken cues from Apple (AAPL)in designing the interface.

According the Kim, the gPC costs about $170 to make, giving Wal-Mart and Everex some margin. A comparable Vista machine could cost a few hundred dollars more. However, the gPC isn’t going to deliver a great multimedia experience. It comes with a low power 1.5 GHz Via C7-D processor and chipsets, 512 MB of SDRAM, an 80 GB disk and a DVD/CD-RW drive. Connectivity to the Internet is via Ethernet–no built-in wireless option.

It appears that Google will be working with a host of hardware partners to bundle its software on systems as a way to spread the Google gospel.

Everex is working on an ultra-mobile gPC and other configurations the Google-oriented, Apple-flavored systems, Kim said. The company also plans to introduce a Spanish language version of the gPC.

gPC’s software is free, but the company is exploring advertising and other ways to monetize its open source desktop, Liu said. Free open source software wants to be free, but developers need to eat…

Comments

[Frank Li]

Will this mark the point that open source and other free alternatives to Microsoft become viable for the mass market? This is a hugely important question.

I personally think that this is one of the factors most underestimated by investors in AAPL. If most apps become web apps, the OS and bundled software becomes much less important, and poof goes Apple's OS-X advantage.

Meanwhile, I'm writing this on a Mac which I love.

[Tom B]

This is a MUCH huger threat to MSFT. MSFT's core business plan depends on Entrerprise, where the hardest thing anybody ever has to do is make a few Powerpoint slides. This PC would be overkill for anyone working a cubicle in a Fortune 500.


Apple customers are interested in rich media-- making and using-- in general. They are "pro-sumers"... This baby-LINUX weakling won't deliver on that.

[Frank Li]

Thomas, that's a really interesting point: consumers are actually using more demanding applications now than businesses. I think you're right. Also, more and more businesses are moving to hosted applications.

[Dor Kalev]

I would have bought a gPC !
I am using a macbook today but work online mainly. All my documents and spreadsheets are online, so why not?

BTW -
Speaking about free software (/+ open source) and cheap hardware...
I keep my attention on the Android project:
www.openhandsetallianc...

[Frank Li]

And here's a laptop that also uses web apps and open source software:

www.iht.com/articles/2...

Light, sweet and not crude at all

Ultralight laptops can easily cost more than $2,000. Ultracheap machines can be found at $400 after rebates, but they're usually hefty, full-featured versions with big screens.

The Asus Eee PC manages to weigh just about 2 pounds, or 1 kilogram, and cost only $400. Its secret? A small seven-inch screen, a tight but complete keyboard, a flash disk drive, a relatively slow processor and a stripped-down version of the Linux operating system that runs the Firefox browser and Open Office productivity software.

The laptop exploits the Web-centered model of software delivery. Clicking on the e-mail icon takes you to Firefox and your Web mail account. The radio icon takes you to an Internet radio site. Another icon takes you right to Google's tools for editing text and spreadsheets.

If you must use local applications, you can use a version of Open Office for editing documents and spreadsheets. If that's still not enough, there are instructions for installing Windows XP on the machine. - Peter Wayner

[Frank Li]

Here's an Amazon link to the Asus Eee $400 laptop:

tinyurl.com/2qbdb6