how to build the world's cheapest cluster? (fwd)

[Ronald G Minnich]

anybody know if this is the EPIA?

ron

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 04 Sep 2002 16:00:56 -0400
Subject: how to build the world's cheapest cluster?

August 30, 2002 01:53 PM

Via processors power sub-$200 LindowsOS PC
By Tom Krazit

MICROTEL COMPUTER SYSTEMS is selling a PC equipped with a C3 processor
from Via Technologies and the LindowsOS operating system from
Lindows.com Inc. exclusively at Walmart.com for less than $200.

One of the cheapest retail desktop PCs available, the SYSMAR 710 is the
first PC sold by a major U.S. retailer to contain the C3 processor from
Via, a Via spokeswoman said Friday. The SYSMAR comes with an 800MHz C3
processor, 128M bytes of SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM), a 10G-byte
hard drive, and a CD-ROM drive, and has a list price of $199.86. It does
not include a monitor, modem, nor floppy disk drive, according to the
Walmart.com Web site.

The SYSMAR 715, which costs $218, is identical to the SYSMAR 710 but has
a LAN card and a modem. The SYSMAR 715 was not available on Walmart.com
at press time.

Microtel also makes two other PCs for Walmart.com, the SYSMAR150 and
SYSMAR151, which cost $299.84 and $399.72 respectively, and feature
Microsoft's Windows XP Home edition operating system. The Windows PCs
also use 800MHz C3 processors, and feature the same memory and hard
drive specifications. The 151 comes with a 15-inch monitor.

Walmart.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores, Microtel, and
Lindows.com partnered to offer low-cost PCs in June, releasing eight
different models that used processors from both Intel and Advanced Micro
Devices, priced between $299 and $599.

Via is primarily known for its chipset business, but also makes the C3
and Cyrix processors. The C3 is designed to consume small amounts of
power.