Some people will go out of their way to avoid using Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows operating system. If you look around carefully enough, you can escape the "Microsoft tax" and get a PC for a lower price. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) already sells PCs that don't use Windows, and it's about to add a laptop PC to the mix.
The world's largest retailer will begin selling an ultra-light, two-pound laptop PC in a few weeks. Made by Everex, it comes with gobs of Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) applications and links to online services pre-installed. These services include Google Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google News, Google Maps and YouTube. There are so many links to Google's online content that the laptop is already being referred to as containing the "Google operating system."
Is this the first shot by Google in a war with Microsoft's Windows operating system? Possibly, but not on Google's part. Everex is using cheaper components like a processor from Taiwan's VIA and a free operating system known as Ubuntu Linux for the new product, which will be priced at $399. Too bad -- that's probably not low enough, considering how relatively weak the new laptop is. Spend about $50 to $100 more, and you can get a fully-featured Windows laptop with much more powerful performance.
But then again, that's not the market this new laptop PC is gunning for. Looking at the Everex product, the target market for this VIA-powered ultra-portable seems to be beginners, enthusiasts and road warriors more concerned with weight, size and price rather than overall performance.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
1-16-2008 @ 2:09PM
jj97blazer said...
Whats the specs on it? Ubuntu is not a bad OS, especially for a free OS. Im running it on my laptop cause im too cheap to go buy windows. But I haven'thad any problems with it at all. The "Google" laptop is a bit pricey see that they put a OS on it that is free. if they would drop a price $100 or $150 theywouldnt be able to keep them on the shelves. Just my 2 cents.
Jamey
1-16-2008 @ 2:14PM
calee4nyaboy said...
I agree with the author, that price is still too high for what you're getting.
1-16-2008 @ 2:25PM
Tiggers said...
I work for a company that used everex computers, for a time, I should say a very short period of time. They were the worst pieces of crap I have ever seen. Finally gave up and trashed them all and went to Dell. Or maybe it was the motherboards catching on fire that got our attention.
1-16-2008 @ 7:11PM
capguyone said...
I'm always, and I mean, always suspicious of posts that have the words, "worst piece of crap" in them. Somehow, those words just don't seem to fit the evaluation process.
1-16-2008 @ 2:38PM
Pamela said...
We have an everex now and it is the biggest p.o.s. that my husband only having it two weeks threw it off the desk. That was because after two weeks it had already crashed!! When I talked to everex they were less than helpful that I actually asked to speak to a janitor because he had to be nicer to me than the one guy was! He informed me that there was no other person to speak to, and I asked if he was the owner of everex himself and he told me 'no' so I told him to let me speak to who ever signs your paychecks. After that I did get some help, but the computer is still a p.o.s. that I do not recommend to even my worst enemy of buying and everex should be shut down for having such a crappy product.
1-16-2008 @ 2:39PM
mike said...
dont they cost the same on black friday(day after thanksgiving sales)??
1-16-2008 @ 3:08PM
MARIETTA said...
WARNING WARNING
DO NOT BUY THIS POS
IT IS GARBAGE !
1-16-2008 @ 3:12PM
Dianne said...
If it sounds too good to be true, you know it is.
You get what you deserve when you try to take the cheap way out.
1-16-2008 @ 3:16PM
Jay said...
My company also used these computers for a short period of time.They are cheap pieces of crap just like the store that is going to carry them. I guess you can say it's a perfect match.
1-16-2008 @ 3:17PM
Tony said...
If you buy ANYTHING made by Everex YOU WILL REGRET IT..Their products are pure garbage..They should make them so they fit down the toilet..Cause that's where they belong
1-16-2008 @ 3:26PM
blondebabe1@aol.com said...
if it sounds too good to be true it is
i paid a thousand for a top HP and I love it
i wouldd never gofor $399 pos
My only wish now is a pink Sony loaded
and and Life would be perfect.
lol for 399 u get nadaaaaa
1-16-2008 @ 7:44PM
Steve said...
I couldn't agree more with the premise that "you get what you pay for". If you're a WalMart shopper and want the cheapest price on a product, I GUARANTEE that you're going to get the cheapest product possible. WalMart isn't making BILLIONS of dollars of profit each year selling high quality merchandise for a "low price" It really doesn't take a rocket science degree to figure this out....
Unfortunately, this is the way of the American consumer. No one realizes the true "cost" of a low price, but I do. I'm in retail and to satisfy the market, something has GOT TO GIVE...... All WalMart does is "squeeze the vendor down" on the price of the products that are offered to them to sell. If something should sell for $100.00, they try to buy it at $10.00/apiece to get the highest markup they can. Then, in order to satisfy the WalMart juggernaut, the manufacturer has to find a way to cheapen the product down (which, of course results in a crappier product) so the consumer ends up with a $100.00 item (which SHOULD have cost $250) that isn't worth the plastic it's made from...... simple analogy when you think about it.
We all have NO IDEA what happens to the food products we eat that have been cheapened by the WalMarts of the world. If you think someone is "protecting you" from the cost lowering of the WalMarts by inspecting your food to make it safe for you to eat, think again. The WalMart type corporations of the world have politicians in their back pockets, ready to destroy any litigation that could be brought against them for poisoning you with tainted food products.
Now, due to the success of WalMart (or FORCED TO, due to their pricing practices), other retailers are following suit and cheapening their products the same way. Most retailers welcome this ideology as it keeps their profits up while lowering quality. Besides, what do they really care about quality in the end, anyway? It's all about PROFITS....
Congratulations people! You have brought it on yourselves.
To make matters worse, all the billions of dollars being funneled into the Chinese government every month by Corporations has not only decimated every decent paying manufacturing job in this country, but has had a DRAMATIC effect on the Chinese military as well. They are about to rival our strength militarily, in a way that we couldn't possibly respond to.
All in pursuit of the "low price".
1-17-2008 @ 10:17AM
Net-tech said...
Um, Sorry to bust your bubble, blondie, but 399 is the current price for the ASUS EEE PC. For 399 you get a pretty good (sub) laptop with Xandros (a Linux derivative) as the OS. (They even have them for as little as 299. Specs for the 399 model (4G) are 7" display, 4G SSD, 512 DDR2 Mem, and about 3 hr battery time, with all Open Application productivity software (e.g. Open Office) pre-installed, and no bloatware installed. All in all it's a great deal. For the average user (surfing, minor productivity,etc), it's a great laptop, as the interface looks similar to Win or Apple, so as to lessen the learning time before it's usable, and as it's not Windows or Apple, it's safer for the newer users as it's not a virus or malware target. For the enthusiast, it's a great machine and is easily (relatively) configurable - and (if you insist), you can even load XP on it. It's a great machine for everyone except those that can only use Windows, Internet Explorer and AOL. (LOL) Advancements coming 2008 include: Core 2 Duc chip, 9" display, increased Mem and battery sizes
2-16-2008 @ 4:43PM
D said...
Soo right Blondebabe!
1-16-2008 @ 3:30PM
Mags said...
Lets wait and see before we praise or trash everex computers. They've been around since 1983 and doing very well. I don't think that a scrupulous retailer (tightwad) like Walmart would risk selling a so-called POS without first researching prior performance. We'll see.
1-16-2008 @ 4:36PM
lisa said...
Yes, Wal-Trash is a bunch of tight-wads. That is why they buy cheap garbage from China with no regards to their American consumers. Everything they sell is a p.o.s. Watch out for the lead oozing from the screen of this laptop.:)))
1-16-2008 @ 7:52PM
Tony said...
you work for Wal-Mart??
1-16-2008 @ 3:44PM
Ed Budman said...
I don't know anything about Everex, however, I am hoping that I can reprogram the Ubuntu to suit my needs. If Wal Mart gets a message that they are not competitive, you can bet they'll work with the Mfr. to lower the price. WalMart is going to make their margin, no matter what.
That's MY 2 cents worth.
1-16-2008 @ 3:46PM
Mike Shields said...
I worked at an Everex is Fremont, CA. They were poorly supervised, production was below average, and their filing cabinets were in such disaarray. "T" for "The" anyone? I think this Everex concoction will go by the way of the Edsel. BTW Wal-Mart, Everex went bankrupt, and returned to Mainland China to create their inferior garbage. Get ready for a rapid return to your store after consumers realize what junk the lapop will be.
1-16-2008 @ 3:55PM
Ray said...
bill gates is a criminal