Powerspec launches sub-$300 Linux PC

Chicago (IL) - Powerspec joins the sub-$300 PC club with a basic computer running Linspire 4.5.

Users in the market for an entry-level PC for simple tasks have a new choice with two models which compete with similar offerings from resellers such as Walmart and Tiger Direct. Obviously, the price is the attention getter for the two machines announced.

For $270 ($30 mail in rebate), the model 1420 comes with a Celeron 2.53 GHz processor, 128 MByte DDR memory, a 40 GByte harddrive, a CD-ROM drive, and a network card. The computer comes with a 32 MByte Savage graphic card, but does not include a floppy drive and therefore no opportunity for the buyer to move data off the machine other then through a network connection.

Spend $400, and you get a slightly upgraded PC (1430) with a Pentium 4 2.5 GHz processor, 256 MByte RAM, a CD burner and a floppy drive. Both models do not include a monitor and can be purchased via Powerspec’s website.

Linspire-based PCs have become a familiar sight in online stores around the web. A quick look to Powerspec ’s competitors reveals that it doesn’t offer the cheapest PCs, but an interesting product for shoppers in this market. Walmart still promotes its 1.6 GHz Duron computer with similar equipment for $278. TigerDirect carries Linspire PCs (1.6 GHz Duron) from $200 - without harddrive. With harddrive, the computers are available from $240.