How would you change Everex's $199 gPC?
By Darren Murph 
posted January 18th 2008 6:42PM
posted January 18th 2008 6:42PM
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?
I can't believe this machine is getting so much crap and I can't believe this is even a story. Wal-Mart sold a similar, low-end, non-Windows machine years ago for the *exact same price*.
They were MicroTel brand. I know because I bought one of them at the time just to have a extra physical machine to use for geek projects. This was before VMs were very far along. I'm an engineer and know many other engineers that bought them up in bunches for the same reason.
Granted, putting the Mini-ITX in a full-size case is pretty lame. Especially given how Wal-Mart is trying to be more environmentally conscious of late. But beyond that, I have to agree with the other comments that suggest the case looks like every other PC case, cheap or otherwise.
Personally, I happen to find people caring about what their PC looks like kind of silly and Alienware boxes just plain obnoxious. But then again, I'm happy with a beige box so what do I know...
-N.
Do not just claim it, but make it a real low power PC.
Put in nice small box.
Since it does produce very little heat, maybe it could be put indeed within a wooden or bamboo box, creating an even more "green" PC (and engrave google all over the place...)
Add a turbo button. I miss those sweet turbo buttons that boosted me from 66 MHz to 166 MHz…
The top thing is the 'look' of the case. As much as people don't want to admit it, style and design matters even when it comes to computer cases. I think if they made the front bezel black or silver, maybe brushed alum. if it's not too expensive, it wouldn't have that cheap 1997 computer case look...you know, the look where they were slowly going from beige to black, but some kept the white front to match beige keyboards, mice, cdroms/floppy drives, etc.
From there on, if they could make it slimmer and a tad shorter, that'd be pleasing as well - however, studies show that wal-mart (and many shoppers, period) for that matter equate size to value (the bigger it is, the more of a bargain the 'low' price is), so they'll probably never change the case unless they add $100 to the pricetag and slap the word 'compact' before PC. After all, the smaller tech is, the more it's value (even if it's really not worth it, since smaller doesn't necessarily mean more expensive NOWADAYS), 'amirite'?
I think it's an awesome guest/kitchen/email-web surfing machine. Kudos for introducing the world to Linux. I love XP/Vista, but I'd love MS to get some competition - that'll get their creative juices flowing.
have it come with OSX pre-installed...
then we'll talk..
oh, and for christs sake its a $199 pc... give it a break
it doesn't need wireless, the people buying this thing don't have wireless
I bet the children that got this from their parents thought it could run crysis. What an awefull thing to give as a gift.
One thing that might well be worth doing is to add CNR support to gOS out of the box (for those unfamiliar with it, CNR is an online store for Linux software). Since Ubuntu is already supported in CNR, and gOS is based on this, it will probably work fine with it. That way, people have a way to purchase software for it in a familiar fashion. There's a surprising number of games available on there, both free and paid for.
This type of machine begs for one of two things...
1. To have a much smaller form factor that one can set up in the living room, possibly attached to a TV as a thin client [not media center].
2. To have a much better case for Home Server type needs. This is something a lot of people have not acknowledged from this device. Give it easily SATA ports and enough accessible bays inside the case that you can drive a reasonable large RAID set. The Home Server is a great idea, but Microsoft's not done any convincing that having a WHS is worth close to $1000 for your average home user--but, as any family with more than one computer/user--having a central file store that's accessible and easy to use is important. Pick your favorite backup software [Time Machine, Vista's backup tools, etc.], and you have a low power and cheap to maintain, easily expandable home server storage solution.
Any of you remember seeing the first Google server array. It was like hundreds of these boxes all mounted on bakers racks running Linux. Here's your chance to start your own search engine on the cheap.
I would like to have main stream processors(or at the very least main stream motherboard)
Gigabit Ethernet. Nuff said.
I agree with most other comments--smaller form factor and plain Ubuntu (or maybe gOS 2.0 is more polished).
Seems like maybe next time they should be more careful who they give their pre-release units to. It was reviewed by a PC Magazine writer who clearly isn't capable of using anything outside of Windows or Mac OS (ironically, he recommended the eeepc--which would have hit at least half of the negatives of the review for not running Windows with craplets and OEM tuning/bundling to make up for the reviewer's technical shortcomings). I mean... he had to adjust the resolution for his monitor... the horror!!!
the only thing I'd change is the price. $399 and then we don't have to blog about it anymore.
Case maybe like this one would be better?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811190049
Most of you missed the whole point..
Take a look at gOS, its simple, basic and with graphics that respond to your mouse. Visually its appealing and its a Google like computer..yes, you know Google, that 'g' word known around the world...how can you go wrong?
Really, just wipe the drive and load the latest Ubuntu. Trying to install anything on it is a pain, the terminal is underpowered, and overall they've concealed some of the best parts of using Linux. I guess if you never need to install anything that didn't come packaged with it, and you wanted to use Google for everything, gOS was fine, but I reloaded my folks' with Gutsy and it runs 400% better now. Didn't even have to upgrade the RAM (yet).
Try to lower the price.
After you get done adding the price of a 17" LCD monitor at retail prices, you're around 360-370.
A lot of times, for about 400, at Best Buy, you can get a machine with a dual-core CPU, better GPU, bigger hard disk, DVD-RW drive, and 1GB of RAM, not to mention Vista Premium, the LCD monitor, and a printer.
I am surprised that so many are working up the nerve to try Linux. I am glad to see it though. I guess money does talk. It's not like you're losing a lot if you don't like it and you can always dust off that old copy of XP that's been laying around. When you stop and think about it, if you're just an everyday user that only goes online to check your email and browse a little bit then how much more do you really need? Personally, I hope these things sell like hot cakes. Giving the likes of Microsoft and Apple something to sweat really benefits every consumer both monetarily and in terms of the quality of the software they produce. Go Everex with your cheap ass self!!!
The system looks OK for the price, but I would like to see it in a smaller case. A split into two models might make sense, with one maintaining some expandability and the other using the smallest mainboard and case possible while maintaining the economics of the system.
ok... i got an emachines d3123 for 200 dollars. its screaming fast with only 512 mb of ram.
i think the gpc could be better if it had a more powerfull processor.
i built a pc around the gpc mobo and it ahs 1 gig of ram. its not very fast. (i use it for file backups and for my other pc. its right next to my d3123 that i love so much) dont get me wrong i love all my computers.
Is it screaming because it's on fire?
well... ubuntu makes any pc better
ubuntu makes any pc better. i just wish the gpc had a better video chipset and an amd semphron.
Needs more cowbell.
if you want smaller, get the gPC mini when it comes out. It's about 1/16 the size of the gPC.
http://www.everex.com/products/gpc_mini/gpc_mini.htm
crap!
now i wanna upgrade to the new one...
maybe ill just get an eee pc.
I would start by not selling it at WalMart.