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]
posted Jul 25th 2007 9:58AM
Unfortunately $150 does not mean £75 in the UK...
Shame :(
Another case of 'too good to be true'?
damn and they got my hopes up too.
Yup £75 would be sweet, guess the actual price of £76.80 isn't all the bad
Jeesh, this is cheaper than those dang OLPCs!
For Support call: (On-site service)
Phone (from Sweden): 0200-87 03 13
From mobile (Sweden): 0695-61 13 83
Phone (from outside Sweden): +46 695-61 13 83
Fax: 0695-61 13 60
E-mail (service): kundcenter@infocare.se
E-mail (other matters):info@medisoncelebrity.com
YAY FOR GOOGLE CACHE!
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
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
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 :)
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
Let's see how long it'll take for an Apple fanboy to say they'd rather buy a Macbook... -_-"
I'd rather buy a MacBook, douche.
Not a fanboy, rather have a MacBook.
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.
Poom: you're trolling & the mods fell for it. There's no need to use a pejorative term & this article isn't about macs.
its a moot point to begin with. mackbooks are in a completely different league. this laptop is targeting the entry level market. idiots.
@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.
Giles,
Did you actually check the site? It says £75 if you click on UK flag
no if you click the buy now button at the bottom it says $150 USD
i fyou click the buy button, it says 150$ then the brit flag, and it says like 77L. i dont have a pounds key. sorry.
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?
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.
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...
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.
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?
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.
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....
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.
dude its totally 4 real, i can't wait to use it with my Phantom lapboard and gaming console lolz :-D
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.
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.
vaporware at its best - be careful !
and you are sooooo certain of this because?
Hello.
I have ordered one. We'll see in 4-6 weeks what it can do. I ordered 1 gig ram to it as well.
Please let me know and take some pics for engadget.
Hi.
I will do so. Couldn't get the 1 gig from Deltaco. Have to see what memory module it is inside before ordering a new one.
BR
HJ
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... :)
I paid $700 for a computer with similar specs only three years ago...
that was 3 years ago...
I payed $1000 for similar spec four years ago..
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.
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
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
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.
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-$200 mark these things really will be ubiquitous.
If you check out their corporate website (www.medison.se), you'll see that their HQ is not in Sweden, but in the UK:
Medison Europe Limited
27 Ruffets Wood
Gravesend, Kent
DA12 5JQ England
So if any of you guys are in the area, you might pay them a visit in person :).
BTW, on the corporate website they brag about having their own plant in Brazil and assembling their laptops there. But the website (just like the product website) is a mess... so I think I'll hold until someone actually confirms to have seen (and operated) one of these wonder laptops :).
Razvan
To me using google maps the location does not look like a commercial area with huge factory space or even office space - normal home living neigborhood, check out yourself:
http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&hl=de&geocode=&q=27+Ruffets+Wood&sll=51.124213,10.546875&sspn=19.075974,26.235352&ie=UTF8&ll=51.411661,0.377553&spn=0.001154,0.001601&t=h&z=19&om=1
@UGN: The product page mentions "One changeable 12.7mm(H) CD/DVD Combo"...
At this price point I'm considering ordering one just to see what happens...
i am seriously thinking about buying this just to have something to play with and to check it out. I wonder how upgradeable it would be. that would be a deal (make/break)er.
"...a MacBook, douche."
There have got to be easier ways of keeping your laptop clean. Try washing your hands more often...
LMFAO
Buyer beware. My spidey sense says something isn't kosher here!
i am buying 2 worst cum worse i will call my cc and get my money back i am wiling to take a chance
Wow, 150$, 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?
first nothing happend at all then there was an error message and now it seems to work just fine.
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
To be launched at a two room art gallery near you soon.
http://www.ukdata.com/company-credit-reports/NORDIC-MULTIMEDIA-DISTRIBUTION-LIMITED.html
http://www.companiesgate.co.uk/KEN-ERIK+LIMITED.aspx
http://www.companiesgate.co.uk/HG+SHIPREPAIR+LIMITED.aspx
Any questions? ;-)
Perhaps this is their accountants address. Lots of companies use thier accountants address rather than their trading address.
Check out the experience of trying to order it from Canada:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468598
Oh and I think heres the guy whos doin all that stuff...
http://www.ken-erik.com/
Allright lets pay him 150 bucks ;-)
interesting, 2CO has a clause that says you can't resell it.
https://www2.2checkout.com/documentation/purchaseterms.html
seems it is sold by 2co but medison ships it. the only shipping option is "Scandinavia" and is listed as "free", though the 2co terms say that shipping charges are seperate and will appear on the order form. It seems that right now it's $150 including shipping to anywhere in the US at least. all seems a little scary.
To Brazil too! Ship for FREE! Realy unbeliveble :(
Hello fellas. I came across this site, when searching for information about this computer. With that pricetag, it would be a brilliant surf & chat computer for me.
I'm a swedish student, and I found an article in a larger web-newspaper in sweden and was amazed..
Sadly though, when reading comments all over, at swedish sites, this thing starts to smell very very rotten..
The speculation is about this beeing a scam, in the same way that you've mentioned above.
There's bankrupcy issues, lies at the homepage, weird and incomplete messages from the people behind this "madison" company. The screenshots of the computer, has been found at other manufacturers. Companies, that Madison claim to work with, hasn't heard of the connection..
The things above, has been discovered by many people, at different swedish sites. Even more than that.
The 4-6 week delivery time, sounds perfect to grab as much cash as possible and run.
No-one can find anyone with an example of this computer. People doesn't believe this thing even exist.
I recommend all of you, to wait and see how everything turns out here in sweden, before you buy this. As most swedes do right now.. Wait and see if the first computers arrive at all.
I hope that this isn't a scam. I'd love to buy one. I'd love if the promised "future generation" will arrive.
But this thing doesn't feel safe.
Cincearly
-Johan Löfgren. Orebro, Sweden
Hi Johan.
Could you please link to the disccusions? Would love to read them myself.
Claes
Kevin
If your spidey sense is tingling, but you still want a laptop under $500, look at the options from HP/Compaq. (Dell also has low priced laptops)
AMD processor: Compaq Presario V6000Z series
Intel Processor: Compaq Presario C500T series
At least you can feel better about who you are buying from and get it in a far more reasonable timefrane with support. Go to their website
I believe this is 100% TRUE...Think about they sell a limited amount of laptops. And the end, they gain a high volume of traffic on their site while doing this and they start selling their other products at suggested retail value. On top of that they gain some business with advertisers. Just creative thinking.
Common Sense!
my friend just ordered one to see if they're legit. sad thing is, with 4-6 weeks shipping, you have to wait so long to find out you've been ripped off. If it is real, it'd be a good bargain. We're bankin on scam though.
I was just told my friend put in an order cancel and a stop payment on this. Its way too sketchy to take the risk. I think since it such a low price, people feel that its worth the gamble. however, I don't think its worth it at all, until a large number of people can prove they received a laptop.
For all you guys saying you would buy a macbook over this, apparentely you didn't read about Medison's other products! From their "design portfolio": Design & Product Development
Companies and products
Furniture design
Apple - iMac color design
SQUID - Dialysis Security Program
M-design (interior design company)
Intelligentia International (keyboard innovation)
Freelance Agency (furniture design)
scodieroivancic interior design
Medison Clothes design collection
Yes that's right folks, THEY designed the iMac colors! Holy crap! How have we not ever heard of them before? /s...
In Denmark and Sweden, there is a huge discussion about this. Actually the 2co company where you pay for the computer - is real and not fake.In Denmark, you can cancel your payment through your bank, if it's fake.The design is 100% the same as Clevo's computers.Medison has (maybe) sold these notebooks for 2500DKK(450$) before.I hope it's real, I think it's fake.Infocare (their "partner") doesn't know them :DAnd if you can read Danish or Swedish there is a lot of arguments like that ;)
Seems our friend Kem-Erik found a new way to print money. Maybe it works this time. His older tries:
http://forums.di.fm/archive/index.php/t-52421.html
Well I don't think this is real because if we look at the WhoIs for the celebrity site then you can see that it was just made in April. Well I don't know, its cheap enough to take a chance for it and it would make a good laptop to just use as a word processor and you can risk having it stolen or something..lol. I can also give my mother one so she can learn to use computers more. I hope its real but it just doesn't feel right. The WhoIs data is below so give this guy a call or something but the numbers look shaky but I'm from the U.S. and I don't know about international numbers.
Registration Service Provided By: Surftown Domains
Contact: dns@surf-town.net
Visit: http://www.support.surftown.com/
Domain name: MEDISONCELEBRITY.COM
Registrant Contact:
Valdi Ivancic (valdi_ivancic@hotmail.com)
+46.707572858
Fax:
Lundenvagen 24
Huskvarna, 561 34
SE
Administrative Contact:
Valdi Ivancic (valdi_ivancic@hotmail.com)
+46.707572858
Fax:
Lundenvagen 24
Huskvarna, 561 34
SE
Technical Contact:
Surftown A/S
DNS Administrator (dns@surf-town.net)
+45.70200776
Fax: +45.70200776
Lautrupsgade 9, 1
K?FFFFF8benhavn ?FFFFD8, 2100
DK
Status: Active
Name Servers:
ns1.surf-town.net
ns2.surf-town.net
ns3.surf-town.net
Creation date: 11 Apr 2007 19:04:10
Expiration date: 11 Apr 2008 19:04:10
The owner uses a hotmail account. That speaks volumes.
I just spoke with 2co.com, and I was told that if I paid that whoever is selling the laptops won't actually get the money untill the computer ships. I was also told, that if for some reason it does end up being a scam, that I would be refunded. Eases my mind, and I say go for it. What can you lose?
"I just spoke with 2co.com, and I was told that if I paid that whoever is selling the laptops won't actually get the money untill the computer ships. I was also told, that if for some reason it does end up being a scam, that I would be refunded. Eases my mind, and I say go for it. What can you lose?"
So how on earth does 2co figure out you got the laptop? Medison tells them? You tell them? They don't do the shipping, so any one of the sides could lie to them about it.
Also I wouldn't be surprised if you're part of this scam, inviting us readily to buy into a deal that's definitely fake (you don't really believe they can fit 14 inch screen + 40G disk + 1.5 Celeron into $150, do you. Do the basic math).
Even you'd be refunded you'd simply have your $150 back. What's the win here?
Well, I can tell you that I placed an order, but after reading the posts, I canceled it. Even though I was assured that I would not be robbed, I still felt uneasy about it. 2co.com said that they don't release funds untill they have proof that the shipment has been made. I have never dealed with them before, so I don't know the ins and outs. But I was also told that even if it ended up that the shipment didn't come through, they have a fraud guarantee that would refund any money. But I told them that I still felt uneasy about the whole thing, and they happily canceled it for me. All I am saying is that 2checkout.com says that they will refund money if it turns out to be a fraud. So if it ends up being true, a laptop for $150, you win. But if it ends up being a fraud, you can get your money back. Your really not losing anything. I am not going to be ordering another one untill we can get some solid evidence to convince me it is for real.
made in brazil? with that price this was probably made in a sweatshop in china... probably from the same makers of "nokla" and "fujila" ;)
It's too easy:
http://www.scam.com/member.php?u=1654
http://www.home.no/wgikenny
Another 5 seconds on Google reveals what he looks like:
http://www.jessheim.org/viewimage.php?id=10685
Profile:
http://www.jessheim.org/user2.php?id=1251 (same e-mail address from scam.com membership)
Am I the only person to realize that the guitar is a Ovation Celebrity? I guess they like the pun.
Claes
Check this out. You will find links from there to other forums and information too
http://www.sweclockers.com/forum/showthread.php?s=d6d6132572770044ef25dab6d95ad99c&postid=7530813
-Johan
"The Medison website, as well as Medison services such as Medison Celebrity and others allows you to create a “Medison ID”
You'll notice the very same on the Apple Privacy Policy:
"The Apple website, as well as Apple services such as .Mac and the iTunes Store, allows you to create an “Apple ID”
http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/
This is a joke.
I hope this is real. *crosses fingers* Could install Windows and use it for internet surfing, chatting, etc.
I showed this to someone I work with and they ordered one. Now they are having 2nd thoughs and called up the 2checkout site and cancled the order. The company wanted to know why they were canceling and he told them about the comments here.
They are passing it along to the higher-ups at the 2checkout.com to see if this is fraud.
Questions in the 2nd post on http://www.cint.se/debatt/ShowPostFlat.aspx?PostID=62603 and answes in english on the 6th post.
They seem to have sold the same computer for 3000 SEK earlier this year and have for some reason lowered the price now to 1000 SEK ~= 150$
Unless this is some firesale, and the company is going under, this is really not feasible.
The screen and HD production costs would push the cost of this over $150.
They simply gave the upgradeable components the lowest possible choice to make it seem slightly credible.
not to meantion anyone could have made that web page in a single weekend.
Hmmm.. The owner of the domain has address in Sweden, but the registration was in Denmark and the company lives in UK? :DAnd it was me who send ths to engadget, sorry! In the first case I thoguht it was real, but after some research I am 90% iit's fake..To Swedes (?): Has the notebook ever retailts in Sweden, to 3.000 SEK? Or is that also a lie? 450$ is still cheap in Denmark, I know you in US can get HP Pavilions for about 500$, but we can't, 'cause our high taxes/vat - but we has also a very nice health system :D
It looks like a SCAM.. This question is in FAQ page:
Q: Can I get my laptop with my country's keyboard settings?
A: Yes, our laptops are delivered with the keyboard language setting that was specified as the recieving country when ordered.
I don't believe it..
good god, this is way too good to be true, similar computers (refurbished on ecost) run prices of well over 350 at the very lowest. this is too good to be true, and their coporate website looks like crap, and feels like a scam, i would buy one so that when the class action suit is filed, i can be a part of the money they have to pay us lol
Cut the bull shit, Is this even legit does anyone what so every have any clue, or even better has anyone received one.
that looks exactly like an alienware computer in the picture, the sentia to be exact.
What would you do if you were Medison? Forget if this offer is real, how would you have done something different? Feel free to comment here and over at my blog at jburg.typepad.com/future
If you were Medison, a small "Swedish" startup seemingly operating out of Brittan, what would you do to stem this swarm of skepticism? How about running some PR, posting testimonials, and sending some product out to bloggers asking bloggers to give the units away to readers after they themselves have finished reviewing the product - with a clear note delineating transparency expectations? How would you respond differently under these circumstances?
"If you were Medison, a small "Swedish" startup seemingly operating out of Brittan, what would you do to stem this swarm of skepticism?"
WTF, are you asking us to give you tips how to make a scam more plausible, you jerk?
To be plausible, rule number one would be to HAVE A DAMN PRODUCT TO SELL. If they went through all the work to buy parts in mass quantities, built factories to assemble them, have lawyers consult them, their site wouldn't copy verbatim clevo.com and apple.com with hundreds of mistakes and laughable statements.
Not to mention, they you wouldn't sell it for $150 since if you do the basic math of the core parts involved, it's impossible.
The whole thing looks as if assembled by a retard looking for FREE MONY on a boring weekend. Get real.
For a Swedish startup, they have a suprisingly _non-existent_ page in their native language... check out www.medison.se and try to click on the top link that says "SE". It's the only link that doesn't even link to an "Under construction" page. The only other language that actually works is Brasilian (actually Portugese).
Another fun fact: go to www.medisoncelebrity.com/index.php . That seems to be a leftover from their hosting providers, www.surftown.com. For a company that opened an entire laptop-making plant in Brasil, they don't seem to pay much attention to their website and they also host on the cheap :).
R.
BTW, their privacy policy page is copied word for word from Apple's (http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/) and the funniest thing was the way they simply replaced "apple" with "medison" in the end, where it links to the page for updating the personal info. Apple's is www.apple.com/contact/myinfo and theirs is www.medison.com/contact/myinfo (although the medison.com domain is not even theirs :) ).
Does anyone still think this is legit?
BTW, sorry if I seem rude up there, just the way I express myself, no offense meant.
I did a quick search about the Medison laptops and found this: http://www.e24.se/dynamiskt/prylar/did_14907454.asp
It's in Swedish so if you could translate it somehow with google or something.
It says that they have plans to sell super cheap laptops for 3000 Swedish Crowns, that equals to about $450 USD.
It also says (sry for the bad translation) "we will see those computers at our supermarkets, how soon depends oh when they sign deals in Sweden."
From ~$450 and found in the supermarkets to $100 on the web with a 4(?) week shipping time?.
I am 99% sure that this is a scam, I would advise those who ordered it already to pull out with their money, it is not possible to make deals with suppliers and sell such a laptop for $150 + Brazil is amongst the top countries that commit cybercrimes.
Anyways I hope that all works out well since this recieves such attention internationally.
http://www.2checkout.com/community/support/topic.php?id=211&page&replies=3
2 checkout said they will support a chargeback.
Is anyone going to test this?
no freaking way. if anybody still thinks this is legit after reading that privacy page, they deserve to get scammed.
"The Medison website, as well as Medison services such as Medison Celebrity and others allows you to create a “Medison ID”
so a laptop is now a service? right. . . .