From pberry2@bellsouth.net Sun Mar 22 12:55:38 1998
From: pberry2@bellsouth.net
To: users@lists.opensuse.org
Subject: Re: [S.u.S.E. Linux] What we are dealing with.
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 13:55:38 +0100
Message-ID: <6f31oa$363$1@Galois.suse.de>
In-Reply-To: <[S.u.S.E. Linux] What we are dealing with.>
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Thank you for your really great suggestions. I am watching the prices of
PC's at retail plumet, in all the big chains around me, and they are
including Win95 in a
200 mhz box for $1100! I am watching the local volume discounters in my
area sell the similar machine (assembled on premises) for $799.00 without
operating system. I know that I can squeeze a little out of the cost of
some components as prices drop, and when volume rises. Right now, I want a
stable machine, at an entry level price, for individuals and the small
business.
Robert Drzyzgula wrote:
> Not to bash anyone, but I don't feel like the original question has
> been answered, even though it was, to me, a pretty interesting one.
>
> I've thought about it a little and have some ideas, but there were
> quite a few considerations left unspoken:
>
> * What is the target market? Are these business systems or home
> systems?
> * Servers or workstations?
> * What kinds of communications facilities would be required...
> Modem? Ethernet? ISDN?
> * How good a monitor (at $800, you can blow your whole budget on a
> monitor, no sweat...) On a server, clearly you need only be able to
> configure the system, so an el cheapo monchrome unit would do...
> For a home/websurfing unit would TV output be sufficient?
> * Is this for gaming? WebSurfing? Is 3D Support required? High
> resolution/performance?
> * What would be more important... stability or performance?
> * Will tape backup be a neccesity for your target market?
> * Are you an integrator or just a reseller? Can you cobble these
> things together yourselves or do you need COTS finished units
> in a box?
> * What Memory/disk space requirements do you envision?
> * How do you rank all these things in priority? What would you give up
> first to cut the price?
>
> Now If I were going to try to put together a solid Linux Box to stamp
> out and sell at a eye-catching price, I'd probably do something like
> this:
>
> $ 85 DFI P5XV3 (ATX VP-3 MB, 512KB, not O/C-able but rock stable)
> $100 Intel or AMD processor, whatever you can get at this price
> $ 45 EIDE CD-ROM, Whatever you can get in overstock, 12X or higher
> $ 40 Rockwell (non win-modem) 33.6 Modem (Acer?)
> $ 50 One 32MB SDRAM DIMM, 10ns
> $ 40 Jaton 67TV 2MB video card (explicit SuSE X support, TV output)
> $140 Fujitsu MPA3032ATA 3.2GB Drive (great warranty)
> $ 15 3.5" Floppy
> $ 25 Generic Sound Card (which sound chips work well in Linux?)
> $ 10 Basic Speakers
> $ 25 IBM Win95 Keyboard
> $ 13 Logitech OEM Mouse (PS/2)
> $ 12 High-quality Ball-bearing HS & Fan, with tach for DFI board
> $ 40 Basic ATX Chassis & Power Supply
> $140 Basic 14" 1024x768 .28 Monitor
> $ 50 SuSE Distribution & Manual
>
> This gets it down to about $825, and I think that the result should be
> pretty functional. One might be able to push it under $800 with volume
> purchases of some of the parts. The IBM keyboard and Logitech mouse are
> possible targets for cutting back, but these parts do have a substantial
> impact on a customer's perception of quality. This system also has a
> great deal of headroom for upgrades should the user outgrow the basic
> configuration.
>
> Also in the perception category, one thing that I personally would do
> to make the system *seem* more substantial would be to spend a little
> extra on the chassis. It would add about $200 to the price (for a total
> price tag more like $1000) but I particularly like the products from
> California PC Products (http://www.calpc.com>). They are reasonably
> expensive as chassis go (don't try to buy one or two... the prices
> only get tolerable in moderate quantities), but are made completely
> of heavy-weight steel and use top-grade power supplies. The mid-tower
> chassis outfitted with casters & fenders is wonderfully roomy to work in
> and easy to move around. If you are selling to business these would make
> an impressive product that would capture attention and scream "quality".
>
> I know that this isn't what most hardware geeks (myself included) would
> put together for themselves, but we are talking (I thought) about
> putting out a stable product in moderate volumes that will give people
> a perception of quality and reliability, in part to build a mainstream
> image for Linux. I'd be interested to know how other people would
> modify this design to make it more suitable for mainstream buyers
> who are looking for a solution platform rather than a hot-rod.
>
> --Bob Drzyzgula
> bob(a)mostly.com
>
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