Everex rolls out $300 IMPACT GC3502 PC
By Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 18th 2007 1:33PM
posted Jul 18th 2007 1:33PM
Everex looks to be lowering the already low barrier to entry to its line of IMPACT desktop computers, with the company today introducing its $300 GC3502 model, which it's touting as an ideal back-to-school PC. Helping it in that department is the pre-loaded OpenOffice software, which shouldn't be too taxing on the system's 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor and 1GB of RAM. Rounding out the specs, you'll find an 80GB hard drive, a DVD/CD-RW combo drive, integrated Ethernet (no WiFi), and VIA Chrome9 HC IGP integrated graphics. Needless to say, gamers need not apply, but those less demanding can get the system now exclusively at Wal-Mart.
A computer with very similar specs to this cost me about $1100 only 5 years ago. It's not a great machien by any of today's hardware standards, but this price is right for a basic machine, especially if you just need to do a bit of web browsing and word-processing.
Does it have to be that big and ugly looking. It looks like something from the 90's.
I wouldn't mind having something like this. But, make it smaller so I can slip it under my monitor.
I thought that people in college didn't have much space to begin with. So, why is this thing this big?
What is the difference how it looks or how big it is? Its a $300 piece of equipment. What Id like to know is what OS is on it. Off to the link to find out.
"Does it have to be that big and ugly looking."
For $300, yes it does.
Not mentioned above, but it also includes a 101-key keyboard, roller-ball 2-button mouse, and 16-bit SoundBlaster card. EGA monitor not included.
NHAnimator, ""Does it have to be that big and ugly looking." For $300, yes it does. "
No it doesn't. It's not as if they're giving it away for free.
See, this is the reason why Apple does well, they pay attention to user experience. Just because it has a low price, doesn't mean it has to look like crap.
I'd agree that what OS comes with would make a difference. But, chances are it'd come with Vista or XP Home. But, at that price range, even without OS it still good as you'd be free to install whatever you want on it.
I agree that thing is ugly as hell.
"Does it have to be that big and ugly looking. It looks like something from the 90's."
It doesn't look beige to me... ;)
I took pick yesterday of them... well they are behind the dells.
http://i13.tinypic.com/6frr85y.jpg
Just looking at it make me fall aszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
One has to admit that it's dead cheap though, and still sold with a profit nontheless. Poor Chinese factory workers.
Right, like schools are going to go to eBay to get similar computers for similar prices.
Your pointless comment exists just for that spam link. When will you people stop doing that?
For $100 more I can get a faster and better laptop at Best Buy...
For $100 more you can get a better spec'd laptop at Best Buy...
Sorry about the second comment, must've been lag.
If there was a composite TV-out port on the back, I'd pick it up.
What!? No 5¼-inch floppy drive?
i kind of wish someone would mass manufacture a mac-mini-like PC (miniatx i guess?) that was as low spec'd as this...
basically i would really like to have a uber-cheap, tiny PC sans-keyboard mouse and monitor to use purely as a VNC machine to do web testing etc on, but could also serve as a grandma's email only machine. I'd jump all over it if i could get it for $150. :)
that might be a little unreasonable price point, but really, if i could basically get by on an old 450mhz G4, i should be able to do the same on a 1ghz celeron with a little ram and a tiny hard drive.
It would make a nice music server and just adda free NAS type program as well and you really have something!
It comes with Vista home
-- Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista(TM) Home Basic
-- Processor: 1.5GHz VIA C7-D processor
-- Productivity Software: OpenOffice.org 2.2 (includes WRITER, IMPRESS,
MATH, DRAW, CALC, BASE)
-- Memory: 1GB DDR2 533MHz SDRAM
-- Hard Disk Drive: 80GB, 7200RPM SATA
-- Optical Drive: DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
-- Graphic: VIA Chrome9(TM) HC IGP
-- Audio: Realtek High-Definition Audio
-- LAN: 10/100 Ethernet
-- I/O: (1) DB 15-Pin VGA port, (6) USB 2.0 ports, (1) RJ45 Ethernet port,
(1) RJ-11 port, (1) Headphone/Line Out jack, (1) Microphone/ Line In
jack
-- Accessories: Keyboard, Mouse and Stereo Speakers
-- Dimensions: 6.9" x 16.0 x 147" (W x D x H)
-- UPC: 853031001573
-- MSRP: $298.00
Pretty ballsy for anyone to dis MS for Openoffice. Gotta like that...
You cant beat that price for pre-built but... no, I just picked up the same specd PC for 250 @ micro center for 250, but still, thats damn decent for 300, but They have "$100" laptops (wired mag showed them to me) that exist, What I dont get is wtf does a college student want with a desktop, just cause your in college doesnt mean you have to have a crappy PC or have your parents buy you one, some slackers need to get a job, I got a laptop for $599 (on sale, bestbuy a while back) 2gb ram 18ghz dual core proc and 80gb drive, the only drawback with buying a pc from bestbuy is that they come with free preinstalled TRASH and noone sell xppro with pcs anymore, so theres an extra $150... this PC would be great for only one porpoise, a slave machine for whatever, network storage for music or whatever, hosting a few (small) websites, or similar, and openoffice is good, but they think its added value, but its free, and In my opinion is that they should pay you to use ANY version of vista, vista is (currently) trash, no drivers(or very, very few) work with it, so all it is or eventually will be is a slave machine, either for the person that buys it or the person that hacks it, I dare anyone to run that on a college campus, but thats what you get for $300
Skip it ... pull a decent system out of the Dell Outlet Center ... I'm using a Dimension C521 i got for less than $300 out of their ooutlet. It came with MSWorks which is Office enough for me.
Anyone have the REAL specs on this box? You know what I mean...
- How does it handle other OSs?
- Does it have an AGP/PCI-E slot free?
- What kind of cards can the PSU handle? Does it have power cords free?
- Does it have another RAM slot?
- What are the specs on the on-board memory?
- What BIOS features does it have?
- How does it handle tasks (graphics, file server, business apps)?
*on board VIDEO, i.e. does it handle DX9? DX8?