im wondering
 

whats stopping some revolutionary new startup from offering a super duper cheap laptop/desktop with some distro of linux and all open source programs pre-installed. shouldnt we have reached mainstream open source by now? thoughts? comments?

Who would want to buy a $200 computer?

Who would want to manufacture and sell a $200 computer?

QFT.

That said, there is that $100 laptop that's being developed for poor kids, primarily those in third-world countries. However, I suspect the only way it's possible is by having a profit margin of zero (or damn close to it). Government subsidies and corporate funding might play a part, too, but I'm not sure. That said, a marginal profit margin (pun intended) is not a good business model if one wants to stay in business.

Walmart used to have a desktop that ran linux, and it was only $199. I aint seen it in there in awhile so i'm bettign the company shut down. But I bet with everyone recycling their old PC's now it wouldnt be hard to use everything in them. I bet if you started a recycling thing for old computers in your area fixed them up a bit, maybe a little bit more ram you oculd make a profit selling them for 200 dollars or something. Linux isn't as demanding as windows so it would be ok.

Regarding the $100 dollar laptop. I was reading an article somwhere and it said that they can be purchased but If you want one you actually pay double. The other $100 goes to poor kids, or something like that.

There was a mexican billioniare that donating a couple million dollars to give a laptop to every kid in mexico or something like that. This has no relevance to the thread really, but I just thought I'd tell yall.

If I was CEO of a enormous company like Microsoft or w/e. I would definitely do that.

He owns the biggest phone company in Mexico, it's called Teleco or something. BUt about making a laptop or desktop for $200. It would be impossible to do it once you bout the necessary parts. I'm not saying it's not a good idea, but it's easier said then done. I meant to put this in my first post with the recycling thing but forgot. Then i forgot on my second post, so i'll put here.

EDIT: Heres the link to the story and it's called Telmex not Teleco. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/58651.html

If you've ever formed a manufacturing company, hired all the production workers and QA people, as well as the overhead types (like secretaries and bean counters), and paid the electric bill and the cost of the building (including so many square feet for finished-goods inventory), and made the capital investment in equipment for production, test, and verification, and bought components, you will think twice about offering a computer for $200. It ain't a one off selling on eBay for a quick buck.