Easy Gate PC gets you online for cheap (in France)

Believe it or not, there are some people in major European countries that still lack internet access, or even computers. (Yes, we're still recovering from shock, too.) According to the French analyst firm Médiamétrie, half of the homes in France don't have a computer, and 60 percent don't have net access. In order to solve this problem, the French ISP firm Neuf Cegetel has launched its new internet access plan called Easy Neuf, in conjunction with its new cheap computer, the Easy Gate. This Linux box and internet service package can be yours for €40 ($50) per month, plus a €150 security deposit, and if you need a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and webcam, you'll have to fork over an additional one-time fee of €100 ($126). The Easy Gate packs an Intel 852GM chipset (no word on exactly what speed) and comes with six USB ports, 512MB of RAM and 512MB of flash memory, although we're not nearly enough to do anything but some light surfing and email (though we assume you can expand on that half gig with an external drive or two). Easy Neuf claims to serve up the internet at speeds of up to 8Mbps and includes unlimited VoIP calls to French landlines, so you can call your grandmother in Biarritz all you want. Beyond that, there's one more feature that we raise an eyebrow at -- Easy Gate's "proactive service monitoring" lets the company keep a remote eye on your PC and will fix it "without the customer having to call the help line." We're not sure we like the idea of automated remote surveillance on our computers, but what do we know, we're just paranoid Americans.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

[danny @ Oct 9th 2006 12:18AM]

what's that desktop pc in the picture for this article? looks really really sexy.. wow.

[Kaizen Maven @ Oct 9th 2006 12:19AM]

I'll watch my own dam PC thank u very much!!! And if I need your help, I'll talk to a guy from India for 2 hrs for troubleshooting help.

[David:moua @ Oct 9th 2006 12:40AM]

I'm from France.

This computer is mainly made for people who want something easy to manage (the box itself is named "easy neuf", from neuf telecom).

You can see the user interface here : http://www.pcinpact.com/actu/news/31605-easy-gate-neuf.htm


However, from the same ISP, you can have for 30�/month :
The landline
ADSL 2+ internet (24 Mbps max)
Unlimited calls to 32 country from home (and from any FON hotspot now)
63+ tv channels


So, "easy neuf" cost more for less (but paid for the landline, less Mbps, no TV) but with the "computer", and you must give 250� to start with (100 + 150 EUR).
With this extra money you can have a basic computer (not the better one, but better than a 852GB with 512MB flash disk).

The computer have 3 menu options : easy, medimum, and expert.

The market for this offer is clearly people who don't know compter that much (old people for instance).


About market in France : yes only 40% have internet access (but not in big cities, here in Paris i don't really know anyone without it),
but about all people who have it, have high speed (so, they are not really a "1 connection every 40 days" statistic").

BTW, what's the % of people with high speed connection at home in US canada and japan ?

[jason brown @ Oct 9th 2006 4:32PM]

Even more impressive, then, that the French have the highest per capita rate of blogging in the world - not just reading people, writing! Sometimes, less really is more.

[Michael Parker McEachern @ Oct 9th 2006 12:53AM]

wait. 50% without computers and 60% without net access... that means 40% have net acesss.... what about the other 10% are they running wifi off their pocket pc's?

[rico @ Oct 9th 2006 12:57AM]

Will never work !
What the hell would i pay 50 $ (600$ a year) a month for a linux box heu... sorry a linux so called PC when i can a cheap PC for 350$ at dell plus 40$ for the internet (wich incude internet connection + 100 free chanels tv + free call to landline).
This sort of pc is for my "grandmother in Biarritz" who does not know how to use pc and internet.
i'm not sure i like the idea of automated remote surveillance on my computers, but what do i know, i'm just a paranoid french person too !!
Do they really need to know that i am watching the lastest episode of Weeds on the internet. Nope, they don't !

from the contryside in France.

[... @ Oct 9th 2006 1:10AM]

Oh god, the day is here... Your ISP now gives out PC's when you sign up, and in the process has the right to do whatever they want with it.

It started with cell phones, sign up for 2 years and get a $200 phone for $100, or free. This lean manufactured to jack up the prices for their hardware (there is no way it costs $500 to build a razr, perhaps $50 tops) so your only choice was to get the crippled phone from your ISP.

Please don't let this happen with computers. Imagine how bad it would be if your ISP's had control over your computer... I mean for the love of god!


[/rant]

In any case, for the average tech illiterate person, this is a good idea. Send in your check and suddenly you have a fully functional computer to use the net with. And being linux based you don't have to worry about clicking on those pic.jpg.exe files anymore... And even if you do manages to fux0r it they can reflash the mess from afar.

I think the only thing they could have done to make it better would be integrate the computer into the screen, and add a wireless mouse/keyboard so people could just set it next to an outlet and it works...

[Omar @ Oct 9th 2006 2:17AM]

I think this is just reminiscent of the sad state of ISPs in western Europe. Now, I can't speak about France from experience, but I lived in Germany for a whole year before being deployed. Hopefully the service that people receive in other parts of Europe isn't quite as abysmal as the service that I and other servicemembers received. Since Deutsche Telekom is a monopoly, it seems that there is no sense of customer service: it seems to be more of a matter of respect. Basically, their providing you service is a favor on their part, and if you speak English, you have automatically fallen out of that.
Well, beyond my personal experience, everyday I read news about the fact that countries are setting up WiMax interfaces for their countries. But for some reason, I have not seen one country even recently from western Europe or North America that seems to be working on any type of infrastructure. Obviously, it is not for lack of resources, but rather a different reason, obviously based on capitalistic gains outweighing the good of all. Well, that's my biased opinion, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was worse than that.

[Thomas Deslivres @ Oct 9th 2006 3:49AM]

Because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you ;) This said, the little jab at the reputation the American government is giving you folks these days was not very relevant in a computers article. On to the comment now.

The remote maintenance function'll probably be limited to nightly updates for the core system or updates for a more stable connection : otherwise, the French law wouldn't even allow the machine to be sold (even if, granted, the risks are here. I'd be quite scared to see what happened a few months ago with AOL's user queries happen with this provider).

This said, as Omar pointed the problem is not just about the machine, but mainly about service quality. Eye candy as this machine can be, here's hoping that 9 Telecom will be able to provide users in France with a steady connection ; too many alternative Internet Providers in this country fail to do just that (I gave Free a try, and will never go back to them) - and that's not even taking into account the often non-existent customer support. Choosing a provider, during the last few years, has gotten to close to a game of Russian roulette.

Live from France,
T.Deslivres.

[David:moua @ Oct 9th 2006 4:03AM]

Michael Parker : calculate it again.

Rico : that's 40� INCLUDING net/phone access

About remote control : don't forget it's for people who don't already have a pc.
It must be as simple as possible, and be able to auto update.

It's like hosting service wich can control dedicated server : you don't like it, but if there is a problem you can't resolve, it will help.

It's more or less like remote assistance feature in windows.

[dextro @ Oct 9th 2006 5:39AM]

Omar there is a perfectly good reason why you don't see Wi-Fi/WiMax Networks beeing setup in Europe and isn't just because of the monopolies, it's because only about 1/3 of the European population actually has computers let alone web access... And Laptops aren't cheap, at least not arround these here parts (except for the UK but those guys are rich LOL).

Here in Portugal (where we have one of the largest percentages of connected computers... wierd for a "poor" country hum?) a macbook costs 1115�, that's 1400 USD!!! And it's like that for almost every single piece of computer hardware... Add on top of that the minimum wage of about 400/600� (500/750USD) and you've got one continent where we basicly can't afford computers...

So now, can anyone give me a green card? JK

[Matt @ Oct 9th 2006 7:07AM]

I think a lot of you are missing the point here.

"OMG THEY SPY ON MY POOTER!!!" - this is not aimed at "normal" people like engadget readers who already are on the net with a proper computer.

Its supposed to be a totally hassle free "internet machine" for those who are not computer savvy. These people just want something like a TV - turn it on and it works etc.

Oh and incidentally, I aimgine the computer and internet ownership/usership in france is low because they have that Minitel thing everywhere.

[Ben Keppers @ Oct 9th 2006 7:20AM]

I am not from France, but I think that is a pretty cool idea. The automated surveillance is pretty stupid though, I wouldn't want people watching me. If my computer I will call tech support, seriously not that hard lol. 8Mbps is pretty damn good too. Plus unlimited calling to anyone in France. Damn good idea.

[Mrfreezie @ Oct 9th 2006 9:03AM]

Neuf, is that french for Nerf?

[KsprayDad @ Oct 9th 2006 1:17PM]

Since this is from France do you get a White Flag of Surrender screen instead of a Blue Screen of death?

Boycott France boys...they DON'T have your back.

[Alex @ Oct 9th 2006 2:35PM]

Minitel? PLEASE, that is practically dead as far as most people are concerned (expensive, pretty low quality...etc). I can assure you that with the coming of text-messaging, which allows a slightly less interactive service, and the internet, which kicks minitel into prehistoric times, Minitel is now buried six feet under

[brooke.thom @ Mar 12th 2009 2:20AM]

AWESOME :))

it is like treat to my eyes. Really ultimate!! i m falling for this...hehe

well i just bought car audio now i will save money to buy this master device. I m imagining how it is gonna look in my room.