Computer help: Everex Green gPC
Everex Green gPC
by BrianZachary - 11/10/07 9:45 AMI was thinking about buying one of these new gPC's and I wanted to get opinions on whether it would be worth the money. The cost is only $198, but doesn't include a monitor. Not a big deal since I have monitors.
The downside is they are only available at certain Walmart stores and I'd have to drive a few miles to the closest store that would have one and with the price of gas today I don't know if even the drive would be worth it.
Here is a link which gives details:
http://www.webware.com/8301-1_109-9807133-2.html
If anyone has any opinions, let me know. Thanks.
It depends
by Jimmy Greystone - 11/10/07 10:48 AM In reply to: Everex Green gPC by BrianZacharyIt depends really. If you read the review, you see that it's running a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, so you wouldn't be able to run any Windows apps. It's also not going to be much of a performer, even with Linux installed instead of Windows. There are unlikely to be Windows drivers for the hardware, so trying to put Windows on it might not be so easy. It's primarily meant to be a web terminal, where you just use web based apps.
If none of this bothers you terribly, then my only gripe left would be that it's sold at Wal-Mart. A company that is like a swam of locusts on any community it enters into. Also probably the biggest single contributor to the economic downturn facing the United States of late.
My own personal opinion would be that this would make an excellent system for a guest bedroom or a secondary system. I have some serious doubts about it being someone's main computer. It could even probably be used for some secondary purposes, like a media hub using either the Linux version of Xbox Media Center or MythTV, assuming you can fit add-on cards in it. If you do get one, I'd be interested in hearing about some of the hardware details, such as whether or not there's an AGP or PCI-E slot, extra RAM slots, etc.
Thanks, Jimmy.
by BrianZachary - 11/10/07 11:33 PM In reply to: It depends by Jimmy GreystoneThanks for your thoughts.
If I do get one, it won't be for a few weeks until my financial situation allows for small luxuries. If I do get one, I will let you know what you want to know.
Umm... Jimmy is wrong
by AndrewTheArt - 11/21/07 1:27 PM In reply to: Thanks, Jimmy. by BrianZacharyJimmy is obviously unaware of Wine, which is a free and open source implementation of the Windows API. What does this mean? You have a layer of compatibility with major Windows applications without even having Windows installed, for free! That's truly awesome.
Wine can run many, many windows programs - if you wanted a list or wanted to search for a particular app, go here -
http://appdb.winehq.org/
Some examples - World of Warcraft, Winrar, Dreamweaver, etc. The list goes on and on.
So Jimmmy, hate to say you're just a bit off :P
Wine
by BrianZachary - 11/21/07 1:51 PM In reply to: Umm... Jimmy is wrong by AndrewTheArtIf Wine allowed to play any and ALL Windows apps, it would be something to consider, but I have some that may not be usable with Wine.
Also there is the option of dual booting Windows on it.
Well, look them up
by AndrewTheArt - 11/21/07 7:15 PM In reply to: Wine by BrianZacharyYou should look up these apps you consider questionable in the AppDB, using the link I posted.
And dual-booting can be a pain - not setting it up, but actually rebooting every time you want to use a particular app.
Virtualization is, however, a viable option.
I'm aware of it
by Jimmy Greystone - 11/21/07 2:21 PM In reply to: Umm... Jimmy is wrong by AndrewTheArtI'm aware of it, Wine, but it's still a bit of a pain and support can be spotty. It's come a long long ways in the last few years. I remember way back to when the project was still very young, back around the Windows98 days. It's far better now, but the Windows API is a moving target, and reverse engineering using clean room methods, like they're forced to do, is very time consuming.
So while I do fully support the Wine project, hope some day they achieve perfect compatibility, or something in the 99% range even, I tend to think it's really just better to use native apps for whatever OS you're running, and not rely on something like Wine.
Agreed but
by AndrewTheArt - 11/21/07 7:21 PM In reply to: I'm aware of it by Jimmy GreystoneI agree completely - native applications are definitely optimal, but for certain functions, Wine can be a lifesaver. There are several small holes in the Linux software repository that have simply not been filled by native apps, and that is where Wine shines.
It is playing catchup with the actual Windows API, which is unfortunate but I have faith that it will continue to succeed and meet Linux user's needs.
Also, when you said..,.
"you wouldn't be able to run any Windows apps"
I got the impression that you weren't aware of Wine - because logically if you were aware of it it you would have also know that you can run a great deal of Windows apps. Sorry if I got the wrong impression.
Has anyone installed wine on gPC?
by joeharrington - 12/31/07 3:18 PM In reply to: Agreed but by AndrewTheArtI have attempted to install wine on the gPC that my grandkids got for Christmas. Installation proceeded without a hitch, but winecfg freezes the machine. Requires a hard reset. I uninstalled until I can get a handle on what is wrong.
Pretty much a straight from the box gPC. I used apt-get so wine came from the ubuntu repositories.
Joe H
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