Linspire PC Surpasses the gPC with Better Hardware and Software
After all the buzz the gPC received for being a $200 Linux-based computer available at Wal-Mart, I am both surprised and disappointed to see how little attention a new inexpensive Linux desktop that brings the price even lower while providing better hardware and software is getting. The new PC is a collaboration between Linspire and Mirus Innovations.
When I first saw the press release for this new PC, I assumed that this was just a rip-off of the gPC. While this PC may have been inspired by the gPC (and I suspect it was,) it combines a (slightly) less expensive price point, better hardware, a real Linux distribution, and legal proprietary codecs.
So starting with the hardware, lets see what is new here. There are two major differences compared to the gPC. First, the Linspire PC (as I am going to call it) comes with a full gigabyte of RAM, compared to the gPC’s 512 MB. Second, it also includes an Intel Celeron processor whereas the gPC includes a VIA processor. Together, these upgrades make the Linspire PC a solid PC for everyday usage. While you could argue that the gPC was too, it was borderline.
On the software side, the Linspire PC comes with Freespire 2.0, a well-known and respected (at least until Linspire made their patent deal with Microsoft) Linux distribution. While you might say that the gOS was also a real distribution, it does not have the testing and backing of Freespire. To further increase the appeal of the software, it comes with legally licensed propriatary codecs to play most media files out-of-the-box.
As you can see, there are multiple reasons why this PC is a better PC than the gPC. While none of the changes mentioned above would be news-worthy on their own, the combination of all of them creates what should be an excellent computer. The problem is, it just does not have the buzz of the gPC. Hopefully, that will change.
For more information on this new PC, see the press release.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Well, I agree that Freespire may have been around for awhile…but gOS is based off of Ubuntu which is what Linspire uses now days…I don’t think saying one distro as better than the other is really fair. They both hold their own in their own way. Now, as far as the ram and processor…it’s called a gPC…”g” for green. The VIA processor uses a lot less power than the Celeron and the VIA processor had it’s rough time back in the day, but today…it’s actually a great processor and is known to come from a sleep to awake faster than other processors. I think your correct that your getting more bang for your buck from the Linspire PC, but…isn’t that what competition is for? Everex came out with it first and now someone else followed. What do you expect a competitor to come out with…that same exact thing or less? No, they got there edge with the ram. Just things that need to be considered before judging a product so harshly that has made a very large successful push to getting Linux desktops in the homes of new users. I enjoy your blog, I just thought this was unfair.
Thanks,
Ed Ellingham - LinRev
http://www.linux-revolution.com
January 18th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Sorry if I sounded like I was saying the gPC was bad. I certainly did not intent to say that. I thin the gPC is great and I was just as excited as everyone else when it was announced. I just felt it was not fair that this new PC was not getting any attention when it appeared (to me at least) to solve many of the complains people have had with the gPC.
You make a good point about the greeness or lack of greeness. I don’t really have anything to say about it other than that it is a good point.
January 19th, 2008 at 7:15 am
[...] When I first saw the press release for this new PC, I assumed that this was just a rip-off of the gPC. While this PC may have been inspired by the gPC (and I suspect it was,) it combines a (slightly) less expensive price point, better hardware, a real Linux distribution, and legal proprietary codecs. Read more at Linux Loop [...]
January 20th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Well sir, just as your doing…that’s how we’re going to get attention on this new Linux computer. I suppose it’s our responsibility to draw attention to these things. Maybe those of us that have sites dedicated to Linux should start a pre-loaded section for computers locked and loaded with Linux. There’s one thing that Linux has always had that no other OS has…community. Granted everyone has people that discuss it, but our community dedicates blogs, sites, IRC servers, channels, donations…the linux community is different and maybe we need to really show these, even large companies, how we do things…we support those who support us.
Thank you…and I’ll stop ranting on your blog LOL
Ed Ellingham - LinRev
http://www.linux-revolution.com
January 20th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
“Thank you…and I’ll stop ranting on your blog LOL”
Go ahead. Keep ranting. That is part of community too.