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Shuttle KPC Linux PC now available

Apr. 7, 2008 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

DesktopLinux.com reports on an interesting new entry in the "ultra low cost PC" category:

What's cute, comes in a 6.4" high, 11" long, and 7.5" wide black box and runs Linux? That would be Shuttle Computers' KPC Shuttle.

This small-form factor PC doesn't have to stay black however. In what must be one of the most unusual customization options ever, the KPC comes with an application, MyKover, that lets you create your own panel-paper covers for your PC's walls. You can either use those provided by the company or make your own.

The KPC runs Foresight Linux 2.0. This is an innovative desktop Linux that's designed to show up the newest and best of the GNOME desktop. It is built from rPath Linux with its Conary package management system.

Given its goals, it won't surprise anyone to know that Foresight uses GNOME 2.22 and other latest model GNOME applications, such as the groupware program Evolution 2.22. The distribution, which uses the 2.6.23.Linux kernel, also includes the usual Linux desktop favorites such as OpenOffice, Firefox and the Pidgin IM client.

As for the KPC itself, it comes with either Intel Celeron 420, by default, or it can be upgraded to an Intel Pentium dual-core E4500 processor. It can run these chips from 533MHz to 1.8GHz. The system comes with 512MBs of RAM and can go up to 2GBs of RAM.

So I'm intrigued enough that I just ordered one. (I got the mid-level model--Pentium dual-core, but upgraded to 2 GB of RAM.) Should be interesting.

Related: Foresight Linux
Related: Shuttle KPC

Discuss this Article 14

BrightrevCarl
on Apr 7, 2008
$300 isn't a bad price for a dual core machine with 2 GB of RAM. I actually like Gnome better than KDE. It just seems simpler and less cluttered. That being said, I maintain that the biggest problem with Linux is that grandma can't go to the store, buy an HP/Epson/Canon multifunction device, plug it in and be pretty sure it will work. Grandma is just not going to understand CUPS or know how to deal with TurboPrint.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Apr 7, 2008
Of course, you can also get the KPC with Windows Vista (This being the blog for the Windows SuperSite, I figured that might be relevant)
Waethorn
on Apr 7, 2008
"The KPC runs Foresight Linux 2.0. This is an innovative desktop Linux that's designed to show up the newest and best of the GNOME desktop. It is built from rPath Linux with its Conary package management system. Given its goals, it won't surprise anyone to know that Foresight uses GNOME 2.22 and other latest model GNOME applications, such as the groupware program Evolution 2.22. The distribution, which uses the 2.6.23.Linux kernel, also includes the usual Linux desktop favorites such as OpenOffice, Firefox and the Pidgin IM client." er....ok so translation: "The KPC ships with yet another confusing edition of a basement-coded distribution of Linux that nobody's ever heard of, with a mish-mash of added 3rd-party applications. So much so, that your Grandma would rather claim senility than try to make sense of it." ;)
daveinla
on Apr 7, 2008
It's kinda huge for a small form factor PC ! To big to sit on a desk anyway, and to big to be a media center also. So you have to hide it under the desk, which doesn't make much sense. Nothing close to the Macmini in terms of power/footprint. Granted the macmini doesn't have these cute faceplates !
Lindy
on Apr 7, 2008
http://www.ubuntu.com/ 17 days until Ubuntu 8.04. If your going to run Linux as a "consumer" go with the best. Nice box, forget that distro. Openoffice 2.4, Firefox 3.0 beta 5, and VMware workstation 6.5 beta with UNITY for Linux for those must have Windows apps.
Waethorn
on Apr 7, 2008
"Firefox 3.0 beta 5" don't waste my time even mentioning that. after Firefox 2.0 not respecting normal flow, 3.0 doesn't support many CSS classes. for one thing, it doesn't support the visibility style for div's or span's. it likewise doesn't support many basic javascript methods for predefined id's in a page. after working on a new website, testing shows that IE7, IE8, Opera 9, and Safari 3 all display the same thing (except that Safari's text rendering is just plain awful, but that's an argument for another day), but neither Firefox 2.0, nor 3b5 render the page correctly. i'm honestly thinking that if Firefox 3 RTM doesn't fix the problem, I'm considering not authoring for it and just putting up a redirect page telling users to get a real browser.
pthurrott
on Apr 8, 2008
mikegalos... I didn't go with Vista for a few reasons, but primarily because I can install it myself. I think part of the interest consumers have in this market is the low price. Adding Vista (and I think they only offer Home Basic) seems sort of pointless from that standpoint. I'm confused about Foresight Linux as well. Ubuntu would have been preferable. But we'll see what it's like. The big thing here is whether this thing is credible for utility computing: If you do most of your computing online, this could be interesting (and inexpensive).
Avro
on Apr 8, 2008
@Waethorn As usual wrong but not in doubt. Most of the 3,700 individuals working on the Linux kernel do so while working for 200 companies. Only about 13% are amateurs - so the basement coders comment is a bit naff. I use OS X, Linux and XP and I would rate them as Excellent, Very good and Very good. OS X is better for Multimedia, Ubuntu is great for the basics and if I was a gamer, I would give XP the nod for my computing - but remember that coders for Linux and Windows have a much rougher time with matching software to hardware than do the Apple guys. In reality all 3 are very good and a reasonable choice for anyone.
Waethorn
on Apr 8, 2008
"Most of the 3,700 individuals working on the Linux kernel do so while working for 200 companies." Exactly the reason why I say FOSS doesn't work. That, and Communism.
Avro
on Apr 8, 2008
@Waethorn You mean as opposed to things that don't work because of greed and capitalism. ;-)
Waethorn
on Apr 9, 2008
"You mean as opposed to things that don't work because of greed and capitalism." which is where Linux resides, sorry to say. thanks for proving my point though. i accept your apology.
Avro
on Apr 9, 2008
Actually the Free part of FOSS means that the code is free to be tinkered with and improved. It doesn't mean the Linux apps are always free of charge (although many are).
Waethorn
on Apr 9, 2008
"Free part of FOSS means that the code is free to be tinkered with and improved. It doesn't mean the Linux apps are always free of charge (although many are)." Actually you're just splitting hairs here, since if the source code is made "freely available for modification", then it's just plain "free" for all intents and purposes, regardless of the compiled state of it. Just ask Richard Stallman if "FOSS" means you can charge for compiled code....(after you tell him to quit tokin' his bong). After charging you $50G's for the consultation (and clearing the haze), he'll tell you all FOSS software is free. But in any case, your point is an example of how Linux companies charge a "distribution fee" on free software, which goes back to proving my point over again about "greed and capitalism".
jocal69
on Apr 11, 2008
I wonder if this would be a good box to build a mac with? I've seen the "install osx on a pc" videos and it seems as though the specs of this box would fit the bill. Come on Paul, give it a try!

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