Wal-Mart Unveils $300 PC, Pokes Microsoft in Eye

Wal-Mart is known for offering many cheap low-end tech products. This latest PC they will carry isn’t changing that, but there is something special about it. The thing that makes this budget PC different from many other contenders is that it will not carry Microsoft Office software along with it. Instead, it will come preloaded with a free Office Suite known as OpenOffice. This is partly what makes the machine so cheap. Without paying for Office software, the manufacturer saved a bundle in licensing fees. Thanks to that, Wal-Mart is more than happy to put millions of these out on store shelves for cheap.

This isn’t to say you’re completely free of the so-called ‘Microsoft Tax,’ as the PC will still come bundled with Windows Vista Home Basic edition. The computer will also be running a processor from VIA, who has little to no CPU marketshare in the retail space. I’ll put down money they’re ecstatic to see Wal-Mart stocking a PC with their CPU in it. Otherwise, the computer is a fairly standard office machine, so don’t be expecting to play Crysis on it.