[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

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

Bill Hoggett <bill_hoggett@lineone.net> wrote in message
ra7sktkiuhanst9qrmth22ld7tg0dk2ldi@4ax.com">news:ra7sktkiuhanst9qrmth22ld7tg0dk2ldi@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 12 Jul 2001 22:09:21 +0200, "T.J.T van Kooten"
> <thomas@-nospam-worldonline.nl> wrote:
>
> >For the sake of argument let's suppose you could design a next generation
> >$300 homecomputer. The goal is to make a userfriendly machine for general
> >use and for hobbyists. How would such a system look?
>
> You need to make your mind up.  Either it's a toy - and at $300 retail
> that's all you can aim for - or it's a computer for "general use and
> for hobbyists".

Educational computer toy/tool then, that's a better sales argument than most
consoles offer these days.

>
> >Amount of memory? (RAM and ROM)
>
> Depends on the OS.  No ROMs, they stink.

But where does it load it's programs from then? No problem with a HD or we
could download everything thru the network interface...?

"Do I hear the word 'terminal' ?"

>
> >Graphic and Sound?
>
> There are plenty of cheap chipsets.
>
> >Network capabilities? (internet capable)
>
> Built-in 10/100 BaseT. Essential.
>
> >Plug in capabilities (remember you're making it as cheap as possible so
> >modems, CD-Roms, HD's are all extras)
>
> Don't be daft.  There's no point making CDROMs and HD's "extras".
> What, you think people are willing to go back to swapping floppies?
>
If it has a network interface you could use an external server for storage.
No need for floppy's, CD/DVD's then. You could register for this service at
the time of purchase. Maybe they could also include some open source
solution for people who want to run their own server at home.

> >Video (TV? or Monitor?)
>
> Again, are you after a computer or a toy?
>
> >Remember that the RETAIL price should be $300, so think in wholesale
prices.
> >The real costs should below $200 or even below the $150 level. You may
> >presume that a million units would be manufactured so take volume
discounts
> >for components into account
> >
> >Let's see what sort of systems people come up with.
>
> What's the point?  This is market research for the '80s.  Nowadays
> people aren't satisfied with a cheap jack of all trades that doesn't
> do anything very well.  They want a cheap games machine, they buy a
> console.  They want a cheap general purpose computer, they get one.
> They want something cheap that does everything well, they get into a
> time capsule and go back to 1985.
>
That's simply projecting the current situation into the future (and the past
for that matter).

As for a cheap games machine. Remember it ain't the cheap hardware that
evaporates your bankaccount, it's the software.  If we're good honest
corporate citizens ;-)

> Anyone aiming to produce computers that retail at $300 is going to be
> peddling a pile of camel dung.
>
As seen from the current standpoint, I'm asking people to step from the
straight and narrow to see if another perspective is possible.

Cheers,

Thomas van Kooten