Brand new Linux laptop for $150

Message

syedj · #1 Post by **syedj** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:24 pm

Interesting new products coming out:

http://www.medisoncelebrity.com/

* Key Features Intel® Celeron 1.5 GHz CPU
* 14" Widescreen X-bright LCD
* 256 MB Ram memory
* 40 GB Hard Drive
* 802.11g Wireless LAN
* Optimized Linux operating system
* Pre-installed office and multimedia applications

Technical Specification

* CPU - Intel® Celeron® M Processor 370 (1.5 GHz, 90nm, FSB400, 1 MB L2 cache, uPGA478)
* DISPLAY - 14.0" WXGA (1280x768) TFT
* HARD DRIVE - 40 GB
* DIMENSION - 333(W) x 243(D) x 24/33.(H)mm (front/back), 2.2Kg with 6 cells Lithium-lion battery

* MEMORY - 64-bit wide DDR data channel, One 200-pin SODIMM socket, supporting DDR 333/400, 256 MB Expandable up to 1GB, based on SODIMM Modules
* STORAGE - One changeable 2.5" 9.5mm(H) HDD, Supporting Master mode IDE ATA-33/66/100/133 (Ultra DMA), One changeable 12.7mm(H) CD/DVD Combo
* VIDEO CONTROLLER - VIA PN800 integration, Shared Memory Architecture up to 64MB, 128 bit 3D graphic engine, Support analog monitor pixel resolution up to 1920x1400, Support two displays dual view
* KEYBOARD - A4 size keyboard, Built-in Touchpad with scrolling function

* SOUND SYSTEM - AC'97 2.2 Compliant Interface, 3D stereo enhanced sound system, Sound-Blaster PROTM Compatible, S/PDIF Digital output (5.1 CH), 1x Built-in Microphone, 2x Built-in Speakers
* I/O PORTS - 3x USB 2.0 ports, 1x External CRT monitor output, 1x Headphone jack, 1x Microphone jack, 1x S/PDIF output jack, 1x RJ-45 port for LAN, 1x Line-in jack, 1x DC-In jack
* PCMCIA - 1x Type II PCMCIA socket
* COMMUNICATION - 10/100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet on board, 802.11g MiniPCI Wireless LAN
* POWER - Full Range 65W AC adapter - AC input 100~240V, 47~63Hz, DC output 20V, 3.25A, Removable 6-cell Smart Li-ion battery pack, 4000/4400mAh
* SECURITY - Kensington® Lock

CANCEL I may order one for myself.

EDIT: The site looks fishy indeed. I will probably check back with them in 2/3 months and see if they are still online and then make a decision.

pianowizard · #2 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:39 pm

Thanks so much for finding this! I may order one too!

#3 Post by **underclocker** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:41 pm

I'll be the first to post that this is a SCAM/HOAX! $150 no way.

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:10 pm

underclocker wrote:I'll be the first to post that this is a SCAM/HOAX! $150 no way.

It looks like a phishing scam to obtain credit card numbers ... no way does a PC manufacturing company have a website that hokey.

syedj · #5 Post by **syedj** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:22 pm

I agree. It sounds too good to be true even if they make in 10's of thousands of these machines to keep their costs down.

OLPC and Classmate laptops are having a hard time keeping their costs low.

#6 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:27 pm

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9749768-1.html
http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/25/medi ... he-people/

syedj · #7 Post by **syedj** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:38 pm

These ultra-low cost laptops on the other hand I am looking forward to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC

#8 Post by **KristianJ** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:00 pm

There's enough questionable grammar and a couple of spelling mistakes) throughout the site to deem it a scam, plus that Medison banner looks decidedly second rate.

#9 Post by **Kyocera** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:34 pm

Right now the site says the phone lines are temporarily down, ohh what a surprise

There is enough savvy people

here to know better than to even think about "purchasing" one of these on line. I almost think this post should be moved out of here. It is humorous though.

Kwoon, get two and send me the other one COD, sound like a deal? Oh yeah, and I'll give you an extra $4,587.32 for your troubles.!!!

#10 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:36 pm

medisoncelebrity.com was only registered on 11 April 2007, and only for one year.
The contact is some Eastern-European sounding name
Valdi Ivancic **************@hotmail.com)
+46.707572858
Lundenvagen 24
Huskvarna, 561 34
SE

I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole!

pianowizard · #11 Post by **pianowizard** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:32 pm

Kyocera wrote:Kwoon, get two and send me the other one COD, sound like a deal? Oh yeah, and I'll give you an extra $4,587.32 for your troubles.!!!

When I saw the OP's message, I thought it was something similar to that $199 Asus laptop that we talked about in another thread a while ago, which of course is legit. In terms of specs, I think they're comparable to that Asus laptop, so I thought $150 wasn't too far-fetched. I wasn't able to look through the site provided by the OP. I tried but when I clicked on "Pricing", "specifications" and "shipping and handling", nothing happened. I wanted to see whether they are trying to make some profit through outrageous S&H charges (like many eBay sellers do).

#12 Post by **KristianJ** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:13 pm

Kyocera wrote: There is enough savvy people here to know better than to even think about "purchasing" one of these on line. I almost think this post should be moved out of here. It is humorous though.

I was greatly surprised that there are 2 comments from people (plus the blog writer) on the Cnet page who bought one!! I'm looking at the company site (viewable by clicking on the page banner) and the poor spelling and grammar continues to be evident.

If anything, I also find the use of an Ovation Celebrity guitar as the image on the screen of the laptop to be slightly amusing.

#13 Post by **ryengineer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:45 pm

I am not sure it's a scam or not but if it helps you guys can ask fellow members or any friends in England to verify whether this company exists at this address or not.

Medison Europe Limited
27 Ruffets Wood
Gravesend, Kent
DA12 5JQ England

source: http://www.medison.se/

qviri · #14 Post by **qviri** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:28 pm

ryengineer wrote:I am not sure it's a scam or not but if it helps you guys can ask fellow members or any friends in England to verify whether this company exists at this address or not.

Reading the comments on one of the sites, it's a residential address with three other companies registered to it.

I can be brought to believe that Asus, who is already a notebook manufacturer and thus enjoys immense economies of scale, is able to offer a very basic notebook at $200. (Though personally I still suspect it'll be closer to $250.) Whoever is interested in this should ask themselves: how will an unheard of company provide him with a notebook, better specced than the Asus one, for $150 and free shipping?

This is so obviously a scam.

#15 Post by **tomh009** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:36 pm

If it looks too good to be true ... it probably is.

pianowizard · #16 Post by **pianowizard** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:50 am

qviri wrote:better specced than the Asus one

Isn't the 1.5GHz Celeron older than the 900MHz Pentium M?

qviri wrote:and free shipping

How did you find that out? I clicked on the "Shipping and handling" link but it didn't work. If shipping really is free, then this deal is almost certainly a scam.

Hotbrick · #17 Post by **Hotbrick** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:57 am

If I google 'medisoncelebrity' it's all Swedish....

Perhaps a Swedish forum member could clear things up.....

#18 Post by **ryengineer** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:17 am

This guy has bought one, so as he said, stay tuned. Cnet is also trying to verify the offer with the company.

On a sidenote, honestly I have little to no interest even if the deal is authentic.

#19 Post by **Kyocera** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:05 pm

kristianJ wrote:If anything, I also find the use of an Ovation Celebrity guitar as the image on the screen of the laptop to be slightly amusing.

True that, I didn't even see that laptop at first, Ovation's are works of art, they have such unique headstock designs.

sliston32 · #20 Post by **sliston32** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:16 pm

Company Details

Name & Registered Office:
MEDISON EUROPE LIMITED
27 RUFFETS WOOD
GRAVESEND
KENT
DA12 5JQ
Company No. 06312373

Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 13/07/2007

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/07
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 13/05/2009
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 10/08/2008
Previous Names:
No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years.
Branch Details
There are no branches associated with this company.
Oversea Company Info
There are no Oversea Details associated with this company.[/i]

I think the very fact that they have been in business since 1996 according to the website and they are a UK company with a Swedish website both registered very recently (April and June 2007)is enough evidence for me that they are not what they seem

Brand new Linux laptop for $150

Brand new Linux laptop for $150

Heres what companies house in the uk has to say about them

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