Kogan promises Linux netbook in "weeks," we have our doubts
By Darren Murph 
posted Feb 24th 2009 10:44AM
posted Feb 24th 2009 10:44AM
Ruslan Kogan, the Australian who built up our hopes only to let them down recently with his make believe Agora, is back with more outlandish promises, and for whatever reason, we think he actually expects us to just believe him this time. During a recent interview, Kogan noted that he would like to be taking orders for a Linux-based netbook that he designs and specs in as little as "two to two and a half weeks." He's expecting to sell the 10-inch machines for around $529 to $539, which will buy you an Intel Atom processor, 160GB of HDD space, 1GB of RAM and a decent amount of magical pixie dust, we imagine. In related news, Kogan's also hoping to have OLED TVs out within just a few months and region-free BD decks shortly thereafter. See, our skepticism isn't that unwarranted, now is it?
Is he too big for that chair?
No, he fits, he's just not awesome enough for that chair.
Man I want furnature like that but I always see stuff like that for stupidly high arty prices - not the kind of high where you just think "hey this is expensive because it's got great build quality and will last me forever".
Why are we supposed to care who Kogan is again ?
So what's the big deal here? It certainly can't be the price. This would just be an expensive crippled notebook with a crappy processor in it. Don't even give this guy any press.
all you stupid americans.
the pricing is in AUSTRALIAN dollars.
our $ are worth quite a bit less than yours.
If your dollars are worth quite a bit less than ours, then who is the dumbshit now?
That fool obviously got caught jerking to Natalie Portman when the photographer came into the room.
You can have your doubts, but you leave me my monkey!
He sounds like the new Stefan Eriksson.
why would I buy this for $530 if I can buy a regular netbook for $300 and put linux on it for free?
My thoughts exactly.
Although the brief specs they mentioned about ARE better than the $300 netbooks I've seen advertised. I don't believe they're worth the up-charge.
according to google;
530 Australian dollars = 345.98400 U.S. dollars
Well to be fair it just says "taking orders". It really doesn't say when they're going to ship.
Sorry, the guy is a fraud when it comes to delivering on his promises.
You should have understood that when he mentioned OLED TVs as soon as this year.
73 weeks, to be exact. And then they'll pull it when the inevitable cease and desist letter arrives.
Thing is, he has already released a region-free Blu-Ray player: http://www.kogan.com.au/shop/kogan-blu-ray-player-full-hd-1080p/
He did stuff up with the Agora Android phone, but not everything is bull-dust.
The prices don't matter. This guy is obviously unstable.
Unstable how, Pheer?
One product delay out of a wide CE range (www.kogan.com.au/shop) surely can't hurt the image of the company that much for you? If so, you'd surely have to apply the same logic to all and consider almost every tech company unstable?
As above, the current Blu-ray player is already region-free. The Agora phone is delayed not cancelled, and *will* hit the market. I don't see the reason for the negativity?
Also may be interested to see this podcast which interviews Ruslan and shows off a pre-production Kogan Agora, so not sure if calling it 'make believe' is technically correct: http://www.midnightupdate.com/2009/02/25/update15-ruslan-kogan-interview-and-the-kogan-agora-android-smartphone/
Interesting speculation about why it was delayed here too: http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/down-but-not-out-kogan-reveals-new-android-prototype/
Not sure if you can put it all down to the folks at Kogan Technologies! Just worth nothing since the Agora delay seems to be the reason for the disbelief re: the upcoming netbook.
No need to doubt.
http://www.androidauthority.com/index.php/2009/02/26/video-interview-with-ruslan-kogan-of-agora-fame/