PC World Doesn’t Get IT…

PC World in an obvious sop to higher end PC MFR’s does a hatchet job on two low end PC’s from Sears and Wal-Mart. Now I want to be fair, no I would not compare either of these units to a Dell XPS device 10x more expensive. But rather I would expect more from the Dell for the money I spent. –

The PC World article is here.

On Sears.com and Wal-Mart.com — two sites that sell cheap Linux-based PCs — potential buyers post questions like, “Which version of Windows does this have?” and “Can I run Windows applications on this?” While either the Mirus SITLC420 or the Everex gPC TC2502 might be an option for technically savvy people who want to dabble in Linux, these machines are very poor choices for the folks the two stores usually cater to.

That’s because, despite the rock-bottom prices, neither PC qualifies as a bargain. They use lowest-of-the-low-end components–you’re essentially paying fair prices for inferior products.

But more important, while the gPC has a slightly easier-to-use version of Linux than the Mirus does, I found both Linuxes to be extremely cumbersome (and I’ve experimented with Linux distributions before). If you aren’t a die-hard Linux fan, these PCs aren’t for you.

That admission is a two edged sword. As a test case he is the perfect candidate to trial the devices. But as an evaluator of the systems or OS he is also unqualified to do so. Lets put it this way — he WOULD NOT be on the purchasing team of any major corporation.

He then trundles off to this —

Because these PCs run Linux, not Windows, we couldn’t run our WorldBench 6 Beta 2 test suite on them. The Mirus system appeared reasonably quick running apps like the ThinkFree office suite, but the gPC seemed a bit lethargic.

Well duh! WorldBench is a Windoz only bench tool fool. The gPC lethargic? Ok, but how about describing the test set up? You on broadband? Did you do any tests as to why? I mean come on put some meat on the table.

I connected each PC to a 19-inch wide-screen monitor; the gPC recognized it immediately, and automatically configured it to the proper, 1440-by-900 resolution. The FreeSpire OS on the Mirus system, however, set the monitor at 1024-by-768 resolution; by unchecking ’show recommended settings only’ and acknowledging an ominous warning message about display damage, I was able to choose 1440-by-1050 resolution–but this caused a distorted image. I reverted to the former, albeit nonnative, resolution for my tests.

If anything, screen management is still one of Linux’s weak spots. Even for majors like Red Hat and Suse. But it has come a long way from the days of vidTune, and futzing with command line frequency tables. But the fact is Ubuntu does provide a set of tools to manage resolutions of the screens without much fuss and muss.

Then finally –

Neither system came with any printed manuals or documentation other than basic setup posters. Both have one-year warranties, and Everex offers toll-free, 24/7 tech support; Mirus offers only the most basic of online forms for tech support–you can’t call the company.

True, a huge Linux community online is waiting to help even beginners, but if all you know is Windows-like clicking and dragging, all the assistance in the world won’t make slogging through command-line entries seem easy. If your budget’s tight, I’d recommend waiting for a deal on a PC that costs a bit more–and that runs Windows.

I don’t know if the author was lazy of what but according to the Mirus spec sheet a manual is included. But the author is showing ignorance at one level. He thinks of support like it is the old system model out of the Windows world. Very old. I am going to suggest an entirely different model that linux has its ace up its sleeve.

Take yourself and your son &/|| daughter to a local linux user group. Take that $200 PC with you!. Most every reasonably large metro area in the US has a local Linux User group if not several. Most of them have the meetings broken up into pieces. One of which is a ‘Linux Install’ session. They would be more than willing to take a look at the box. Fact if you are the first to walk thru the door with a Mirus or Everex ever seen you and that box might just end up being that night’s topic of discovery. Suffice it to say, this is the neighbor-helping-neighbor routine for linux. Don’t understand something? In pure geek fashion they will show you how. Many clubs have training sessions for beginners hosted by volunteers.When was the last time you got that kind of support from a Dell or HP? The general meeting at one of these clubs usually has a speaker discussing a topic or a vendor pitching a new product. Its fun and you learn a lot when you go. Go regularly and you just might meet a Stallman or Wozinak. Many of the Geek Illuminati go to such meets when they are in town. They do so to pitch new ideas and capture reactions so as to gauge the value of the idea. Its peer review for IT.

So Here’s my rebuttal:

1) No, neither model should be a first machine. Nor should you expect these units to be sufficient for gaming. But for doing online banking, wordprocessing/spreadsheet/presentation they are more than powerful enough. They would also be a great first machine for your younger children.

2) For the $$ expended they suffice. Especially if you wanted to use one in the kitchen another in the den and one upstairs in the master bedroom for late night browsing. Its the BICTIA model. If you assemble the individual cost components they are value.

3) One should not look at keyboard and mice as a total system price. I have been doing IT for 30+ years. I DON’T use the keyboard that came with the unit. Even on the $500 PC’s the keyboards are crap. For the safety fo your hands buy a good ergonomic keyboard. I personally use an old Cherry keyboard built for IBM back in the day. I like the keytronic feel as I KNOW the keypress has been entered. [I am probably luddite, but I scour second hand computer shops looking for these old keyboards.] Spend plenty on the keyboard — its cheaper than carpal tunnel syndrome.

4) Learn the applications and don’t be fixated with the OS. Even better advice — learn an online application suite then you are never dependent on an OS and can swap between machines at will. To quote Bat Masterston — “Have Browser, Will Travel.”

5) A Linux User Group is your best friend and can provide far better support than ‘Bob’ from Bangalore.

PC World better read the tea leaves. The days of high priced boxes for the general mass use is waning. High priced hardware will migrate to niche markets. Tech repair and Tech support will become passe. Office apps are to become office services, the shrink wrap model is dead.

PC World, have a great day.