Description:
Surely one of the most affordable desktop computers ever released, Linare's new Linare PC won't cost you much more than the price of a couple of dinners at your favorite high-end restaurant. There are concessions of course -- it won't suffice in a demanding business or home office environment and it isn't equipped to act as a full-fledged entertainment hub -- but for basic everyday computing tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, homework and light gaming, the Linare PC is certainly sufficient. Driven by an entry-level 1.3 GHz AMD Duron processor and a nominal 128 MB of SDRAM memory (expandable to 1 GB), the Linare PC is less potent than the majority of modern laptops. Its onboard 3D graphics controller, featuring 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory, is not adequate for the current crop of high-end PC games but should satisfactorily handle most older or less demanding games and 3D applications. At 30 GB, the unit's hard disk is of reasonable size considering the comparatively smallish programs and files you're likely to use on such a cost-efficient entry-level machine. The Linare PC features an optical drive through which you can play audio CDs and load programs, though it does not permit CD burning or DVD playing. Somewhat surprisingly, the system also incorporates a pair of desktop speakers, a keyboard and wheel mouse. Connectivity options include four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for external peripherals such as scanners and joysticks, a line-in and microphone-in, parallel and serial ports, and a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet interface for high-speed email and Internet access. A monitor is not included, thus allowing users to select from the many choices currently available. Prospective customers should note that the Linare PC is pre-configured to run the Linux operating system. A viable alternative to Microsoft's Windows, Linux does not support many Windows-based applications but is considered by many of its users to be faster and easier. Other pre-installed software includes word processing and spreadsheet utilities, a drawing and presentation package, and assorted multimedia tools.
| 
