Everex gPC named one of the worst PC desktops of the year
The Everex gPC is a low cost computer that runs gOS, a customized version of Linux with the enlightenment theme, features mundane hardware and clocks in at $200 without a monitor. Some reviews have come in and there is little to distinguish the gPC from low cost Windows based PCs.
It has integrated graphics that default to a resolution of 1280 x 800 which presented some problems in the PCMag review. It can go higher but not by much courtesy of the underpowered UniChrome graphics chip, it has 512MB of memory and a smallish 80GB hard drive.
The review called the Via C7 1.5GHz processor slow because even out of the box, launching the web browser took longer than it should have.
Some have said the review wasn’t fair because it evaluated for what the desktop wasn’t rather than what it was. Well, the gPC is a web access only computer, don’t plan on using it for anything else. It was suggested it could be used to install another distro of Linux but it would just be better to use that older PC you have lying around somewhere.
It does manage to toss OpenOffice into the package but that was not enough to score the gPC high enough to be recommended to, well, anyone, not even basic users.
There is also the question of what the “g” in “gPC” stands for, “green” or “Google.” The problem is that Google does not endorse the product in any way and gOS is made by Good OS. Note, that gOS can be downloaded for free and burnt to CDs or a DVD and installed on any system provided the hardware is supported which you have to be careful of with any distro of Linux.
And the “green” terminology is not exactly accurate, while it does manage to use only between 20W and 50W during use, the materials used in its construction may not exactly be “green.”
The operating system also lacked some polish and several features seemed out of place or did not function as expected and some of the hardware included with the system is not compatible with the included operating system, though, drivers are apparently in the works.
It may be cheap, but that’s about its only redeeming quality with the review concluding, “Aside from being cheap and unaffected by Windows viruses, there’s not a lot to recommend in the Everex gPC.” PCMag assigned it a rating of 1.5 out of 5. I would agree with their recommendation that anyone considering this pick up a $450 desktop with Vista that offers a bit more expandability.
Just because something sells well does not mean it is a good product.
Related Posts:
December 27th, 2007
http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/26/everex-gpc-gets-reviewed-thrashed/
“Just an link to give some perspective. Go to the Walmart website and read the reviews from people that have actually bought and use the computer. Jonathan’s unable to make Linux act exactly like Windows, so Linux bashing and Vista (speaking of universally panned OS) recommendations abound.
This: http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/10/31/199-everex-desktop-at-walmart-preys-on-uninformed/
will give some idea of impartial judgment. It’s pretty sad you recommend a product on almost everyones worst tech of 2007. From one list at http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/9908/10-worst-tech-products-of-2007
Where to begin? Vista arrived in stores months late, forced untold thousands of users to upgrade their hardware, made mincemeat of software and drivers that worked perfectly well in XP, ended up lacking many of the bold-faced features we’d been promised, and came saddled with new and annoying set of video DRM schemes. At least Vista now boasts an option for downgrading back to XP.”
December 27th, 2007
Wired had a pretty good review.
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/11/hands-on-with-e.html
December 28th, 2007
Just because something sells well does not mean it is a good product.
And that goes double for everything Microsoft releases. Just because it’s big doesn’t mean it’s any good. Your whole article reeks of very biased generic non-windows bashing.
I agree though that the gPC could’ve been slightly more thought-through than it was. Putting a Mini-ITX in a midi-tower case just because some marketing research indicates that people think bigger computers are more powerful is just stupid. The OS could have used some more polishing, and the PSU in the computer is wasteful and inefficient at best.
But it’s a 200 dollar computer that’s virtually immune to anything that will make Vista tremble in it’s boots, comes with most everything basic and is a perfect fit for people looking for a low-cost computer. I think most people who are bashing the gPC are simply expecting too much in relation to the price-tag.
Also, if you don’t like the gOS then feel free to install anything else on it. I’ve read several people who installed Ubuntu instead, and it ran just fine for them.
January 8th, 2008
I think it is a question of perceptions – If you want a Windows PC, or a games PC, the gPC is not for you. If you want a no fuss no muss, virus immune basic PC to do Internet browsing, email, and office suite use, gPC is for you.
The user reviews like Wired’s review are much more positive than the Windows-centric PCWorld magazine review which is quoted everywhere.
If you look carefully among the user reviews, you will see that the dissatisfied users are those who bought it thinking it was a Windows PC or bought it to play games on.
PC World’s review pretty well makes the same premise – I guess you might expect that from a Windows centric publication. Wired, which is OS neutral on the other hand gave a good review.