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After selling out of the linux-driven machines, Wal-Mart is sending the gPC packing to the online store.  From the looks of it Wal-Mart got a lot of returns and/or complaints from folks not savvy enough to deal with the uniqueness of a linux machine.  The company will continue to sell them online, where according to a company spokesperson, they continue to sell well.

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Everex is following up on the not-so-stellar release of the Cloudbook and have made the gPC mini official. As a new mini on the market Everex is pushing this as a nice option to hook up to your big screen TV or have it used as a “space-saving” PC. Running gOS, the gPC mini features a 1.86 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core Mobile Processor, 512 MB RAM, 120GB hard drive, a DVD burner along with a graphics media accelerator GMA950 and Realtek ALC268 high-definition audio. The mini sized PC also has a full set of ports to include gigabit Ethernet, DVI, S-Video, Firewire, four USB 2.0, a 4-in-1 card reader, headphone/line-out and a microphone/line-in.

The mini gPC will retail for $499 and is scheduled to be available at NewEgg.com beginning March 1, 2008.

Read [Everex]

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gOS, the operating system that is most famous for its inclusion on the $199 PC that sells at Wal-Mart will soon be hitting version 2.0. The new version being called Rocket will be introduced at CES on January 7, 2008 and will be available online as a free download.

Rocket is set to include to features such as virtual desktops, preloaded support for Adobe Flash 9, updated Wi-Fi manager, an online storage drive via Box.net, offline sync using Google Gears, gBooth, as well as integration and desktop shortcuts for many popular online applications such as Google Reader and Facebook.

In addition to Rocket, we will also be seeing the gCam webcam from Ezonics, gOS Rocket Developer Kit with VIA motherboard and CPU, Everex Couldbook, gPC, gPC mini and gBook.

Read [Think gOS] Via [Business Wire]

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PC Mag has reviewed and ripped apart the Everex gPC. The low-cost desktop computer had been announced back in October and was quickly found as being sold-out in most locations, which would have either meant it was very popular or initially available in limited quantities. The gPC has sort of become know as the Google PC due to the amount of integration with Google Apps however the g actually stands for Green, it retails for $199 without a monitor and is available only at Wal-Mart.

The PC Mag editors gave the gPC a 1.5 out-of 5 rating, while the readers gave it a 1 out-of 5 rating. As if the rating was not bad enough, the bottom line comments from PC Mag would most likely keep me from running out to grab one even at that price.

“The gPC is not the alternative to Windows or Mac OS X it’s cracked up to be; it’s very frustrating to use.“

It seemed to only get worse from there, with pro’s such as “it’s cheap” and its “available at over 600 Wal-Mart stores and online,“ it almost seems like they were just looking for something nice to say. The gPC seems like it would be a great low-cost computer option for the non-computer person in the family who just wants or needs some basic web browsing but there are a few reasons that this would make it not so nice of an option. According to PC Mag the internet connection is required, the modem is non-functional, the resolution is only available at 1280 x 800 and Flash support needs to be installed, which is not always the easiest process for a computer novice. Of course to be fair, some of these bad points would most likely fall with just about any low-cost or budget computer.

There is also a “live-cd” available with the gPC operating system, for anyone who still wants to test it out and not waste their $199.

Read [PC Mag]

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