How would you change Everex's $199 gPC?

Although it was (and still is, really) astoundingly easy to simply point the finger and laugh at Everex's completely unsightly, totally underwhelming TC2502 gPC just months ago, it appears that this thing may actually have a chance at gaining a wee (keyword: wee) amount of steam in the desktop market. Shortly after finding its way to Wal-Mart shelves, the box sold out -- a feat few surmised would actually take place. Furthermore, it seems to have sparked, or at least been the poster child of, a quiet revolution of ultra-cheap, open source-based machines, tagging along with the likes of Asus' Eee PC, Shuttle's KPC and the recently announced Linux PC from Mirus Innovations.

On the real, the rig was absolutely lambasted in a PC Mag review, but truthfully, we aren't exactly shocked given the hardware selection and (relatively) unfamiliar operating system. Then again, we've a sneaking suspicion the reviewers in this scenario weren't the target individuals Everex (and Wally World, to be frank) was gunning for. Stepping back, it's hard to miss the recent infatuation by the general public with machines touting rock bottom price tags and nary a hint of the world's most widely used OS, so in a sense, these guys and gals must be doing something right, be it marketing or otherwise. Still, we figure we'll need more than an abacus to count up just how many tweaks our dear readers would make to the gPC if given the chance -- maybe starting with the atrocious chassis and the dearth of wireless connectivity options -- so don't let us down, alright?

[roo @ Jan 27th 2008 6:11AM]

they could make the case smaller and this may sound strange but plastic might be good and the should become real good friends with the creators of ubunto.

[YoMomma @ Feb 26th 2008 10:04PM]

why did they put linux? You can't do anything besides
surfing and reading emails. I would buy it if it had windows xp or vista.

[SiliconDoc @ Mar 11th 2008 8:44PM]

I'd change it by gutting it. It's got an 80 gig harddrive, a DVD, and 512 ram, and a PS. Take out the motherboard and throw it away, keep the HSF if there is one. Drop in a P35 or P31 /775 and a 2180 OC for 100 bucks.
Better yet just smash it in an industrial garbage compacter to make it smaller for all the space geeks in their one cell living arrangements, plus that 'ell crush the "ugly" the other whiners complained about - even though they never elaborated - maybe they wanted pink with white polka dots so their teenie tube party would rave.

[James @ Mar 12th 2008 11:20PM]

I actually played with one of these and I don't like the Google OS. It is Linux with Enlightment and too many Google apps in my opinion. Use Kubuntu and preinstall OpenOffice and for $199 this thing would be more than worth it. The case should be smaller as well, the only reason it is so big is because they expected PC users to gut the thing and buy new parts. If that was the case, why buy the world's ugliest case for $200?

[Homeboy @ Jan 18th 2008 6:46PM]

For 199 you can't demand to much but i wish it was in a much smaller casing similar to the Mac Mini or other very compact PCs.

[e_rocm @ Jan 18th 2008 7:24PM]

I totally agree. For crying out loud this thing has an Mini-ITX motherboard. Just because some "market researcher" said that Wal-Mart shoppers believe that size = system capabilities, doesn't mean you have to make it unnecessarily large and aesthetically unappealing. Make it smaller, take out some of the ugly, and I'll consider picking one up.

[Ethyriel @ Jan 18th 2008 9:15PM]

I was under the impression that it's an matx board, using a VIA processor.

[Ethyriel @ Jan 18th 2008 9:39PM]

Indeed, it is matx.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5305482907.html

[Chad @ Jan 19th 2008 12:45AM]

From the article you just pointed to: "The gOS Dev Board is a Micro-ATX form-factor Via "PC-1" motherbased on a 1.5GHz Via C7 processor. The board's hardware specs are listed as follows:" ... "7.5 x 9.0 inches" I think the point was, it can fit into a much smaller box than the one in which it is current housed. Maybe not the 6.5 x 6.5 case of a Mac Mini - but certainly a smaller one than the gPC.

[Temple @ Jan 19th 2008 10:32AM]

I would say smaller packaging as well. If this was the size of a Mac Mini it would be an instant buy for me. I could also go without the mouse, keyboard, and speakers as well.

[Ethyriel @ Jan 19th 2008 3:22PM]

Agreed, I'd like it smaller, too. I just wanted to make it understood that it isn't mitx, you can't go out and buy an mitx case to pop it into.

Honestly, I don't expect much more for $199. Anything more attractive is going to take a better engineer, which costs more; better materials, which cost more; and higher quality manufacturing processes, which cost more. I'd like a nice anodized black aluminum case just as much as the next guy, but that case costs almost as much if not more than this entire system. If you want a machine on this performance level which is smaller and more attractive, grab an EX board/cpu from VIA and a Serener or Silverstone case. Or even better, wait to see what Intel does with it's 2nd gen ITX motherboards come Silverthorn time.

The only things I can really say I'd expect from a machine at this price are a PCIE x16 slot (CNR still exists?), DVI, and digital coax. Next they can trash the speakers, keyboard and mouse for one of the following: discrete onboard graphics w/ 32MB RAM, 1GB RAM, or gigabit ethernet.

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 21st 2008 2:30AM]

Change the bezel.

Fine tune the operating system underneath.

[james @ Jan 29th 2008 5:08PM]

Anyone else remember the last time a company made their electronics bigger than necessary because "the consumer want more!"? Exactly. The Atari Lynx and Jaguar are classic examples of this marketing failure.

[abadtooth @ Jan 18th 2008 6:50PM]

A smaller case is the only thing I can think of.
Other than the case they did a superb job making this budget machine.

[retro77 @ Jan 18th 2008 6:50PM]

They sold all 5 of them?

[kepper @ Jan 18th 2008 7:12PM]

10,000 the first day I think in select wal-marts.

[peshue @ Jan 18th 2008 6:52PM]

I think just some good design cold go a really long way. Making it look nice would do a lot for it I think.

[ace_spades @ Jan 18th 2008 6:53PM]

not have an ugly case? (if it was smaller, there would be less plastic too!)

[squirgle @ Jan 18th 2008 6:55PM]

Honestly, just esthetically, does this look all that different from your average PC?

[DarkLightConnection @ Jan 18th 2008 7:57PM]

Yes, it looks all that different from the avg. PC... Even eMachines uses nicer cases

[BC @ Jan 19th 2008 12:42AM]

It looks just like any other desktop PC.
Now those Alienware machines, good god... they look like they were designed by the same guy that did the: "Take me to your dealer" alien t-shirts or other head shop crap.

[Seattle Yonkers @ Jan 19th 2008 1:06AM]

I agree. I mean, it doesn't look any different than your typical Dell case.

[DarkLightConnection @ Jan 19th 2008 8:42PM]

Are you sure?

A friend of mine haves a Dell, and it looks WAY better than this... it even looks slick, if you like simple but not-too-square designs

[Magnulus @ Jan 18th 2008 7:02PM]

It looks like a cheap PC, and if you look anywhere within retail, cheap stuff looks cheap and expensive stuff looks expensive. That's how it is and should be. I think it's fine (though of course I haven't tried it, so I can only go by specs and looks) but like most others, I'd like to see a smaller casing. It could be the come-back of the ol' non-tower desktop computers! Orrrrr a super-slim tower with the optical drives and stuff slotted in vertically. That could look kinda cool, but wouldn't save all that much on plastic.

[Chris @ Jan 18th 2008 7:10PM]

given that this is walmart, how many were returned? sure it sold out, but did it /stay/ sold out?

as got what to change, when it comes to hardware smaller would be nice, but for the target market i don't think anyone really cares. I keep meaning it give gOS a try, most of how a PC works and feels is in the OS so that's where changes would need to be.

[squirgle @ Jan 18th 2008 7:14PM]

I actually heard they made it bigger than it had to be because the average Walmart shopper equates size with power when it comes to computers. Probably when it comes to a lot of stuff.

[retro77 @ Jan 18th 2008 7:16PM]

If they can keep this going, it'll help the Linux world domination.

[Randavance @ Jan 19th 2008 11:50AM]

Not with that OS. It's unrefined, limited, and poorly implementing almost all of it's DE aspects. They gave it enlightenment as the DE for Christ sake. Enlightenment is meant for people who want unfamiliar and strange desktops, the environment isn't nearly up to par for welcoming that many new Linux users, They could have gone with Gnome, or KDE, or preferably Xfce if they wanted people to actually be able to enjoy the product.

It's not uncomfortable to run Linux on low end machines, but man did they make it so.

[Elora HRanma @ Jan 20th 2008 8:37AM]

The problem with Enlightenment (DR17) is not its lack of user friendliness. I use it daily and think this is the way desktops should be going.
They should have given it some time, anyway: E17 is still in pre-alpha state! [Insert Windows release cycle joke here]. Every once in a while it just stops working for a couple weeks and a user without knowledge of Linux would have a hard time figuring out what to do.

[fuzzy @ Jan 18th 2008 7:19PM]

SMALLER

Seriously, the only reason it's the size it is is because Wal*Mart did some customer surveys and found that most buyers equate "bigger" with "more powerful," which also explains why most Wal*Mart customers drive giant SUVs/Trucks and watch NASCAR.

The thing has a tiny board in it. Replace the case with something much smaller (keep the standard 5.25" drive since I know a smaller laptop variety would be more expensive), and then it'd be a hit.

Hell, include an optional VESA base, so people with existing LCD panels could just slap it to the back of it, and it'd be a makeshift iMac/Gateway One/etc.

[Keaton @ Jan 18th 2008 7:43PM]

5.25" drive.... Chuckles...

[Terrry Harris @ Jan 19th 2008 10:07PM]

This to Fuzzy
Why do you want to suggest that Nascar Fans are anything but normal everyday people. I don't understand why people like to think that they know what kind of people Nascar Fans are.

[mg @ Jan 18th 2008 7:25PM]

Smaller case. Higher power. More powerful OS. Really there's no niche this product fills (unless people really want bulky underpowered computers with a half assed operating system) so the focus should be squarely on the portable market for this sort of machine. At least in a portable form factor it's be useful as a web browsing platform.

[jakep_82 @ Jan 18th 2008 7:47PM]

@mg

Are you serious? How would this not be the perfect system for browsing the web? Pair it up with a cheap 17" LCD and you've got a $365 system that's perfect for web browsing. I'm not sure how good your eyes are, but I'd much rather use this with a 17" LCD than an eee with a 7" LCD.

[heffeque @ Jan 18th 2008 8:10PM]

Also it would make for a good cheap server.

[KC @ Jan 18th 2008 7:25PM]

I don't mind the big case, if it has enough drive bays for a raid setup. This would be a nice alternative for a low cost home server.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jan 18th 2008 7:27PM]

What's unusual about it selling out. Every time some cheap computer comes out, bunches of forum members here run out, buy it and say they got some sort of great bargain. They equate dirt cheap with good deal. Oh yeh, I can get 10 computers for the price of one of those (name brand) computers. One for every member of my family living in a one-room apartment. I saved a bundle. So proud to be a EeePC owner. WTF.

[bob @ Jan 24th 2008 8:40PM]

calm down dude. obviously not everyone equates thier pc to the size of thier dick. some people dont give a shit about processor speed and ram. they just want to type emails , chat , visit web pages and look for porn.

[John Bailey @ Jan 19th 2008 3:54AM]

How is this any worse than being sold a top of the range gaming machine, and only using it for surfing and email? And it does happen, I know a few people who encountered a slick salesman who convinced them that high power wast he way to go to "future proof" their purchase. One of these would have been just fine.

This is a dirt cheap PC for people with modest needs. And there are a lot of people who just want a basic surfing box. If you want or need a dual core processor, SLI enabled video cards, and a half a terrabyte of storage, and the ability to play Blu Ray and HD-DVD at will that's fine too, but overkill for someone who doesn't do anything more challenging than email a few family photos every now and then.

[John Bailey @ Jan 19th 2008 3:54AM]

How is this any worse than being sold a top of the range gaming machine, and only using it for surfing and email? And it does happen, I know a few people who encountered a slick salesman who convinced them that high power wast he way to go to "future proof" their purchase. One of these would have been just fine.

This is a dirt cheap PC for people with modest needs. And there are a lot of people who just want a basic surfing box. If you want or need a dual core processor, SLI enabled video cards, and a half a terrabyte of storage, and the ability to play Blu Ray and HD-DVD at will that's fine too, but overkill for someone who doesn't do anything more challenging than email a few family photos every now and then.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jan 20th 2008 10:38AM]

Now your going from low, low end to some high-end gaming machine. I'm talking middle-range machines. Something that you'll be able to use for a while without the keys popping out and possibly getting a decent warranty.

Maybe you have my dick size on your mind, but I'm talking about reliability and support, not speed.

Even if you were to buy a toaster or an alarm clock, you'd still want something that worked properly for a fairly long time and not some piece of junk that may or may not go off at the right time or burnt your damn toast because some piece of metal broke off inside it.

[Big Cab Daddy @ Jan 18th 2008 8:06PM]

Does it surf the web? Does it email? Does it come from a brick and mortar store that honors return policies? Sure I can see a myriad of uses. I could use one myself except for my addiction to World of Warcraft.

[BigDaddyM @ Jan 18th 2008 7:38PM]

I do not mind teh size of the case, just that it is so ugly.
M

[Jeff Allen @ Jan 18th 2008 7:47PM]

How to improve it? Don't install Linux on it!

[Joshua Walters @ Jan 18th 2008 7:53PM]

No, Linux is a great OS.

You cant criticize it for that, because its nearly impossible to find a comparable PC with Windows on it. What makes it so cheap is the fact that it has Linux.

They need to inform people more about the Linux on the packaging though. Many people dont understand what that means.

[Superevil @ Jan 18th 2008 9:15PM]

Why add Linux (Free) when we could throw Vista Basic ($99) on there and completely slow the system down to a crawl.

[Joshua Walters @ Jan 18th 2008 7:48PM]

Not the PC, but the packaging.

My cousin bought one, and of course not knowing what Linux was, he was unable to install any apps. He was able to use it for the basic things that its intended, but like most people, saw Computer, and $199 and instantly thought "Wow, what a deal! I need a new computer!" and didnt bother to learn anything about it.

You cant expect Wal-Mart to really be any help either.

I have since helped him find replacements for all his apps, and he has been able to figure out most of it, and is very happy with it.

I think they could do a little better with the processor as well, its pretty slow.

[evan @ Jan 18th 2008 11:21PM]

Sounds like he needs to RTFM

[KC @ Jan 19th 2008 10:32AM]

I thought about what you said, but I guess Walmart is pushing this box like it is an appliance (toaster, tv, etc). Just turn it on to surf, read and send email, etc. Maybe it should say something like "cannot run Windows applications" on the box or something.

[Joshua Walters @ Jan 19th 2008 2:17PM]

Exactly.

How many non-technical users actually know what Linux is.

And, Wal-Mart just has it on the shelf like any other PC.

Naturally, the employees are incompetent, and even if someone asked what Linux is, there is a good chance that they wouldnt be able to tell them.