Chinese company releases $203 desktop PC

If there's any effect that NickNeg's OLPC has had on the global market for cheap computer hardware, it's that other companies are now trying to get a piece of the low-cost computer pie. At first, there was the (now defunct) AMD PIC, followed by the upstart underdog, the Intel Classmate PC, both of which kinda sorta tried to go head-to-head with the OLPC (among others). Now China's trying to get in the game too, and has just released a new 1600 yuan ($203) computer made by the Jiangsu Menglong Science and Technology Company. The Agence France Presse reports that the unnamed computer, which is powered by the 750MHz 64-bit homegrown Codson IIE chip, comes with a 40GB hard drive and 256MB of RAM. While you've got to BYO keyboard, mouse, and monitor for now, if these same Chinese brainiacs ever manage to swing a laptop out of this or any of the other ultra low-cost Chinese PCs like it, NickNeg may actually have some real competition on his hands.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 29th 2006 9:52PM]

I may be showing my true inner dork here, but I totally want a bunch of low cost PCs with fast processors that I can cluster together for the hell of it. I could stack them all up with their blinky lights and truly know that I have no use for the thing.

[... @ Nov 29th 2006 10:07PM]

Unless their home grown processor is REALLY efficient (performance/speed wise) then $200 for a 700mhz processor is not the way to go for clustering... You can get complete p4's running at 3x that speed for $200 easy...

[Steve Wiseman @ Nov 29th 2006 10:08PM]

A PC at this price brings back memories of the internet appliance iOpener. Even better in the PC in the above story is the small form factor. I can imagine all kinds of cool geeky things that could be done with it.

Steve Wiseman

[klew @ Nov 29th 2006 10:24PM]

The OLPC is not meant for profit, but is this one by the JMST Company made for profit? Obviously, it looks rock-bottom cheap to most of us, but the average Chinese person's salary is a heck of a lot lower than ours.

[mb @ Nov 29th 2006 10:32PM]

Also appears to be running Linux or some other Gnome supporting OS.

[atrain @ Nov 29th 2006 11:05PM]

Though small computers like these are great for small server appliances.

Id love to replace my full Dell Optiplex desktop thats running as a fileserver with one of these: It has a lot smaller footprint, and is most likely cheaper to run.

[whiskey @ Nov 29th 2006 11:48PM]

Well, but can it run DOOM?
Now seriously, China should start thinking looking towards Latin America, where this kind of things would find a great use. Why? because i think it's better to donate 20 of this than two of [brand_name] for the same price to kids of an orphanage or a school.

[Matt Hadder @ Nov 30th 2006 12:31AM]

That mouse is HUGE!

(seriously, how am I the first one to say that??)
Cool computer. Wonder if they'll ever shrink down computers to the size of a USB flash drive that you just plug into a screen, or car etc etc.

[jessew @ Nov 30th 2006 12:44AM]

Maybe you guys missed this but it's kinda impressive...this is from the news article

"The 64-bit chip went into mass production earlier this year and was touted as bringing China's microprocessor industry a step closer to leading global manufacturers in the United States and Japan."

64bit for $200? that's not bad...not sure what you would do with 64bit with out much speed but
at least you have more virtual memory.

[jessew @ Nov 30th 2006 12:45AM]

really quick retort to Matt Hadder... check out www.gumstix.com
Not there yet...but still very usable if you know what you want to do.

[imac @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:32PM]

Godson, not Codson

[topher @ Nov 30th 2006 3:25AM]

Has anyone been to frys electronics lately??? I just picked up a 2.66 ghz desktop pc with 128 mg ram 40gig HDD, on board comp, EASILY upgradable to 2 gig of ram, 512 meg vga graphix, and it comes with a keyboard and mouse... and Get this te price was only 189$... you guys are retarded. I mean for the love of god, look at this link; http://shop1.outpost.com/search?query_string=&sort=price&order=asc&order_by=p03a&cat=-46614&pType=pDisplay&from=0&to=24 thats a media center PC, Athlon 64 3400+ 2.2 GHz, 512MB, 100GB & DVDRW, for 289$. really you guys need to look around before saying a p3 comporable machine for 200 bucks is a good deal.

[telepheedian @ Nov 30th 2006 9:31AM]

A few years ago I got a PC from Fry's with 800mhz for $100. I don't think it's the speed that matters, but the processor itself, since some old 450 mhz p3 seems to be faster.

BTW, topher, Fry's isn't nationwide except for their little known online store. stop dissing on all of the people that don't live in California.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 30th 2006 4:03AM]

Quote: "... if these same Chinese brainiacs ever manage to swing a laptop out of this or any of the other ultra low-cost Chinese PCs like it, NickNeg may actually have some real competition on his hands."

Well, I do not know how things stand in US, but over here in EU, everything imported is slapped with so many fees and taxes and obligations, that Chinese price mark of $200 is only comparable with european price mark of €500.

IOW, i'm here in Urop isn't holding my breath. On side note, there are already plenty of BYO Linux systems hitting $100 price mark. Even here in Europe.

[Crampedson @ Nov 30th 2006 5:55AM]

This is what the Chinese excel at, making things on the cheap. I see great success in this product and the hundreds of inevitable copies of it to follow.

[PEZ @ Nov 30th 2006 6:57AM]

How about some info on that 64-bit Codson CPU?

[saboola @ Nov 30th 2006 7:30AM]

After some coupons I have seen Dell desktops go for under 200 dollars, and we are talking 80 gig hard drives and twice the CPU power. Something to consider.

[J. McNair @ Nov 30th 2006 1:26PM]

Okay, folks, the Godson (with a "G") processor is a homegrown Chinese, 99% MIPS-compatible, low-power, 64-bit processor developed in China to combat "dependency on foreign products". This is in keeping with modern China's tradition of going off and doing their own thing just because they can (like with their new 3G-ish cellular standard) and it allows Chinese companies competing in China to have an edge over others. Actually, this is the Godson-2, as the Godson 1 came out a while ago. I list only "99% MIPS-compatible" because a few instructions and capabilities are covered by patents still owned by SGI and/or MIPS.

Mind you, I hope they export it and it becomes popular, as I like competition. Just because everything USES x86 doesn't mean it's best. it's just the de facto standard.

Obviously this device runs an Open Source OS, because the only versions of Windows on MIPS are NT 4 and CE/Mobile. On many architectures, Open Source app support is a recompile away.

[Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 8:21PM]

As long as it will play starcraft, right?