$99 CVS Sylvania

[psikeyhackr]

OK, I did it.  I bought one of those $99 CVS Sylvania computers last week.

CVS Sylvania Netbook - Review by AF Computers

I built my first computer in 1978 so maybe I don't have the same perspective as a lot of young whipper snappers.  The main problem is I haven't gotten the wireless to work.  Maybe this one is defective and I will take it back for an exchange soon.  My OLPC connects to my two access points with no problem.

The USB ports on this thing are 1.1s so they are kind of slow.  I downloaded 500 meg of flash video from my desktop in about one minute but it took 6 1/2 to upload it into the CVS.  It plays most flash videos though.  A Star Trek TNG episode is about 100 meg so 80 episodes could fit on an 8 gig SD card.   But this thing works nice as a book reader and I have lots of books that are heavier than it is.  With an 8 gig SD card it could hold from 400 to 16000 books depending on the format.  Some PDF books are 20 meg.  It will display PDFs too.  Wordpad works fine with text files and the font and text size can be changed.  It does HTML too.

The keyboard is better than the OLPC but it is not waterproof like the OLPC.  The OLPC has louder sound but I have heard netbooks that are as bad or worse then this.  Either use headphones or get some cheap powered speakers.

So it is all about what you want to do with the technology.  I think software is getting bloated and so are lots of websites.  So everyone is supposed to buy more powerful hardware to cope with the bloat.  I am trying to get the Windows CE cross compiler running on my Linux box.

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UPDATE:

Wireless is working.  Had to do a bunch of fiddling around with manual configuration.

psik

[psikeyhackr]

So nobody finds a $99 computer interesting?

It has USB ports and the iPad does not.

:joker

I got a C cross-compiler working on my Linux box and compiled the Sieve of Eratosthenes from Jan 1983 Byte magazine.  This $100 CVS beats an IBM 3033 running compiled PL/I.  That mainframe cost $3,000,000 in 1980.

I was able to plug a 30 gig hard drive into the USB port and play Flash videos.  It looked pretty good.

Take that Apple iPad.

psik

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Its a netbook, with a 7" screen that looks old.  Its impressive that its a $100, but beyond that its a netbook.  The iPad isn't a cheap sure, but it has a lot more power behind it.  There are a ton of netbooks but their main problem is lack of CPU/GPU power.  They also come close to $100 price tag.  

The iPad is 9.7" Tablet that can run full HD video without any lag, has tons of apps directly designed for iPad usage and is well supported.  

Apples and Oranges.  Glad you can find it of use, I played around with my Grandmother's netbook, it was interesting, but I had no pull towards netbooks, especially when the iPad came out.  

I guess I should also mention that the only reason I've ever needed a USB port is for flash drives.  (Ignoring my desktop on this point)  Wireless technology is becoming a much more prevalent technology than wires as time passes.  Maybe Apple is encouraging that along.  The 2nd gen iPad will show Apple's attitude toward USB.

King

P.S. You did ask for our opinions and mentioned the iPad.  ;)

[psikeyhackr]

Its a netbook, with a 7" screen that looks old.  Its impressive that its a $100, but beyond that its a netbook.  The iPad isn't a cheap sure, but it has a lot more power behind it.  There are a ton of netbooks but their main problem is lack of CPU/GPU power.  They also come close to $100 price tag. 

The iPad is 9.7" Tablet that can run full HD video without any lag, has tons of apps directly designed for iPad usage and is well supported. 

Apples and Oranges.  Glad you can find it of use, I played around with my Grandmother's netbook, it was interesting, but I had no pull towards netbooks, especially when the iPad came out.   

I guess I should also mention that the only reason I've ever needed a USB port is for flash drives.  (Ignoring my desktop on this point)  Wireless technology is becoming a much more prevalent technology than wires as time passes.  Maybe Apple is encouraging that along.  The 2nd gen iPad will show Apple's attitude toward USB.

King

P.S. You did ask for our opinions and mentioned the iPad.  ;)

So how much does a USB port cost?  LOL

So if somebody wants to do digital I/O they are supposed to use wireless to control their electric train set?  What about all of the midi keyboards with USB ports but not wireless. 

http://www.kadtronix.com/digio.htm

Spend $500 for a device that the manufacturer put hardware limits on that only save pennies?  No way, Jose.  Things like folding USB keyboards are too cheap and in too many varieties to let a dumb design limit me.  Or have to spend $30 for a camera adapter for what should have been built in in the first place.

It's a smartbook not a netbook despite what CVS calls it.  It has an ARM processor not an Intel compatible.  Where is any data showing that the iPad is more powerful than netbooks?

psik

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Uhh, I don't need data.  Just using a netbook is proof enough of how slow they are...I've had experience with using them, they are anything but speedy. 

Why do you call it a smartbook?

Idk how much a USB port costs.  I doubt the cost of a USB port kept it away from the iPad. 

You use a computer to control your electric train set?  Wow, didn't know that could be done.  (But really unimportant in the grand scheme of things, no offense)  I haven't used an I/O port in.....well years. 

Really, as said in the other bajillion other threads, we're comparing Apples and Oranges (haha, get it?). 

King

[psikeyhackr]

Uhh, I don't need data.  Just using a netbook is proof enough of how slow they are...I've had experience with using them, they are anything but speedy. 

Why do you call it a smartbook?

Idk how much a USB port costs.  I doubt the cost of a USB port kept it away from the iPad. 

You use a computer to control your electric train set?  Wow, didn't know that could be done.  (But really unimportant in the grand scheme of things, no offense)  I haven't used an I/O port in.....well years.

You don't need data?  Then how do you know that what you are talking about is correct?

All computers are von Neumann machines.  They all work pretty much the same way.  But there are two factors involved in NET performance.

Processing Power of the hardware

Efficiency of the Software

When you are just using a machine you have no way of knowing which factor may be causing the most detrimental performance.  They only way to test is with benchmarks.  But lately even the benchmarks the magazines use are becoming crap.  They are trying to measure the COMPUTING EXPERIENCE.

If they do good benchmarks on the hardware and users understood them then they would realize they are buying bloated, crappy, inefficient software.  That is quite likely what Macro$cam is selling people for all of these computer.  Apple just needs to make more efficient software for less powerful hardware to still beat the crapware.

Here is some benchmark data on the processors.

http://www.eeejournal.com/2010/05/benchmarks-atom-vs-ipad-a4-vs-iphone.html

The netbooks beat the iPad on the hardware level.  The hardware is being sabotaged by the MicroCrapware being run on it.  I say the hardware makers want crummy software.  They know these machines are far more powerful than most people need.  So this is the new form of cyber planned obsolescence.  Crappy software forces people to buy more powerful hardware and they then need even more crappy software.  It is the new money machine.  You gotta look at the DATA to see what is going on underneath.  Computers are about DATA.

USB ports should be so cheap I don't think price is why they are not on the iPad either.  But if someone arbitrarily limits what I can do with their hardware but wants to charge me a lot of money for it then they are not getting any from me.

psik

[KingIsaacLinksr]

The USB thing is taste.  If you don't like limits, then Apple is never going to please you.  But that's ok its your $$ and your opinion is what matters with your device.  

If the software is bloated and crap, why should I get a netbook then?  Is there alternatives?  You say that Netbooks are great but software is terrible, so how does that attract me, the customer, into buying the product?  

"Crappy software forces people to buy more powerful hardware and they then need even more crappy software."
Heh, this would explain Microsoft's business plan.  :P

King

[psikeyhackr]

The USB thing is taste.  If you don't like limits, then Apple is never going to please you.

Heh, this would explain Microsoft's business plan.  :P

And the Apple business plan is over-priced underpowerd hardware.  We have a choice of how to get screwed.  ROFL But how much can I lose in depreciation in 3 years on a $100 computer.

It's not taste.  It's the devices that are actually available and at low prices.

Are there any bluetooth midi piano keyboards?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/672868-REG/Behringer_UMX250_U_UMX250_USB_MIDI_Keyboard.html

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/373723.html

What about music training software for kids?  The Sylvania and a USB keyboard could be less than $350.  A midi keyboard music company should write the software for the Sylvania just so they could sell it with their keyboard.

There is one other interesting things that never gets mentioned in the computing arena.  Buy a $2000 laptop computer and in 3 years it will be worth $500 even if it works perfectly.

I confess it is nice that the Sylvania weighs only 1.5 pounds I can see why people like the iPad because it is so light.  The OLPC is 3.2 pounds and has a crappy keyboard so I wouldn't walk around the house with it.  The Sylvania needs a programming environment though.

psik

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Apple doesn't need bluetooth piano keyboards when it has several Piano apps already ;).  

Yes, I know how computers depreciate.  I bought a laptop for $2000.  Biggest mistake I ever did and won't be repeating it anytime soon.  

And so far on the iPad, it doesn't seem very overpriced.  At least, when you compare it to the Samsung Model. 

King

[Bryancd]

I'm not clear what the iPad has to do with any of this. He bought a cheap computer, so what?  ???

[Blackride]

iPad is for accountants,finanacial advisors and lawyers!

[Bryancd]

iPad is for accountants,finanacial advisors and lawyers!

Doctors too! :)

[Blackride]

iPad is for accountants,finanacial advisors and lawyers!

Doctors too! :)

lol

[Bryancd]

So nobody finds a $99 computer interesting?

No, but I do like how you managed to bump and revive your own thread! Well done!  :biggrin

[X]

I think it's a good buy for a quick on the go gift for my daughter. She has a regular laptop, but something smaller would work better with her 6 year old hands.