At Side-by-Side Geek, we're all for open source. In fact, the site runs on a build of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and Drupal. If open source were a person, we'd buy him/her a drink. We love open source.
But come on, there has to be a limit.
Near the end of the month, a group called openDesktop.org will be releasing into the wild a computer built entirely around the idea of open source. Everything bit of hardware used to build the Open-PC 1 is "...completely documented and supported by free drivers." Which then, in turn, means that all the software is open source and completely free. It runs Linux with KDE on top, uses Firefox as its browser, OpenOffice.org for productivity, digiKam for photo sorting, KMail for email, and Amarok for listening to music. That's a list we open source geeks have grown to know and love over the years.
As far as hardware, according to open-pc.com, here are the specs:
- Atom N330 1,6GHz Dual-Core Processor
- 3GB RAM
- 160GB Harddisc
- ASRock Mainboard
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- Mini ITX-Case
- 250watt power supply
Interesting, if not perhaps a little underpowered. This machine would work pretty well for basic web surfing, photo sorting and editing, email, and music enjoyment, but you won't be playing any of the latest high-end video games on it. So what does all this open source goodness cost?
359 EUR, or roughly $500.
I'm not sure about you, but the $500 price tag takes the shine off the proverbial apple for me. While I'm fully behind the idea of open source, I could take my $500 to any electronics retailer and get twice the machine.
It just doesn't make sense.