The PCLinuxOS computer -- every damn thing you need for $150

I'm ready to throw down $150 for this deal (plus $15 to boost the memory to 512 MB). There are a smattering of low-cost Linux PC deals out there, but this is absolutely the best. Better than Everex, better than the used stuff at Pacific Geek. Better than Mad Tux. Hell, better than anything. You even get an LCD monitor. The $150 doesn't include shipping, and I don't know how much that runs. But holy hell, it's cheap.

A site called linfx.com, which creates computer graphics for PCLinuxOS, among others, is behind the deal. They've also got a less-powerful box for $59 (no monitor, keyboard or other extraneous items).

Here are the specs for the $150 deal:

Refurbished IBM Net Vista Desktop with PCLinuxOS 2007 installed. Intel PIII 900mHz, Intel chipset with onboard graphics and LAN. Also includes 256mb ram, 20GB IDE HDD, 40x CDROM, 15" TFT LCD (see specs. below), keyboard, mouse and a fresh PCLinuxOS 2007 LiveCD.

And here are the details on the monitor:

15" IBM LCD Specifications T541
Size 15 Inch
15" Viewable Screen Size
Resolution Max: 1024 x 768 @ 70 Hz
Recommended: 1024 x 768 @ 70 Hz
LCD Panel TFT Active Matrix LCD
Misc. Features ~ Viewing Angle: Horizontal 150°, Vertical 120°
~ Horizontal Freq. 30-61 KHz Vertical Freq. 56-75 Hz
~ Brightness 250 cdm-² (typical)
~ Contrast 350:1 (typical)
~ Hybrid System Attach Offers Maximum Attachment Flexibility and Positions Customer for the Future
~ Lift/Tilt/Swivel Stand Offers Optimum Adjustment for Viewing Comfort
Dimensions Unit: 13.6" x 14.4" x 8"
As Shipped: Unknown
Weight Unit: 10.5 Lbs

Here's what you have to do:

To get yours just email Butch (bdrake@plasticrecovery.com )and request the PCLOS PC Deal, he will then email you a secure invoice.

And here are the specs on the $59 system:

NOW also available an IBM Desktop system including a Intel PIII 600mHz cpu, 384mb ram, Ati AGP graphics, integrated LAN and CDROM ONLY$59.00 This system is just the box, no monitor keyboard or mouse. Just ask Butch about the 59 dollar IBM system.

Pacific Geek also has deals like this on systems. ... But the secret that's not so secret is that old hardware is often free for those who ask and are willing to haul it away. That's usually not true for laptops, but I did luck out on the $0 Laptop because it was five or six years old and not working, with a repair quote of $700. I did the repair myself, the quick and dirty way, for less than $3.

When it comes to desktop systems, you can often find them for free, but this $150 deal is pretty darn good, seeing as you get the keyboard, mouse, memory, CD drive and LCD monitor. It's the monitor that makes me scratch my head -- how can they do it? One thing you might need to add is a CD-R drive if you want to burn your own CDs ... or you could go really crazy and shove a DVD-writer in there. Even I haven't entered the era of burn-your-own DVDs, although the makers of many a Linux and BSD distro act as if we all have (offering DVD ISOs and no CD ISOs for those of us who don't have the more sophisticated -- and expensive -- drives).

For comparison's sake, here are some deals from Pacific Geek:

1.7GHz System 256MB 40GB CD USB /Firewire/ PCMCIA for $109.99

Compaq D51S Pentium 4 2.0GHz 512MB 40GB DVD XP SFF - B

Compaq iPAQ Desktop PC Computer 866 Mhz $59.99 (no CD drive)

So these PCLinuxOS deals are pretty great -- if you can get them and get decent shipping. Read through the whole forum to see more info on the deal and what people think of it.