Meet Alex – the Linux laptop for n00bs
Not everyone is as confident with technology as some of us are. And that sizable section of society is being left behind in an increasingly digitally-divided world. But there are solutions being sought, and one of them is called Alex.
Alex is a new Linux-based laptop designed for people who wouldn’t even know where to begin using a computer. It comes with the basic programs and services needed to participate in this digital age without bombarding users with the countless options available to the more tech-savvy of the population.
Alex isn’t cheap, costing just under £400 ($615) for the hardware and just under £40 ($61) every month for Broadband access, software updates, and telephone support when it either gets a little too much or something goes wrong.
This isn’t the first Linux PC of this kind to be launched, with SimplicITy being unveiled last November. Although they’re slightly different from each other and are aimed at different markets, they could both achieve great things: closing the digital divide and increasing the popularity of Linux.
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February 19th, 2010
This is the stupidest idea since Web TV.
February 20th, 2010
How so, Aquaadverse? Its a good concept, trying to bring Linux to the mass market. I think that such ideas should be applauded – Ubuntu is part of the way there but has a long way to go. Will Alex be successful? Probably not. But its one of a few signs that Linux is probably going to develop some sort of user friendliness in certain distros which will allow it into the mainstream – and if it makes for cheaper PCs with near enough the same functionality, it really could take off.
The above is all hypothetical and hopeful though.
February 20th, 2010
This is what I would gift my parents. Finally, some solid suport and a very secure OS.
February 23rd, 2010
So there’s a Linux distro that’s courting those who would be AOL users. Good luck with that.