Everex's $199 green PC: attention ignorant Wal-Mart shoppers

Make no mistake, Everex can build 'em some kind of ugly. Still, they have learned to spin their gear as green, not underpowered, which counts for something. The TC2502 gPC (that's "g" as in "green," not crap) is out cluttering Wal-Mart shelves with a low, low $199 price tag. Inside, you'll find a 1.5GHz VIA C7 CPU sitting daintily on a Mini-ITX motherboard. A Linux OS, 512MB of memory and an 80GB of disk are tossed in just for kicks. So why that huge-ass case? That's the best part. Research indicates that Wal-Mart shoppers equate the size of the system to its capability. As such, Everex swaddled all that nothingness in a 2-foot by 2-foot monument to plastic. Now go ahead, Greenpeace, we beg you, rip it apart and let us know just how much non-recyclable polymer and dangerous PVC and BFR this pup really contains.

[Via Gadget Lab, thanks Rob G.]

[ScOObyDoo @ Oct 31st 2007 10:36AM]

I guess poor people don't need CD/DVD players in their PC?

Not only does the damn thing have Linux, there is no easy way for you to get rid of it :D

[Jon @ Oct 31st 2007 10:45AM]

It has. Go RTFA.

[ScOObyDoo @ Oct 31st 2007 10:47AM]

My bad, I just saw the photo and decided it wasn't worthwhile reading what Walmart had to say about it.

[ethana2 @ Nov 3rd 2007 5:13AM]

You an opensolaris guy or a BSD guy?

[Scott Culp @ Oct 31st 2007 10:36AM]

Hmmmmm....rip this apart, custom case, and with the right software it might make a decent webTV/NAS/media server.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 31st 2007 10:39AM]

I have a micro ATX case I could use too if it'll play nice that is.

Heck I might get one just to play with!

[Ray-- @ Oct 31st 2007 10:38AM]

this doesnt seem too bad for people who need to do just basic things on their PC... but i agree it will be shocking when they buy johnny that new game he's been wanting only to realize it doesnt work on the green pc.... :(

[Enric @ Oct 31st 2007 10:48AM]

Key Features & Benefits:

1.5 GHz Via Technologies C7-D processor

Delivers energy-saving performance

512 MB of DDR2 system memory

Offers good performance and is expandable to 2 GB

80 GB hard disk drive

Provides space for documents, games, photos and music

DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive

Lets you play DVDs and burn your own CDs for entertainment and data backup

10/100 Mbps Ethernet

Connects to a local area network or broadband Internet devices

gOS operating system

Enables you to use the supplied OpenOffice.org 2.2 software suite

[SteveO @ Nov 6th 2007 12:45AM]

"Provides space for documents, games, photos and music"

As in, you have plenty of space leftover in the case to store books, photos, CDs/8 Tracks, and a couple board games...

[John Stracke @ Oct 31st 2007 11:23AM]

Play DVDs? So are they actually shipping it with DVD playback software? (It certainly exists for Linux, but most US distros don't include it, because of the DMCA.)

[Gene @ Oct 31st 2007 2:14PM]

I want to know how many 3.5 internal bays it has, and what kind of memory it takes. This machine could be perfect to replace my file server.

[Matthew Trudell @ Oct 31st 2007 6:00PM]

@ SteveO

LOL....that was by far the funniest thing I just read on this page.

But honestly, 80 Gb Hdd? Is that really enough for anyone now a days? It just seems everyone has digital music, at least a movie or two on their computer, and needs ample room to store projects that get created on the computer..like...such as.

[Gene @ Oct 31st 2007 11:05PM]

Matthew,

I just rebuilt a system for someone, one of the reasons being it was running out of hard drive space as they never delete e-mail. The computer had a 6 GB drive, the e-mail is only using 1 GB of the space (if that much). That system lasted them three years

With a new 80 GB drive and getting them to use gmail instead of storing email locally this whizbang hard drive that is twelve times larger will last them quite a while.

Oh, what am I saying? My bad. Everyone has the exact same requirements for technology as you do. My mistake.

[Gene @ Nov 1st 2007 4:39AM]

Having read your post again I'm not seeing the negative connotation that I had seen before. I apologise for the last statement in my post.

[BillyBones @ Oct 31st 2007 10:56AM]

I might have to grab one of these. I can build a custom case for that mini mobo and chuck the fugly case in the trash....er, I mean offer it up on FreeCycle.

[Drew Fink @ Oct 31st 2007 10:57AM]

This will be nice for the entry level CarPC enthusiast..

[Matt B @ Oct 31st 2007 11:06AM]

Will it play doom?

[kevjohn @ Oct 31st 2007 11:14AM]

"Research indicates that Wal-Mart shoppers equate the size of the system to its capability."

That was the funniest thing I've read all week! :smiley)

[John B @ Oct 31st 2007 2:59PM]

I'm going to make a PC line specifically for Wal-Mart called "Viagara" with a full-size tower case (like the old 8-bay, AT cases) and a mini-ITX board. I'll make a fortune...

[Princess Skittles @ Oct 31st 2007 11:16AM]

Wow, what an elitist spew of dribble. Someone needs to grow up.

[Marcos @ Oct 31st 2007 11:21AM]

Doesn't seem very green to me to be shipping these things from (presumably) China in the same space you could be shipping 8x as many Mac minis.

[Ethan @ Oct 31st 2007 12:42PM]

Ah but nobody would buy due to the aforementioned preoccupation of western minds with size that has affected our views of PCs and, well, other things...

Is this why American phones are massive? (And why Drew Carey is still working?). I kid, I kid (I think), but in order to bring something to the debate I'll say that often these things are shipped in parts then assembled somewhere nearer but still cheap. Still, you could make 8 ugly plastic version mac mini shells out of the box.

[huh @ Oct 31st 2007 2:17PM]

Actually, container ship shipping is very low enviro impact. I'm a greenie myself, but the fact is that oil drilling is also low enviro impact, especially compared to oil and other ... alternatives. Not that these things shouldn't be constantly improved, but I don't think its much of an issue, and it's still saving the consumer a lot of money.

[huh @ Oct 31st 2007 2:18PM]

I meant compared to coal.

[IMHO @ Oct 31st 2007 11:23AM]

Surely I can't be the only one who notes the irony of selling linux OS computers to people who level of computer sophistication is to equate the size of the system to its capability. Go Walmart!

[Jon @ Oct 31st 2007 11:26AM]

Some Linux distros are no less easier to use than more mainstream OS.

[huh @ Oct 31st 2007 11:24AM]

oh, engadget. stfu. you rarely know what you're talking about. really.

[Jeff Harrison @ Oct 31st 2007 12:26PM]

And yet - here you are - reading it day after day. Who's get the edge on stupid here?

[Tony @ Oct 31st 2007 12:28PM]

While—at times—they really have no idea.

Your comment is pointless, and is an insult at the same time. The only way it could get worse is if you added Spam in there somehow.

[huh @ Oct 31st 2007 12:38PM]

Let's just say I read Engadget because of breadth, not depth. Actually, when I check into a particular category, there is more breadth out there, so it's also a matter of habit.

I've talked with people "inside" Engadget in the past and they've agreed they don't like the blog's tone (it is obviously done to provoke), and it has changed over time. So rather than go through aaaaalllll the effort of finding a new site, I respond to bile with bile. I don't want Engadget to stop, I just want them to keep quiet when they don't know what they're talking about, or at least keep their response open and trust their commenters, some of whom are informed.

[Thomas Ricker @ Oct 31st 2007 12:52PM]

@huh,

This is the size of a computer based on Mini-ITX components.

http://www.engadget.com/tag/mini-itx

'nuff said?

Thomas

[Scott Culp @ Oct 31st 2007 12:59PM]

Interesting, I have been thinking about this post (huh) alot actually and came to the same conclusion. While I don't agree with yor STFU comment I have noticed that lately the tone of Engadget has changed and NOT for the better. I believe they are purposely reporting in an....antagonistic??.....manner to drive traffic. Look at what this one post has done for their ad revenue.

I'll still check multiple times a day, but in the future I won't be so easily drawn into this method of self-promotion.

[huh @ Oct 31st 2007 1:00PM]

@Thomas Ricker: no, it's not enough said. It's very difficult to make a very small PC that has good cooling. Everex is not the kind of company to come up with one. It would also require more expensive components (2.5" hard disk, etc). So, they used their standard case, which may be larger, but has adequate cooling and also happens to be much more expandable. Your suggestion that they did this because of a perception about case size, or that it's less green (as others have pointed out, steel is entirely recyclable and the case could be re-used) is pure conjecture. Via undeniably makes a green PC board, and Everex provides a low cost computer to the consumer. Yet the tone of your post is extremely harsh. But thanks for wading into the comments, at least you were more constructive than the other comments. Engadget is just the kind of groupthink site where it's a mark of honour to be 50% low ranked, 50% highly ranked.

[Thomas Ricker @ Oct 31st 2007 1:20PM]

@huh,

True it is my opinion, I don't deny that and I don't shy away from it. Here's my reason for the tone of this piece:

It's my suspicion that Everex is spinning a low cost, under spec'd computer and calling it "green" in order to exploit a target audience they already admit to being "unsophisticated." The size of the case is the first clue. My call for Greenpeace to look into this box was not idle -- I'd love to know just how environmentally sound the materials used in this box really are. Being green goes way beyond just consuming less power. If consumers truly want "green" products, they'll likely have to pay more (not less) for them at the moment until mass production processes can catch up and drive pricing back down.

I'll happily be proven wrong.

Thomas

[huh @ Oct 31st 2007 2:08PM]

@Thomas Ricker;

Well, if you use a snippy tone, you can expect a snippy tone back. I really do not think there is anything "ignorant" about someone buying a low power, expandable $200 computer. I truly do not get why you say the system is not green. It may not be the greenest ever, but one of the main purposes of the Via board + chip is to be low power, and IIRC it was one of the first boards to be certified low eco impact (according to some world spec). So, in fact, they are providing exactly what they said, a low cost computer that is in fact green, greener than many PCs out there, perhaps greener than the high profile Apple systems.

I don't know why you are complaining about it being under spec'd either, it doesn't say it is meant for gaming, but it would be perfectly suitable for web browsing, basic office documents, mail, organizing files.

As for the size of the case, I'm afraid as others have pointed out it looks like you are referring to the shipping box. The actual case looks like a small mini-tower, which Everex probably used because it's cheap for them and has good ventilation.

Finally, your comment that consumers should wait for mass produced products that are enviro friendly is a red herring, these products will not be manufactured until producers know there is a market for them, which will be evidenced by the success of products like this. It is a huge market.

Engadget has a lot of exposure, it'd be nice if you guys could choose the most constructive route. How about, as someone else suggested, a series on "unboxing the Everex Green PC," "User Friendliness of the Everex Green PC," "Expanding the Everex Green PC," "Real Running Costs of the Everex Green PC," "SLI on the Everex Green PC," etc. That would be fun, informative and really challenge and draw attention to manufacturers in a way similar to how Greenpeace is expert and Engadget a sour wanna be.

[lwatcdr @ Oct 31st 2007 11:33AM]

What does the size of the case have to do with how green the PC is?
Most of the mass of the case is probably steel. How recyclable is steel? 100%.
Also by using a standard size case instead of a small custom case means that if you decide to upgrade you can just get a new motherboard and REUSE the case.
So you get a low power use PC that has more than enough power to run Firefox and OpenOffice. It is good enough for about 90% of the people on the planet and doesn't eat a lot of power.
If the plastic on the case is recyclable it is actually a pretty green solution. I don't see the reason for the venom.

[BEETROOT @ Oct 31st 2007 11:36AM]

"that's "g" as in "green," not crap"

crap doesn't start with a g

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 31st 2007 11:45AM]

Grap starts with a g.

[mattclarkie @ Oct 31st 2007 12:05PM]

As I equate anything with the prefix g with crap then it kind of does.

[BEETROOT @ Oct 31st 2007 12:15PM]

"As I equate anything with the prefix g with crap then it kind of does."

g-string?
g-spot?
g-money?
jumping g-hoshephat?

[Setnev @ Oct 31st 2007 11:42AM]

Personally, i cannot stand that all these companies out there are building cost efficient computers. I work in the computer repair business and if it weren't for people buying half-way decent computers that actually last, there would be a whole lot more computers rotting in landfills. You wanna talk a Green PC, make it so the whole thing wont cause ground pollution when the dumbass who bought it has to buy a new one in 13 months because it crapped out and throws it away. That is all that budget computers promote. Disposable computers. It wouldn't be a problem if they were made from quality components and their users knew how to recycle them properly. My advice, save up and buy a nice $1000 computer system. It will definitely last you 5+ years and you wont have to buy a new computer every year for $200+

[tekdroid @ Oct 31st 2007 1:01PM]

hmm, not sure i can agree with this wholeheartedly, but can in general.

Most common things to fail are generally power supply. Mainboards used to fail with sub-par capacitors but that has been eased lately. Sometimes dust can totally block cooling to the cpu's heatsink and the computer can shut off - which a cleaning can solve - and which can happen on any machine, basically.

Other times it's simply a dead hard drive or monitor.

All these things occur with pricey as well as cheap computers. Price isn't a very good indication of quality of any particular component, IMO. There are plenty of computers out there stuffed to the gills with good, fast cpus, large hard drives (all adding to the total cost of the computer) but with ultra poor power supplies or sub-par mainboards.

Branded, unbranded, expensive or not. A good computer needn't be expensive, just as an expensive computer needn't necessarily be good - or more reliable.

Hard drives can fail, no matter which manufacturer or how much you spend, too.

[tekdroid @ Oct 31st 2007 1:38PM]

hmm, not sure i can agree with this wholeheartedly, but can in general.

It all comes down to component choice. While cutting costs is more likely the less expensive a computer gets, price is rarely ever an indication of bad component choice or a more unreliable computer versus a more expensive one, IMO.

Big premiums are payed on big/fast:

1) HDs
2) CPUs
3) monitors
4) ram ( not so much these days, but...)

...many expensive computers are built like this, but lack a decent power supply (most common cause of failure, in my experience) - or simply feature a sub-par mainboard or component choice on the mainboard.

So price alone is a bit simnplistic, but I know what you're getting at.

Many lower-end low cost machines can be built today with top-notch, quality components.

Similarly, many more expensive machines can and are built with higher-spec components but lower-spec components on things like power supplies, mainboards (with iffy capacitors, for instance), etc.

Other times it's simply a dead hard drive or monitor.

All these things occur with pricey as well as cheap computers in about equal measure, I'd say. There are low-cost gems just as there are high-cost lemons. At least that's been my experience.

If anything the landfill/ replacement problem is geting worse simply 'cause computers in general have become so much cheaper now than they used to be. I think that and bloated programs causing people to move on contributes to a lot more replacement than low-quality components, in general.

[tekdroid @ Oct 31st 2007 1:41PM]

doh. apologies for the double. I coulda sworn the first one was eaten when i submitted.

[ceilingfanboy @ Oct 31st 2007 11:50AM]

I'm lost as to where people would have even bought this computer due to its capabilities. Most of the people who would buy this are the people who are looking to decrease their footprint by as much as they possibly can and want to have a small case. Also, it would be greener if these were smaller so that they could ship more of them in a smaller space on the truck and also save on packaging. If someone wants to buy a computer and is worried about the power of the computer, the average Wal-Mart shopper is going to buy the Dell or Acer computer, not this Everex computer.

[John Crane @ Oct 31st 2007 1:15PM]

A small footprint is right in line with the minimalist aesthetic. Unfortunately, Walmart practices maximalism. Lots and lots of really cheap stuff. More is better. Bigger is better.

[Dan S. @ Oct 31st 2007 11:52AM]

>> Now go ahead, Greenpeace, we beg you, rip it apart
>> and let us know just how much non-recyclable
>> polymer and dangerous PVC and BFR this pup really
>> contains.

Why would they? Its doubtful that Greenpeace would see one red cent by trying to play upon the guilt of Wal-Mart consumers. Afterall, that's all that Greenpeace seems to want these days -- a Piece of the Green that the tech industry is earning.

[Kurt @ Oct 31st 2007 11:53AM]

That price is actually pretty damn good.....go check out www.mini-itx.com and price what a motherboard costs with a the C7. They are easily $150 just for the board...in this case you get the board, ram, hard drive, DVD, and a case for cheap.

I would use this case and the buy another case for the C7 board and make a nice media machine.

[aoeu00 @ Oct 31st 2007 11:56AM]

"Product in Inches (L x W x H): 23.0 x 23.0 x 11.4" ??

*scratches head*

[drstrangegun @ Oct 31st 2007 1:08PM]

AHHHhahahaha! It just hit me!

Two feet by two feet? That's the SHIPPING BOX. Look at the photo, there's no way that case is two feet tall... look at the drive bays, that's 5 1/4" to compare against.

This case looks like it's around 15" tall, and probably not so deep.