Fancy a lean green computing machine this holiday season? If all you need is the basics, check out the eco-friendly $300 dollar Everex’s TC2502 gPC Ubuntu Linux PC- it’s compact, cheap, and a great greener option. And where can you get it? WalMart!
Despite years of WalMart’s dubious labor practices and the like, we recognize that giant company has made great strides recently in its environmental initiatives, and we actually like this green computer a lot.
For those of you who are technically challenged, the Everex TC2502 is a full featured PC, with an operating system that is completely free. Free to use, free to update, and extremely easy to use. Not only that, but it comes with a host of software which will satisfy all your needs.
This super energy-efficient PC features a 1.5 Ghz Via C7 CPU embedded within a Mini-ITX motherboard. It comes with half a gig of RAM an 80gb Hard drive and a DVD burner. It won’t run Vista, but the Ubuntu based operating system works beautifully (you can actually download it to try it yourself).
Why is it green though? The fact that it runs really, really efficiently, due to the use of the low powered minicomponents within the machine. We wish that they’d go farther, as unfortunately they designed the machine to look bigger than the size it actually needs to be, but still this is pretty sweet. Stuff like this helps put the idea out there and let people consider alternative choices, so we applaud Wal-Mart for taking this great step.
$289 from WalMart
+ WalMart Green Design Contest
Apparently this thing is a cheap plastic nightmare. See:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/31/everexs-199-green-pc-attention-ignorant-wal-mart-shoppers/
This is classic greenwashing by Wal-mart and Everex. Using a lower powered consumption processor, selling it cheap and calling it green doesn’t just make it so. How about a smaller form factor or recyclable materials.
Everex admittedly makes the tower larger than need be due to Walmart consumers equating power with size. Classic: http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/10/31/199-everex-desktop-at-walmart-preys-on-uninformed/
For a more socially responsible alternative – try the OLPC:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TECH/11/09/olpc.negroponte/?iref=mpstoryview
even Asus’ EEEPC is better than this dreck…IMO
http://eeepc.asus.com/en/
This doesn’t even come close to making up for all of Wal-Mart’s evils. Frankly, I’m a bit disappointed that this website would even be advertising something from Wal-Mart.
If the metal they use for the chips is the same they use in cell phones, be aware that it’s probably taken from places like Congo, and multiple wars have taken millions of lives for the control of it now, and during the last years. I wish it’s not the case.
walmart = global death
… I see it as green washing, jumping on the band wagon, as well, but at least it introduces the general public (walmart customers) to the “concept” of eco efficiency (yes, i realize maybe only in name) . i’ve seen that you have to take baby steps with the general public. i feel the same way about the toyota prius, it’s basically just an overpriced tuna fish can with the *idea* of what a hybrid car can be. there are more efficient traditional vehicles on the road, but the prius has succeeded in introducing the idea to the general public. competition will eventually make computers & cars more green.
“It comes with half a gig of RAM an 80gb Hard drive and a DVD burner.”
My 4 year old laptop has the same specs. If this computer doesn’t offer more than was offered 4 years ago it would be greener to just buy someone else’s old computer.