Radio Shack to vend AMD's PIC in the US

Remember AMD's low-power $300 PIC (Personal Internet Communicator)? Yeah, it's not really on par in price with the $100 Negroponte, but what we didn't see coming was an American retailer like Radio Shack picking up the 366MHz Windows CE-based box for distribution stateside. But apparently Radio Shack believes there's still a persistent market in selling underpowered low-cost consumer computing devices. Why? Well, we're not entirely sure what appeal a $300 PIC would have for a consumer who can buy a $400 proper (however low-end) PC, but for the lesser informed buyer it really might not be a very hard sell.

[Sarah Brabazon-Biggar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Waaaaitaminute, are you trying to tell me that Radio Shack still exists?

Wow, there must be a bigger market for cheap RC cars and Speak 'n Spells than I had imagined.

[n8 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Last time Engadget reported on this the price was $250 with monitor, $185 without. Obviously the price has gone up from there, but I'm wondering if it's the package w/monitor, keyboard, and mouse that costs $300. If these can be had new for $150 without accessories, they might be fun to play with. And who knows, they could be a great PC for the lower-end education market too. If price comes down to $200 for a package, this really could acheive the 50/15 goal. Maybe not 50% of the worlds population with their own PC by 2015, but at least 50% with access.

[uclatommy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Radioshack likes to sell junk.. the only thing I buy from them are electronic components..

[Ahmed @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Perhaps this is an easy convenient way for certain industries to invest in machines that get work done without having to spend too much. If all they're going to be doing is tracking inventory or keeping sales records, then I believe there is a significant market. If they aren't going to mess around with the PC much, then there might even be a lesser chance of it crashing on the consumer.

Some sites like http://www.retrobox.com have been selling low end consumer PC's for a while anyway.

[Ihar Filipau @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Regardless of whatever was said, i think it is a good shot at Apple Mini.

[Cashmore @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

This doesn't even compare to the Apple Mini. If you ignore its obvious ugliness, you've still got to admit that the spec is truly terrible. Take a look at the spec page for the Mac Mini - it wins on all fronts...

http://www.apple.com/macmini/specs.html

[Donnie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I remember seeing an RS ad for it, and they claim it can be used as a multimedia PC; yeah right. For a junk Celeron Dell, you could get a better value.

If AMD wants to compete, cram a faster processor (or overclock the one it has), and it wouldn't hurt to put a 64-bit processor, improved graphics, more RAM, and it would help sales (and guarantee a nasty price).

[Galley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

You can get a nice Celeron-based eMachines system for the same price after rebate these days.

[BlindBurn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I personally think its ugly and underpowered, but im sure some kid will incorporate it into his honda as a media center, as they do with Apple Mini's now.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Regardless of whatever was said, i think it is a good shot at Apple Mini.

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This thing was made for 3rd world countries.

PC users won't touch a computer that can't play games. This thing is great for the less fortunate, etc.. but please.

Mac mini? Um.. it actually has like.. iLife.. and a 1.5Ghz G4... you can.. like.. do stuff with it..

This thing.. in your car..?

Maybe if you gut the thing and put an air compressor yeah, i could see that..

[Matthew Winship @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

If if can be purchased without a monitor for less then it looks like my kitchen is going to get a new computer. Doesn't need a lot of horsepower (which clearly this thing lacks anyway).

[Your name (required) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

The pic seems like it would be perfect for a museum or other institution that needs a bunch of easily managed kiosks. Small, cheap, and effective. I would think that an institution would buy direct though. Now why would radio shack need to carry these?

[hobgoblin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

i may pick one up, just to have a terminal to run linux on for casual surfing and mail checks.

hell, if i can run linux on the ps3 i may pick up one of those and stach my wintel box for good :P

[ginnal @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Radio Shack overprices EVERYTHING thus thing will probably be cheaper elsewhere.

That said radio shack for the most part sells junk but hidden in amongst that Junk is some damned good stuff for Example their Optimus Pro LX line which has been rebranded to RCA, don't let the crappy packaging and low price fool you, those speakers are top shelf.

[Charles @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

There's a lot of development potential with this kind of a box. Not to mention how compact it is.

[ginnal @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Radio Shack overprices EVERYTHING thus thing will probably be cheaper elsewhere.

That said radio shack for the most part sells junk but hidden in amongst that Junk is some damned good stuff for Example their Optimus Pro LX line which has been rebranded to RCA, don't let the crappy packaging and low price fool you, those speakers are top shelf.

[AusTex750 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

For a certain segment of the population, the fact that you can get a more powerful PC for less is irrelevant. Specifically, I'm thinking of seniors who want to be able to communicate with kids/grandkids via email, and possibly even do light web-surfing.

This is a relatively simple device running Win CE. A full blown "standard" PC would indeed have more power for little or no more money; but, it also offers infinitely more configuration hassles and potential viral/worm threats.

The internet appliance thing has obviously been done to death (and taken a lot of VC money to the grave with it); but, one failing many of them have had is locking the user into a single ISP.

If this device is "unlocked", in that it can be used with the ISP of my choice, and it's as simple to configure/hard to break as I expect it to be, my mom's getting one.

[charlie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

Very meh... for $220, I could get one of the walmart Linspire desktop PCs, or for $288 I could get one with Xandros. At least that way I could play around with Linux instead of crappy CE on a dedicated computer.

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:06AM]

I actually think this is a good thing. It looks harder to mess up than a regular computer. That way, people who refuse to learn how to use a PC properly will no longer have to have someone come over to wipe their hard drive every 2 months.