Re: If you could design a $300 homecomputer today, what would you choose?

[graham@aledrinker.co.uk (Graham)]

> I, not a company or else, can by a 700mhz AMD processor for 24$.
> That doesn't seem 'far too expensive' to me. Those processor rocks!

I would also say that this was a great processor for a device.

> > As OS? (Linux is a dead giveaway, but there also other OS's out there) 
> Linux, why not. .. oh yea. You mentioned userfriendly. so thats a nono.

Linux is a kernel. The "Gnome OS" and the "KDE OS" are not
userfriendly enough! Get the Linux Kernel (or FreeBSD kernel, etc),
get QT embedded or GTK/Framebuffer, and create a custom, Palm UI like,
interface that is simple to use.

> > Amount of memory? (RAM and ROM) 
> 256meg RAM. 8K EPROM

128Meg will be enough - $9 in bulk apparently. EPROM?

> > Graphic and Sound? 
> Geforce2

Waaaay too expensive for a $300 device, unless you were going to sell
it for a $200 loss (XBox).

> > Network capabilities? (internet capable) 
> 100BT

Part of most integrated chipsets anyway.

> > Plug in capabilities (remember you're making it as cheap as possible so
> > modems, CD-Roms, HD's are all extras) 
> CDRW

Not for a $300 device. Depending on the market for the device, either
a DVD drive or a CD-ROM.

> Take a look at the XBox.

$500 of hardware sold at a $200 loss. With out-of-date processors
donated for free by Intel. The chipset alone would cost $120+ (if a
GeForce 2 MX enabled chipset sells for $90 [nForce], then a GeForce3.5
enabled chipset will cost at least $30 more - more like $50 more).
Motherboard is CPU, Northbridge, Southbridge, 4 USB ports, Ethernet,
Modem, and IDE channel - very cut down to reduce costs.

Graham