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Recompute cardboard PC in the flesh: it's real, it boots, it's made of cardboard
We took delivery of a Recompute recently. This doesn't sound like a stunning statement: we get fancy new tech to play with all of the time, some of it stamped with the "green" moniker for better or worse. But the Recompute is just so far fetched: an entire desktop PC... built with cardboard! Sure, the internals are standard off-the-shelf PC components, but from the outside Recompute looks like nothing we've ever seen, and that's really saying something for a desktop industry that's tried just about every look twice. Check out our impressions of the green machine after the break. %Gallery-104047%
ViewSonic outs energy efficient, earth-friendly VOT125 nettop -- won't help that there oil spill
Way back at CES in January, we spied ViewSonic's full offering, and we caught wind then of the VOT125 nettop -- but we didn't really have any details to go on. Well, the company's officially announced the VOT125 PC Mini today, and the slim little guy looks pretty cute. Sold as a space-saving PC with green design, ViewSonic says that the VOT125 uses up to 90 percent less plastic than similar nettops, and consumes up to 90 percent less power, making use of a range of ultra low power Intel ULV CPUs. The VOT125 boasts 2GB of memory, a 250GB hard drive, four USB 2.0 ports, plus DVI / HDMI. You can grab one up starting today, and it's got a starting price of $499. The full PR follows.
Marvell's SheevaPlug Linux PC fits in its power adapter
Marvell has the technology and the vision, and if the company gets its way the world will soon be overrun by lilliputian Linux machines. Hiding in wall warts and the like, these guys will begin quietly taking over tasks that we once relegated to servers and desktop machines. To this end, the company has just announced that they'll be making the SheevaPlug dev kit available. This is the platform that PogoPlug is based on, consisting of a 1.2GHz Kirkwood processor, 512MB flash storage, 512MB DRAM, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and USB 2.0. This bad boy supports many standard Linux 2.6 kernel distributions, and the whole thing plugs directly into a standard wall socket, drawing "less than one tenth of the power of a typical PC" while in use. Currently available for $99, the company says that it anticipates a price drop to $49 "in the near future."
Advent Eco PC gets photographed, tested
After the latest green PC (that'd be the Advent Eco PC, pictured above) launched in late September, we don't suspect too many Britons rushed out to get one. Why? 'Cause the £600 ($880) list price has already sunk to around £440 ($646). If that figure is a little more in your budget, you might want to give the read link a look. The critics over at Techcast Network found the design to be fairly attractive, the keyboard to be a touch cramped (and unnecessarily wireless) and the performance to be "nothing to write home about." Comically enough, they also point out that an Atom CPU would've probably increased the "greenness," and quite frankly, this machine lacks the raw horsepower necessary to adequately handle Windows Vista. But hey, there's lots of pretty pictures to glance at below even if you've no interest in bringing one home.
Lenovo's ThinkCentre M58 / M58p desktops keep the green scheme alive
Sheesh -- feels like just yesterday Lenovo was sounding the green alarm with its ThinkCentre M57 / M57P desktops, and now we're faced with the predictably named successors, the M58 / M58p. Hailed as the firm's "greenest, most secure and most manageable ThinkCentre desktop PC yet," both machines boast Power Manager, a "ThinkVantage technology that allows PC users to control their electricity consumption remotely. Said inclusion is being made available for the first time ever on a ThinkCentre PC, and the array of password / security features is sure to give you peace of mind while inducing migraine headaches. The new crew is available in three form factors -- tower, small form factor (SFF) and ultra small form factor -- and includes Intel's Core 2 Duo chips and a presumably average selection of RAM, HDD and optical drive. Catch all but the USFF rig right now for $499 and $899, respectively.
Akhter's LoCO2PC looks like an ugly monitor, doesn't need much power
Call it fate, or call it the beginning of an unsightly trend, but whatever the case, we're seeing the second all-in-one green PC this week in the Akhter LoCO2PC. Designed to look like an atypically thick LCD 19-inch monitor, this energy-sipping desktop hums along at 3GHz while sucking down just 55-watts (or less) while in use; when it falls to sleep, it consumes just 3-watts. The 19-inch panel boasts an SXGA (1,280 x 1,024) resolution, HDMI output, 250GB hard drive, 802.11b/g WiFi and your choice of a Celeron dual-core or Core 2 Duo processor. Prices range from £539 ($975) to £639 ($1,156) depending on options, but considering just how much energy you'll be saving (or so they say), the price is totally justified.[Via PC World]
Tangent's Evergreen 17 all-in-one PC barely needs a power plug
Tangent's Evergreen 17 is in the running (heading up the pack, actually) for most hideous desktop of the year, but if beauty truly is found on the inside, maybe it has a fighting chance at being loved after all. This all-in-one PC promises an "industry-leading power efficiency at 24-watts," arrives with a touch-friendly display and packs a fanless 1GHz VIA Eden processor (or fan-cooled 1.5GHz VIA C7), an optional SSD with capacity up to 64GB, up to 2GB of RAM and a gigabit Ethernet port. The unit weighs in at 15.8-pounds and measures 2.25-inches deep, though it'll cost you quite a bit more than other basic desktops at $1,195 (and up). But hey, the warm, fuzzy feeling you'll get from going easy on Mother Earth is totally worth it, right?[Via I4U News]
CherryPal announces two-watt, Freescale-based cloud computer
It looks like the current ranks of green PCs are soon going to have some pretty daunting competition for the low-power throne, with upstart CherryPal announcing that it's about to bust out a cloud computer that'll consume a mere two watts of power. To hit that mark, CherryPal opted for Freescale's new 400MHz MPC5121e mobileGT processor, and eliminated all the moving parts normally found in a PC, which means no optical drive and 4GB of NAND flash memory in place of a regular hard drive. Otherwise, you can expect to get 256MB of RAM, built-in 802.11b/g WiFi, two USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet port, and a VGA port, with a "tweaked version" of Debian apparently serving as the OS. No word on a price just yet, but the company is boldly proclaiming that it'll be the "most affordable on the market."[Via The Register]
Design student concocts eco-friendly modular PC
Certainly, we've seen compartmentalized computing concepts before, but the machine you see above is far beyond a few lines on paper. This modular PC was designed with Mother Earth in mind, and from our view, design graduate Ben Chase should be receiving a copious amount of hugs from trees all around. The sustainable PC runs Windows, consumes just 27-watts of power and has "upgradable components that slide out without the need for tools." According to Mr. Chase, he has crafted a 95% working prototype, and though we doubt any of the big boys have contacted this bloke about taking things mainstream, that probably wouldn't be a bad idea on their part. %Gallery-24705%
Dell Vostro 410 desktop isn't ashamed of its greenness
Dell's been squarely situated on the green bandwagon for years now, and just as it did with the OptiPlex 755, Round Rock is making quite a fuss about the all new Vostro 410 desktop. The mini-tower features Intel's Core 2 Quad processors, an optional 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT, room for four internal hard drives / six PCIe or PCI cards, gigabit Ethernet, up to 4GB of RAM, dual-layer DVD burner and a rather run-of-the-mill port assortment. Potentially best of all, however, isn't the 47-percent energy savings it's purported to deliver -- oh no, it's the complete absence of bloatware, as Dell looks to fit the machine "with only the software you want" for your business. Check it out now in North / South America and the UK starting at $599, while Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa will have access before the end of next week.
Lenovo's ThinkCentre M57 / M57P desktops are kings of green
Last September, Lenovo tooted its horn quite loudly with the introduction of the environmentally-friendly ThinkCentre A61e. Fast forward a few months, and it's the same song and dance once more -- with even more green this time, though. The ThinkCentre M57 / M57p machines won't blow anyone away in terms of raw horsepower, but they are the first desktops from any PC maker to garner GREENGUARD certification. Additionally, these power-sipping rigs are EPEAT Gold rated, Energy Star 4.0 rated, and the first ThinkCentres with recycled material from consumer plastics. Internally, you'll get to choose from a range of Intel Celeron / Core 2 Duo CPU options, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, integrated graphics, an 80GB / 160GB hard drive and not much else. 'Course, with prices on the M57 starting at $699 and an understandable focus on energy-efficient components, we wouldn't expect much different.
Ars Technica dishes out guide for building your own green PC
There's certainly no shortage of companies out there touting their own ready-made green PCs, but if that's not your thing, the ever-helpful folks at Ars Technica have now let loose a guide for building your own. As you might expect, there's no shortage of compromises involved in this particular endeavor, although Ars has at least laid out a pair of different options to accommodate different needs, including a Green Gaming Box and an Extreme Green Box. All told, that former option will run you just over $1,000, with one of the biggest energy-saving trade-offs coming from the video card (a Radeon HD 3850) which, as we all know, is one of the biggest power hogs in any system. The Extreme Green Box, on the other hand, pushes things up past the $1,400 mark, and includes no-comprise options like a VIA C7 processor, integrated graphics and, of course, a 32GB SSD drive (which is obviously responsible for a huge chunk of that total cost). Needless to say, Ars thinks you'll have to make fewer such compromises in the not too distant future, what with things like cheaper SSD drives and VIA's low-power, high-performance Isaiah processor on the horizon.[Via Slashdot]
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?
Everex's $200 gPC back in stock at Wal-Mart
You've watched, you've waited, you've sent lengthy, shameless requests to Santy Claus... and now your dreams have come true. The gPC, Everex's $200, Linux-based, Google-tinged-OS sportin' machine is once again available at your friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart. If you'll recall, the desktop PC (known in good company has the TC2502) was quickly snapped up by shoppers hoping to avoid the wallet-burning prices of typical Windows-equipped offerings. The system, sold without a monitor, includes a 1.5GHz VIA processor, 512MB of RAM, a DVD-ROM / CD-RW optical drive, and an 80GB hard drive. Not to outdo themselves with all these exciting, open source vibes, Everex also offers a Vista-endowed version of the system for $298. Both are available now wherever you get your Chinese-made popcorn.
Everex hatches plans for sub-$300 "gOS" Wal-Mart laptop
Everex -- riding high on the semi-propulsive steam that is currently buoying the company into the public eye (due to its Ubuntu-based, $198, "gOS" Wal-Mart desktop) -- is about to take things to the next sub-level. According to reports, the company plans to launch a line of ultra-cheap laptops next year, ranging in size from 12.1-inch to 17-inch, starting at under $300. Like its desktop brother, the portable computer will feature the company's custom operating system, which puts the emphasis on Google webapps with familiar icons, and a launch-bar with links to the ubiquitous portal's content. "The intent of gOS is to take [Linux] to the consumer and do what Steve Jobs did with Mac OS X-- to take an alternative OS and package it for the consumer," says David Liu, founder of gOS -- though it's clear they've got an uphill battle for the hearts of Wal-Mart buyers. There's only one question on our minds: will the laptop be as hideously ugly as the desktop?
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.]
Tranquil's T7-HSA shipping with Windows Home Server
It's been quite some time since we've heard any noise from Tranquil, but apparently, the firm's T7-HSA server is finally shipping. Notably, these wee machines not only utilize an energy-efficient, fanless design, but it arrives at your door with Windows Home Server under the hood. Granted, you won't be encoding any movie clips or recording 16 tracks of simultaneous audio with the modest 1.5GHz CPU, but it should handle basic media serving / home automation tasks just fine. Nevertheless, those interested can get their orders in now starting at £338 ($686), and you shouldn't have to wait long before having it in your hands.
Lenovo's ThinkCentre A61e is all kinds of green
Not too long after Dell tooted its own horn when releasing the energy-efficient OptiPlex 755, Lenovo is hopping on the green PC bandwagon with a power-sipping machine of its own. The ThinkCentre A61e is hailed as "the company's smallest, quietest and most energy-efficient desktop yet," and can be equipped with a 45-watt AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core or Sempron single-core CPU. Additionally, this system is Lenovo's first to tout the oh-so-coveted EPEAT Gold status, and it can even be powered by "an optional solar panel." The ThinkCentre A61e will start at just $399, but picking one up will require you to turn a blind eye to just how hideous this thing truly is.
Dell launches flexible, energy efficient OptiPlex 755 desktop
We already knew Dell (along with just about everyone else) was jumping on the green bandwagon, and the Round Rock powerhouse sure is tooting its own horn with the launch of the OptiPlex 755. Dubbed the "world's most manageable, energy efficient commercial desktop ever," the system touts Energy Star 4.0 compliance and an Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) "Gold" rating. Additionally, the 755 can be snapped up with Intel's newly-unveiled Core 2 Duo with vPro technology, a 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2400 graphics card, up to 8GB of RAM, and your choice of mini-tower, desktop, or small form factor enclosure. If you're interested, all three iterations are shipping now and start around $642.
Zonbu launches subscription-based PC, service plans
Alright folks, those of you scrambling to get your palms around the totally green, subscription based Zonbu PC can put away your patience card, as the firm has officially launched the machine and the corresponding service plans to the masses. 'Course, you already know how the court of public opinion feels about it, so it's finally time to pull the trigger (or not) on the variably priced, modestly-spec'd PC. Check it out -- you can snag your very own Linux-based mini PC for just $99 if you're cool with a very awkward two-year agreement.[Via Electronista]
