Build a $200 Linux PC -- How-to by ExtremeTech

[zridling]

I love the idea of building a cheap PC for either a relative or someone who doesn't think they could use one (such as my 75-year old mom). ExtremeTech came through with an honest build of a cheap PC, explaining each sacrifice for price. And they still managed to get a decent machine out of it.

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[Renegade]

The benchmarks they have there against a $300 box are pretty impressive.

[Deozaan]

Nice find. Thanks for sharing. (c:

[Renegade]

I kind of wonder why nobody ever goes for Solaris. It really is the mack-daddy of all operating systems. Nothing comes close to it. Hot swappable mother boards? Yep. Solaris has that, and it don't need no stinkin' app to do it~!

[zridling]

Probably because Oracle now requires users to purchase a service contract in order to use Solaris, thus jacking up the price of your $200 PC.

[Renegade]

I checked, and didn't see anything like that. It looks like it's still free. http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/solaris/downloads/get-jsp-136013.html#download

[4wd]

I checked, and didn't see anything like that. It looks like it's still free.

Free download - from what I can see in the License Agreement, it's as Zaine said, you have to buy a Service Contract after 90 days.

Solaris 10 Download Customers
Obtaining an Entitlement Document is simple. On the Solaris 10 Get It page, select the platform and format you desire from the drop-down menus, and then click the Download Solaris 10 button. When you arrive at the Sun Download Center, either sign in or register, ensuring that a valid e-mail address is part of your Sun Download Center account to receive the Entitlement Document. Fill out the Solaris download survey, specifying the number of systems on which you are installing the software. Once you have completed the survey, you will be redirected to the Solaris 10 download page for downloading, and your Entitlement Document will be sent to your registered e-mail address. Please remember, your right to use Solaris acquired as a download is limited to a trial of 90 days, unless you acquire a service contract for the downloaded Software.

However, OpenSolaris seems to be free to download and use - perhaps that is the version you alluded too?

[Renegade]

Got it. I didn't dig that deep. I expected to see things a bit more visibly displayed, like in the pricing area where it was missing. Sigh...

But yes -- also OpenSolaris.

[p3lb0x]

Then again, really. Who needs to hot swap motherboards?

[Renegade]

Then again, really. Who needs to hot swap motherboards?

Datacenters. But not many normal people. Still, it's very cool!

[wraith808]

So are iProducts... but... 

[Deozaan]

How the heck do you hot-swap a motherboard without bringing the system down?

[Shades]

Hot swappable motherboards are not that necessary...you have redundancy for that. Besides, the default motherboards you buy from vendors is not hot swappable anyway, because of the power management.

So special motherboards, special power supply, special (rack) case...you likely see already that it is cheaper to run a second system, hardware wise. Let alone the software and maintenance fees...

Solaris is nice, but you do not see me shed any tears if it would go the way of the dodo.