The UK's biggest PC bargains could completely change your perception of the cost of hardware. But does the drive towards ever-cheaper computing come at a cost?
You've no doubt seen the newspaper adverts promising unbelievably cheap PCs from reputable manufacturers, but never given them a second glance. Anyone who knows the PC market is suspicious of new PCs for under £300, with the cynicism centred on whether such systems will be able to perform today's demanding tasks without a hiccup.
But is this price category worth considering for second PCs, or perhaps bargain systems for family members?
That's what we set out to investigate, picking out the best deals from high-street retailers, then seeking to shave off another £100 in search of the UK's best PC bargains. We wanted to know just how far you could push PC manufacturers on price and wondered what we could persuade them to put together at a price never before seen in a PC magazine.
The systems in the July 07 issue, on sale now are not eBay cast-offs. They're legitimate deals that make you wonder how cheap PCs can get before suppliers start giving them away with cornflakes.
Well, prepare to be surprised. While the £143 (ex VAT) system that's the cheapest in this month's round-up is incredibly eye-catching, one organisation is already in the midst of blowing away every preconception you have about the value of computer hardware.
The OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) initiative plans to deliver laptops to millions of children in emerging economies for $100 a pop, in a move that appears to make a mockery of prices we regard as rock bottom.
When OLPC's computers are released later this year, the children who receive them will be able to email, chat, browse the web and even play music. None of this sounds a million miles away from the tasks most UK computer users perform on a daily basis. Indeed, techies in Western economies would love to get hold of the device and they've been earmarked as possible tools for schoolchildren in the US.
Buyers beware
But here's the reality check. I'd wager that you couldn't spend five minutes on an OLPC laptop without being intensely frustrated at its limitations, no matter how innovative it is.
And, on a smaller scale, the same could probably be said for many of the systems we look at in our bargain PCs feature. To get a productive, future-proofed PC, there really are no shortcuts. With prices already low – take a look at the sub-£500 laptops in the same July 07 issue – most people are prepared to pay a little bit more for a computer that will allow them to get a better PC experience.
Just think about the things you're not going to be able to do with a sub-£200 PC. No fancy, future-proofed Windows Vista Home Premium operating system; not enough memory to watch a video on the web while simultaneously scanning your PC for viruses, and not enough power to play even moderately demanding games.
Our rock-bottom PCs may be perfect for the basics and, rather than One Laptop Per Child, we're increasingly a nation of three PCs per household. So these systems could fulfil a role as a second or third computer for the home. At these prices, many people will have little hesitation in getting out their credit cards. But if you regard yourself as a PC enthusiast, many of these offers may prove too good to be true.
Comments
Mr Johnson said: I use Xandros as my OS and its very fast on my machine. P4 640 3.2ghz 1280mb ram 320gb hd and geforce 7600gt. and it does support games that run on most linux systems. The os for the home version is only $39.99 around £20.00 on a download and is on 2 cd's. for what it does its a very good OS. there are different versions just like Vista but the home one does all i need. And if you want the lastest games get a games console and to save money buy secondhand games.I have my xbox on my PC's 19" widescreen TFT TV by swisstec J19/1 only cost £149.99 from a major uk Company, and has the most inputs i have ever seen on a Screen, and runs at 1440*900.and is hd ready too via dvi.
Mercury Merlin said: What might be these "things I'm not going to be able to do with a sub-£200 PC" that you mention?>>No fancy, future-proofed Windows Vista Home Premium operating system; not enough memory to watch a video on the web while simultaneously scanning your PC for viruses, and not enough power to play even moderately demanding games.<<Don't need Vista anything, thank you very much, Kubuntu or Xubuntu do me just fine, and I seem to be able to play a video from the web just fine, without needing a virus scanner to run at all, ever.Games, well you might have a point there for those people who like relatively recent Windows games - I have a couple I occasionally boot into W2K to play, but if you're like me not that much of a gamer that's not an issue either - and if you do like games a lot of people just go to consoles for that anyway, and keep the Linux PC for real work...Just my two-pennorth worth ;-)
jon benge said: Actually, cheap computers are more then adequate for daily tasks, as long as you install the right software. Why bother with the bloat of Vista when you can run the latest Linux on a Pentium 2 class machine?
Wayan @ OLPC News said: I hope you don't spend more than 5 minutes on an OLPC - the whole design, even down to the size is for its specific users - students and children. Hopefully not using Windows anything.
Charbax said: Check out my videos at www.olpc.tv/category/children/ of Children in test countries that have already received their 100$ laptop.The fact is you have to think these might have too low specs for running normal Windows XP or Vista with all of their bloat, but their specs is perfect to run optimized Linux OS and apps. All apps load very fast and the OS boots quickly. Also this computer has better Wi-Fi, better screen, better power managment than any of the 10 times more expensive laptops you can find on the market today.
Bede@englishthai.co.uk said: Read your article with interest, but as a Brit I don't understand why we are still paying so much for our hardware in the UK. I live in Thailand and bought a machine this week that would blow your mind.ADM+3000 64 bit processor, 1GB RAM, 128MB Graphics card, 80 GB HDD, DVD ROM, Wireless and Wired Network cards, wireless keyboard and mouse and, yes, a 19" LCD widescreen monitor for Sterling 254... less than 300 quid including VAT. My son James Key is delighted "Dad, my games are so quick and the graphics are great".