Medison Celebrity, $150 of Linux laptop for the people

Apparently you don't need to be a non-profit crazy, or nab few million pre-orders, to sell a laptop for $150 (or maybe you do, see update below). Medison, a Swedish consulting company, has just unveiled its Medison Celebrity laptop, which sports standard hardware, a 14-inch WXGA screen, an optimized Fedora Linux install, and a downright criminal $150 pricetag. Sure, you're not going to be launching Crysis on this thing anytime soon, with a 1.5GHz Celeron processor, 256MB of RAM, and VIA PN800 integrated graphics, but the casual user should find plenty to keep them occupied, and there's room for Windows XP if you want to pony up for a license -- which at retail costs more than the laptop itself. There's 40GB of storage, a CD / DVD combo drive, 802.11g WiFi, and even what looks to be a built-in webcam in the pictures. These'll be shipping in the US and Europe in 4-6 weeks. Oh, and in case it hasn't sunk in yet: $150.

Update: The more we look into this one, the more it looks like a scam, with an oh-so-tiny air of believability -- perhaps just wishful thinking. Check out comments for the ongoing investigation, but at the moment we're thinking guilty until proven innocent.

[Thanks, Jakob]

[Giles @ Jul 25th 2007 10:08AM]

Unfortunately $150 does not mean £75 in the UK...

Shame :(

[L. Cyphre @ Jul 25th 2007 10:59AM]

Another case of 'too good to be true'?
damn and they got my hopes up too.

[bert @ Jul 25th 2007 1:15PM]

Yup £75 would be sweet, guess the actual price of £76.80 isn't all the bad

[Ryhan @ Jul 25th 2007 3:35PM]

Jeesh, this is cheaper than those dang OLPCs!

[Elliott @ Jul 26th 2007 8:05PM]

For Support call: (On-site service)

Phone (from Sweden): 0200-87 03 13
From mobile (Sweden): 0695-61 13 83
Phone (from outside Sweden): [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail (service): [e-mail]
E-mail (other matters):[e-mail]

YAY FOR GOOGLE CACHE!

[chaim @ Jul 27th 2007 12:55AM]

i just spent the last 20 min on the phone with 2co or what ever that site is and after hanging up with them i am sure this a scam no let me say this again this is 100 percent a scam back of dont buy it what every u do dont buy it

[Poom @ Jul 25th 2007 10:14AM]

Let's see how long it'll take for an Apple fanboy to say they'd rather buy a Macbook... -_-"

[Luda! @ Jul 25th 2007 11:02AM]

I'd rather buy a MacBook, douche.

[TVGenius @ Jul 25th 2007 11:24AM]

Not a fanboy, rather have a MacBook.

[Don @ Jul 25th 2007 12:53PM]

There's a big difference between "rather have" and "rather buy". I'd rather have a Lambo Gallardo, but I'd rather *buy* my Audi A3.

I will buy if it actually ships.

[morcheeba @ Jul 25th 2007 12:55PM]

Poom: you're trolling & the mods fell for it. There's no need to use a pejorative term & this article isn't about macs.

[maveric101 @ Jul 25th 2007 12:57PM]

its a moot point to begin with. mackbooks are in a completely different league. this laptop is targeting the entry level market. idiots.

[Poom @ Jul 26th 2007 12:34AM]

@morcheeba: How is this trolling?

Yes, I do know that this is in a different league to a Macbook. By any chance, have you read the comments in other laptop articles? Do you know that almost all of them have Apple fans saying they'd rather buy a Macbook, even though the laptop is for a totally different sector?

As idiotic as it may sound, Apple has to be mentioned in almost every article, be it about Windows, Laptop, or DAP. No, the article doesn't have to mention Apple. It only has to mention anything that is in a competition with what Apple produces. Then, an apple fan would comment how great a certain Apple product is and whatever the article is talking about is inferior. This has become habits to many of Apple's fans. There have been more "Let's see when an apple fanboy would ..." comments in the past too and I can clearly understand why those comments were posted.

[Robotochan @ Jul 25th 2007 10:15AM]

Even if it was the likely £99.99 it's still good. Would make a good server if it has a Network connection. Otherwise a good wireless server :P I'll probably buy it :)

[Cortland @ Aug 2nd 2007 7:30AM]

I've worked with computer Electromagnetic compatibility. That is a good measure of overall quality, as it requires care to achieve; merely building a computer can be cheap, but building one that meets European CE Mark requirements is difficult. Since Medison must prove compliance *before* being allowed to market their product in Europe, and since compliance adds cost, one might well expect delays.

US Federal Communications Commission enforcement of computer radio interference is at this time practically nonexistent, and USA safety requirements are enforced usually after the fact, at least for consumer goods. This means we are at more risk over here; at storefront computer emporia there are many computers that can't meet radio interference limits and will never be tested for compliance.


Cortland

[Peet @ Jul 25th 2007 10:15AM]

can anyone vouch for the this? It seems like a really tempting deal, but as usual with things in the internet if it's too good to be true, probably isn't true. I need a new laptop and not really looking forward to paying $1,000 for one. This may solve my problems

[Richard @ Jul 25th 2007 10:15AM]

Giles,

Did you actually check the site? It says £75 if you click on UK flag

[Joe Anstine @ Jul 25th 2007 4:27PM]

no if you click the buy now button at the bottom it says $150 USD

[tehpwnmstr @ Jul 26th 2007 12:26PM]

i fyou click the buy button, it says 150$ then the brit flag, and it says like 77L. i dont have a pounds key. sorry.

[matt @ Jul 25th 2007 10:20AM]

Check out their terms and conditions:

http://www.medisoncelebrity.com/pricing.html

Looks like after associated fees, shipping, handling, and any other changes in the value of the dollar, how much does this ACTUALLY cost? Their FAQ page states that there is also a fee for using your credit card to buy - correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't charging a fee for using a credit card violate their terms of service with their merchant account?

[Colin @ Jul 25th 2007 10:38AM]

To my knowledge, you're allowed to charge a fee for using a credit card as long as you clearly note it.

I have clients that do it on their websites.

And many gas stations in the Philly area here do it.

[matte @ Jul 25th 2007 10:49AM]

If the merchant accepts Visa, I'm pretty sure that is in violation of Visa's agreement with the merchant. I've reported merchants for this before, and successfully gotten them to stop such consumer-unfriendly practices. See this page:

http://usa.visa.com/about_visa/ask_visa/index.html#anchor_4

Guess I replied to the wrong thread a moment ago...sorry for the double post...

[TechBandito @ Jul 25th 2007 11:14AM]

It is indeed against the merchant terms for most credit cards to charge an additional fee for using them. In fact, it's also against the law in many states.

On the other hand, there is a huge loophole in this rule. You can offer a discount for paying by cash, check, etc. Effectively charging a "fee" to the credit card users, but staying within the rules for Visa, MC, etc. and the state laws (at least here in Colorado).

Medison should have just tacked on a "processing fee" to the price equal to the 2CO fees and not made it clear that this covered their credit card fees. But they may still be ok anyway because that's effectively what they're doing. You can't get the laptop without the fee by paying cash or check.

[Scott @ Jul 25th 2007 12:33PM]

Calling the addition of a credit card fee "consumer-unfriendly" is ridiculous. It's in Visa's best interest to prevent this from happening because then people will realize that every single consumer is paying a credit card tax, regardless of which form of payment they're using. If I want to pay in cash or with a debit card, why should I have to absorb the 3% fee credit card companies charge vendors?

[roach @ Jul 25th 2007 5:04PM]

I see this all the time at big truck stops like pilot etc. Gas is like 10cents more a gallon if u don't pay cash. Thats at least like 10 dollars to difference when filling up a big rig.

[M @ Jul 25th 2007 5:11PM]

Much of the variance in fuel pricing is related to taxes in various states. In many states, truckers don't pay certain taxes on diesel fuel, therefore the "advertised" price is lower. When I fill up my diesel Jetta, I get charged the higher "with tax" price, because I'm not a trucker, regardless of my method of payment. But, on the 13 gallons it takes, it's generally not a huge difference, and I'm getting better mileage than many hybrids....

[Jeff @ Jul 25th 2007 10:20AM]

Until I see it for realz, it's vapor. The OLPC costs about that same amount with a huge production run and using even cheaper components.

[Evan @ Jul 30th 2007 5:46AM]

dude its totally 4 real, i can't wait to use it with my Phantom lapboard and gaming console lolz :-D

[Erwos @ Jul 25th 2007 10:24AM]

Looks too good to be true. I'm going to wait to see some of these get into end-user hands.

That said, if it is true, it's a hell of a bargain.

[Arthur @ Jul 25th 2007 10:25AM]

vaporware at its best - be careful !

[b00mer @ Jul 25th 2007 11:02AM]

and you are sooooo certain of this because?

[wille @ Jul 25th 2007 10:30AM]

There has been a debate here in sweden the last couple of days if this is bogus or not. So far no conclusive evidence proving any side wrong or right have been presented.

I have been in the gadget-business for a long time here and I have never met anyone who have ever bought a computer from this company. I wait and see and hope for the best but expect the worst... :)

[Eric @ Jul 25th 2007 10:31AM]

I paid $700 for a computer with similar specs only three years ago...

[Adam @ Jul 25th 2007 10:45AM]

that was 3 years ago...

[chenzhepeter @ Jul 25th 2007 6:45PM]

I payed $1000 for similar spec four years ago..

[Wim @ Jul 27th 2007 4:50AM]

I bought a laptop with not all that much better hardware for 750 euros exactly a year ago. I don't believe it though, this would make the OLPC look like a mistake, and with all those high profile companies spending money on it, I fail to believe some company no one ever heard of can do better. But then again, if it IS true, I'm buying one. Just because I can use it without caring for it to much. My Vaio is just to precious.

[matt @ Jul 25th 2007 10:46AM]

If the merchant accepts Visa, I'm pretty sure that is in violation of Visa's agreement with the merchant. See this page:

http://usa.visa.com/about_visa/ask_visa/index.html#anchor_4

[James @ Jul 25th 2007 10:38AM]

hmmm, got a bit excited there, thought the company name was Medion. Sadly I've never heard of these guys. Doesn't seem to be any way they could realistically make it for this sort of money (even excluding tax). Their 'selected partners' section hardly inspires confidence. And, the specifications are 'subject to change' and don't mention the webcam anyway. Still, I'd rather have one of these than an N770 Internet tablet if it does turn out to be real. Blogged on my site @ www.scattershot.co.uk

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 25th 2007 10:41AM]

It specs out close to my Dell B130 (which also runs Linux like a champ) but for screen size and that webcam, though they still seem to fetch between 250-350 dollars on eBay.

The hardware certainly has been around long enough to be cheaper, and the specs do make for a capable little machine as long as you understand it's limitations.

All told I'd take this over an OLPC as a personal toy to play with.

[James @ Jul 25th 2007 10:45AM]

A fair point, it would be a great toy, and I'd take it over an OLPC as well.

I'd prefer the 7" form factor, but the specs of this machine are really the minimum to get work done (the 40GB storage) and use Skype (the 1.5Ghz celeron for skype video) When we can get that for around the £100-$200 mark these things really will be ubiquitous.

[Razvan Dragomirescu @ Jul 25th 2007 10:50AM]

If you check out their corporate website (www.medison.se), you'll see that their HQ is not in Sweden, but in the UK:

Medison Europe Limited
27 Ruffets Wood
Gravesend, Kent
DA12 5JQ England

So if any of you guys are in the area, you might pay them a visit in person :).

BTW, on the corporate website they brag about having their own plant in Brazil and assembling their laptops there. But the website (just like the product website) is a mess... so I think I'll hold until someone actually confirms to have seen (and operated) one of these wonder laptops :).

Razvan

[Arthur @ Jul 25th 2007 11:30AM]

To me using google maps the location does not look like a commercial area with huge factory space or even office space - normal home living neigborhood, check out yourself:

http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&hl=de&geocode=&q=27+Ruffets+Wood&sll=51.124213,10.546875&sspn=19.075974,26.235352&ie=UTF8&ll=51.411661,0.377553&spn=0.001154,0.001601&t=h&z=19&om=1

[UGN @ Jul 25th 2007 10:50AM]

No talk of a cd/dvd drive. Although probably to cut costs, but I consider an optical drive a staple of mobile computing. But wow at $150 there isn't any room to complain.

[Weefselkweekje @ Jul 25th 2007 11:00AM]

@UGN: The product page mentions "One changeable 12.7mm(H) CD/DVD Combo"...

At this price point I'm considering ordering one just to see what happens...

[Jeff Couch @ Jul 26th 2007 1:59AM]

i am seriously thinking about buying this just to have something to play with and to check it out. I wonder how upgradeable it would be. that would be a deal (make/break)er.

[jeff berezin @ Jul 25th 2007 11:21AM]

Buyer beware. My spidey sense says something isn't kosher here!

[buying @ Jul 27th 2007 12:46AM]

i am buying 2 worst cum worse i will call my cc and get my money back i am wiling to take a chance

[OverLord S5 @ Jul 25th 2007 11:22AM]

Wow, 150$, now thats seriously cheap, even 150€ is cheap. I would like to order it (as stated before) just to see what happens, but i cant!!! On the order page, when i click secure checkout, nothing happens :/ . Does any1 else have this problem?

[M? @ Jul 25th 2007 11:41AM]

first nothing happend at all then there was an error message and now it seems to work just fine.

[Chris @ Jul 25th 2007 11:28AM]

Nice but be careful. I couldn't find any information about them in Sweden. And the company was incorporated in the UK just 2 weeks ago.

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/02f0dac25c029c538688518e70982ba3/compdetails