PCs have fallen wildly in price over the past couple of years, but while the prospect of a "real computer" (well, almost) for a mere $100 isn't completely outlandish these days, it's still rare. The
Nova Navigator, built for the India market, is actually down from its originally-projected $199 pricepoint, and commands a monthly subscription fee in the vicinity of $15 and up -- the more you pay the more online storage you get, with 50GB as a baseline. On its sparse 256MB of built-in storage, however, you get a full build of Linux with Firefox and OpenOffice, and the ability to access Windows with a Remote Desktop client. The unit doesn't come with a keyboard monitor or mouse, so once you get around to supplying all that and paying for a few months of service, you might've been better off with a cheap netbook, but the expansion and peripheral-compatibility afforded by this desktop form factor might just make it worth the hassle.
posted Mar 7th 2009 10:36PM
first. what is it a barebones computer in laptop form factor?
Im sick of people saying First, Fake, Fail, epic FAIL, simpsons did it, on every single thing you can comment on on the freakin internet. I mean geez, we know your first but damn. That be like me saying FIRST for being the first to comment on your comment, that is why i low ranked you.
On the other hand, 256MB storage is not a lot, the system memory on my 10 year old computer was bigger than that. What good is 50GB of online storage when you can't even download it cause the operating system probably takes up a big portion of that 256. I hate to see the system memory on this thing, 1024KB?
It's why we're ALL low ranking them.
Setnev - It's got 512MB of RAM.
Funny, the only "keyboard monitor" I've ever heard of is the Asus Eee Keyboard...
Uh... yeah... I think that they forgot to put in punctuation. I think that it was supposed to be keyboard, monitor, or mouse. (This is why people should pay attention to their grammar and punctuation. It makes for far greater clarity in reading. And I'd have to say this is 'meh' at best.
So let's be honest here. I'm really not getting a full computer for $100
Well youre also buying access to a server which will do everything that your cpu, gpu, memory, and hhd do without it actually being with you. Instead you just need an internet connection to access it. The idea is that everything gets done on the server and you just need a screen to display it and input devices (keyboard, mouse, mic, webcam whatever else you use).
I'd prefer a $10 8 Gb flash drive instead of subscription :P
What is with these companies and this love for "Monthly fees" Sales models...
"What is with these companies and this love for "Monthly fees" Sales models..."
Uh, how else are you going to sell a service? I'm not going to spend $500 on this knowing that it'll only work as long as the company survives, nor will I spend $500 on it knowing that, no matter what I can only use it for a set amount of time. And why should the company sell you something for a fixed price not having any idea how much it's going to cost them? They're selling a service, they're going to charge as a service.
More to the point, who's going to choose a subscription service as opposed to a one-off charge?
More like, "Welcome to the world of bad GUI design." ZING!
I just don't see the value of a desktop/nettop box with an Atom CPU. At this price point AMD must be a better bet if you have a few more watts available.
For ultra portable netbooks with long battery life the Atom is great, sure.
For $120 at newegg you can get:
MicroATX board with 2.0GHz AMD Athlon (Barton core) = $40
512MB of RAM = $18
80GB HDD = $34
MicroATX case w/ power supply = $28
Sit someone down in front of that PC and a Nettop and see which one they'd rather use day to day!
The idea of cloud computing is geared more towards businesses and schools who use many computers. Its better than having a box set up at every desk or work station in theory and you dont have to worry about installing software on each computer or failures of hard drive discs. This just takes it out of house and lets someone else manage your servers for you which has its pros and cons.
youre also missing keyboard, mouse, lcd, cd/dvd drive on your list.
Well, if you RTFA you'll see that Nova Navigator is also missing keyboard, mouse, screen, and CD/DVD drive.
Oh yeah and it's also missing a HDD which IS on my list.
Didn't someone try this before? I remember seeing a Chris Pirillo video on it, called the "Zonbu"?
Needs a little more work!
Some day a real useful computer will cost less than 100 USD
I would have loved one of these things back in 1997.
Price is great, but this device doesn't have monitor! so usage is under question.
I'm speechless. Somebody please enlighten me as to how this project works for the consumer. Or is that what this is about? Here's what I see:
$100 is irrelevant when you don't have a keyboard, mouse, or MONITOR. It'd be cool if someone from India here could post an estimate of the additional cost. Or are they expecting that I use the peripherals from my perfectly good computer with one tethered to an expensive subscription?
That's not the most irritating thing.
A $15 ENTRY-level subscription? Why would I move from a reliable (more so than an internet connection, anyway) $30 / hard drive approach to an expensive subscription service? Two months could pay for my hard drive, and I still need to pay for internet? Hello? Is it the convenience of the service? Do they think people in India can't use open source software? Go to eLance and see how many of the most successful IT professionals there are Indian.
$15 bucks is HUGE in a country where more than half the population still works in agriculture. Just a bit of economics from Wikipedia: India is 2nd largest in population but 12th largest in economy. 4th in purchasing power but...per capita is....get ready...**$977**. If I'm living off less than $2 a day by purchasing power am I going to pay $15 / month for my kid to use the Internet? F*** no.
This is an insult. It's like buying a price-slashed SUV and paying high gas prices. It's like getting the first hit free...lol. Pardon my simile but I would love it if one person could explain how this system is a socially responsible entrepreneurship, and if that's completely out (it is), how this will turn a profit. People that can afford the monthly payment will have their own machines minus the subscription BS.
And I'd love to chat with anyone affiliated with this project.
writejulian@gmail.com
I am an existing customer of Novatium - the Service providers of the Nova Service. I am based out of K.K. Nagar - Chennai. I have been there customer since last two years. my feedback for the comments in the blog are
I bought the Nova Navigator at Rs. 3999/- (USD 80) in Dec-2006.
This does not include the Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse obviously - I got it separately at Rs. 2500/- (USD 50).
The Monthly subscription I pay is Rs. 199/- (USD 4). By paying this i get to use the Basic subcription + Linux with open office. Recently they launched Zoho absolutely free for their customers. I found Zoho good and has the look and feel of Microsoft windows.
The above are not the only benefits that I have seen - This service is completely free of any viruses and spams. I personally have not come across any virus or spams in my two years of usage neither I have had any hardware or software issues.
They have recently tied up with BSNL which has given me a 10% reduction of my broadband plan as i am an existing customer of BSNL.
The way to the cloud is by subsidizing the box, sort of like cable, satellite companies often do.
A substitute for the overpriced Vista OS.....yummy:)
when i first glanced at the article i thought it was 256 MB of ram... i was wrong.
Why all the comparisons between this and a "real computer"?
If you aren't familiar with cloud computing I suggest doing some research on cloud computing and it's uses/benefits b4 leaving comments.
@ Jay- Thanks for clearing that up. $80/4 a month plus $50 for the needed peripherals sounds totally realistic. I wonder if prices will continue to be the same? I can see how the virus-free system is very time-saving too.
So I'll step back from my earlier comment :)
Back in the 1980s, I was crestfallen when my stepfather explained that the computer he used at work was not a computer at all, but rather a dumb terminal which was remotely connected to a *real* computer stored elsewhere.
At the time, I was convinced that the "dumb terminal" really was the dumbest idea in existence. Twenty five years later, it's STILL the dumbest idea in existence, except now we're calling it "cloud computing." Why are we so eager to return to that dark period in history? There's absolutely no practical purpose for a server-dependent computer now that prices have dropped through the floor. Please, just stop this nonsense.