The $199.86 Solution

摘要

Can a sub-$200 PC possibly be any good? A new model, the Microtel SYSMAR710, recently was offered for $199.86 at Walmart.com, so I decided to find out. The bottom line is that it is a minimal but perfectly acceptable piece of hardware for light-duty home use. Of course, at that price, there are some important limitations. First, it uses a version of the Linux operating system called Lindows, from startup Lindows.com. I think nearly all buyers would be much happier ponying up an extra $100 for the nearly identical SYSMAR150, which comes with Windows XP Home Edition. And neither model includes a display. So at the very least, you'll need a 15-inch color CRT monitor, starting at around $120, or a flat-panel display at $300.