Re: [vox-tech] cheap PCs

[jdnewmil@dcn.davMAPSis.ca.us]

On Thu, 11 Jan 2001, Jim Riffel wrote:

>     If you look around enough, you can find deals on cheap PCs.  
> While many of them are older and slower than what is wanted by "those
> with too much time and money on their hands" (gamers), they can make
> fine Linux firewalls or kick-around boxes.
>
> One case in point:: I received a fax yesterday from Micro Source
> (www.microsourcedirect.com) that is selling some older Compaq boxes
> (probable an inventory closeout).  Pentium(1) 166MHz, 32MB ram, 1.2GB
> disk, CD drive, Sound & Ethernet on the motherboard, keyboard, mouse
> and 15" SVGA monitor.  Cost $295.00 plus shipping.

$300 is too much for a firewall. I use 486s that can be obtained for less
than $60, often much less.  No monitor, though. :)

> With the present-day cost of ram and disk, add another 128MB ram and a
> 10GB disk for an acceptable box. Being a network manager (ie Target),
> I wouldn't dream of making these into main fileservers on the
> enterprise, but I did buy 6 of them for user workstations on a test
> net.

Great!

> I'm sure that the power producers for the state of CA would love
> everybody to have 5 or 6 of these in their homes.

Excellent point.

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