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An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

symplepc.com

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Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#41

Post by martinald »

egd wrote: post #24

They're cheap enough that my first thought was to pick up a couple and figure out what I'd do with them later, but the disadvantage here is that they're older boxes, which means they're going to be energy hogs (for the performance point, at least). That's what makes the eco pitch interesting - they're reducing e-waste, which is good, but energy efficiency on newer boxes (especially if you just need minimal performanc…

I agree, this is a dreadful idea. The CPUs are going to hog a whole load of energy (as are the motherboards). The HDDs are going to be seriously used and probably prone to complete breakdown.

An ARM SoC would do this same job much faster probably at much less cost, with FAR less energy consumption.

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#42

Post by robotresearcher »

cubano wrote: post #35

While I like the direction they are taking, I am still kinda scratching my head at the use cases. Seniors who need a basic websurfer with malware proctection? [edit] I guess third-world users too, but like others have remarked, the power consumption is pretty brutal.

From the first paragraph of their blurb:

"Symple PC gives classroom labs, non-profits and call centers a..."

They are aiming it at cost-sensitive groups that need to buy a bunch of workstations.

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#43

Post by jkot »

midnightclubbed wrote: post #37
jkot wrote: post #27

I am concerned with energy consumption of this device. Pentium 4 class computer consumes 40 watts while idle. ARM cpu would work just as fine (Ubuntu). I think this devices should not be called green, unless they disclose power efficiency rating.

I was thinking the same thing. The increased power usage (over something like an ARM based Chromebook) is probably easily offset by the power needed to manufacture new but from a cost perspective to the user it may be a false-economy (assuming the machines are in use 24/7). You also have the power consumption of the VGA monitor to contend with. Are they remanufacturing in the USA?

> over something like an ARM based Chromebook) is probably easily offset by the power needed to manufacture

I doubt it. Manufactoring cost for ARM SOC is $10, this thing burns it in a month.

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#44

Post by gtirloni »

robotresearcher wrote: post #42
cubano wrote: post #35

While I like the direction they are taking, I am still kinda scratching my head at the use cases. Seniors who need a basic websurfer with malware proctection? [edit] I guess third-world users too, but like others have remarked, the power consumption is pretty brutal.

From the first paragraph of their blurb: "Symple PC gives classroom labs, non-profits and call centers a..." They are aiming it at cost-sensitive groups that need to buy a bunch of workstations.

Those people have all the incentives of scale to want low-power computers instead.

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#46

Post by john61 »

jkot wrote: post #43
midnightclubbed wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking the same thing. The increased power usage (over something like an ARM based Chromebook) is probably easily offset by the power needed to manufacture new but from a cost perspective to the user it may be a false-economy (assuming the machines are in use 24/7). You also have the power consumption of the VGA monitor to contend with. Are they remanufacturing in the USA?

> over something like an ARM based Chromebook) is probably easily offset by the power needed to manufacture I doubt it. Manufactoring cost for ARM SOC is $10, this thing burns it in a month.

He is talking about power not cost to build it.

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#47

Post by sitkack »

egd wrote: post #24

They're cheap enough that my first thought was to pick up a couple and figure out what I'd do with them later, but the disadvantage here is that they're older boxes, which means they're going to be energy hogs (for the performance point, at least). That's what makes the eco pitch interesting - they're reducing e-waste, which is good, but energy efficiency on newer boxes (especially if you just need minimal performanc…

I deleted a post about the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox and how these machines were in fact not green.

I was wrong.

Given the right uses, like an elementary school computer lab for learning Scratch, Logo, etc; they would be fine.

The problem is they are right on the cusp of the next cycle of Moore's Law, Raspberry Pi is now quad core and 1GB, it puts it in the same class as this machine. The cost of "good enough" compute hardware is going to zero (shipping, financial trans cost will dominate).

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#48

Post by wernercd »

dorfsmay wrote: post #32
egd wrote: post #24

They're cheap enough that my first thought was to pick up a couple and figure out what I'd do with them later, but the disadvantage here is that they're older boxes, which means they're going to be energy hogs (for the performance point, at least). That's what makes the eco pitch interesting - they're reducing e-waste, which is good, but energy efficiency on newer boxes (especially if you just need minimal performanc…

I agree, I love the concept, but you also have to add the cost of a monitor + keyboard + mouse AND the fact that everybody wants (needs?) a laptop these days.

"you also have to add the cost of a monitor + keyboard + mouse AND the fact that everybody wants (needs?) a laptop these days."

Not really...

with RDP/SSH/Telnet/etc, you can access this without the need a dedicated keyboard/mouse/monitor.

Also, I can live without a laptop due to my "phablet". I already have a desktop. Something like this would be a good for hiding a server (or two) somewhere.

The question is... the energy saved by reusing this. The energy saved by not destroying this. The landfill space not taken up by this...

Is it enough to offset the energy savings on newer pc's that are more powerful but use less energy? What is the tipping point that makes a new machine better?

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#49

Post by bpicolo »

sktrdie wrote: post #25

There are android mini pcs with Android OSs, much larger selection of apps/games, for less than half that price. They can easily be found for ~$35 http://www.laptopmag.com/android-sticks

Saying Ubuntu has fewer "apps and games" than Android is both meaningless and false.

Re: An $89 remanufactured Ubuntu workstation

#50

Post by TheCowboy »

sjs382 wrote: post #45

At what point is it more planet-friendly to manufacture a new energy-efficient underpowered low-end PC, rather than repurpose an old power-hungry low-end PC?

It's a good but difficult question to answer if one wants to break into the details of it.

The process of manufacturing all of the components likely results externalities that are represented in the price. There is also the cost of how the disposed machine is processed.

You can also factor in the user behaviors. My grandmother probably is not going to leave her desktop powered on for longer than the 1 hour or so per day that she might use it. People here, myself included, are probably used to running their machines 24-7.

There's also the perspective that if this machine is going to a 10 year old kid, that it's a machine s/he can break and it won't be a big deal. This can be a significant advantage for a low income home.

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