2go PC Targets Low-End, Basic Users

Ever wonder why computers keep improving and improving, even though most people tend to do just a handful of basic things with their PCs? Well, intentionally or not, the Classmate PC began to tackle this issue and it's unofficial sequel, the 2go PC, carries on the, albeit, short tradition of sticking with what works for the user, as opposed to improving the hardware endlessly, like most other PC companies do. It's a bit like that old George Carlin routine about getting a bigger house.

When you get a bigger house, you get more stuff to fill it with. There was nothing wrong with the stuff you had, but now you've got more space. So, you get more stuff! The same thing generally applies to computers. Your average machine has a 2GHz processor? Couldn't you do everything you needed on the 1GHz processor? Sure. But now you can do MORE. But what if you don't want to do more?

How could that be? Read on...

Say you want a small, cheap, simple computer to take with you to do basic stuff, like surf the web, message and basic word processing. Perhaps you have a mother or other relative that doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles but wants to check email and post snapshots on the web. Another possibility is that you've got a kid who is ready for his or her first "real" PC.

In all those examples, you don't need a full-power, full-featured PC--you just need the basics. The 2go PC promises to provide exactly that. You get a Celeron M 900 MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 40 gigs on the hard drive, 2 USB ports, a LAN port, and wifi. All the stuff that will provide us with the basics for all of us. The one thing it doesn't seem to include is a webcam.

This is a pretty major omission in today's digital world. Whether you're updating a static image on your own blog, video conferencing with business partners, or posting videos of yourself on YouTube, webcams are pretty standard equipment. Sure, you can always pick up a cheap external, but shouldn't that just be something that comes with?

Rumor has it that the 2go PC will be available for under $500 and it's already been confirmed on the official 2go PC website that it will be available only through Amazon.com.