Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
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United Kingdom to offer free computers
LONDON (Reuters) -- British based company Metronomy will soon be offering free IBM desktops to every citizen in England.
One minute of advertising per 20 minutes of computer use is the only catch to the deal, as long as the computer is used at least 30 hours a month. The system, worth approximately $1,400, will even be replaced every three years with the newest technology.
The company plans to cover its costs solely through advertising.
"We have formed alliances with the vast majority of biggest advertising groups in the world including Omnicom and Interpublic. They will be the funnel which brings in the revenues," says Metronomy CEO and co-founder John Thornhill.
Source: CNN
Editor's Note: Is it just me, or does it seem a foolish idea to offer a free ad-based computer to the general public...especially those of us who are computer literate enough to bypass ads? Metronomy may have jumped into something they aren't prepared to handle.
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Wolfy
Member
Registered: 1st Apr 02
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
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i dont care. gizza a free pc! o can ad it to the other lot i have here.
whats spec like or dont ya know?
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Martyn
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 17th Oct 03
Location: Luton
User status: Offline
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how do you get it???
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GIBBS
Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 01
Location: Kent, Jap Car Importer :)
User status: Offline
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yea how do u get one?
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vibrio
Banned
Registered: 28th Feb 01
Location: POAH
User status: Offline
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Minimum Specification:
Intel Celeron 2.4ghz
256Mb RAM
40Gb Hard Drive
Intel Extreme 64Mb onboard Graphics
DVD Rom
56K modem
Integrated Audio
Infinity Ext Speakers
Microsoft XP Home pre-installed
IBM E54 15" CRT Monitor
Includes Full 3 year IBM warranty
NB - The above specification is stated as a guideline only but does constitute the minimum specification of the PC you will receive. External speakers are not shown in the picture but will be supplied at the time of delivery.
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Cybermonkey
Member
Registered: 22nd Sep 02
Location: Sydney, Australia
User status: Offline
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that is shit spec for the money. I would not touch a celeron powered machine with ross' small prosthetic peni5
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Martyn
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 17th Oct 03
Location: Luton
User status: Offline
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vid's do you know how to get one???
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Adam
Member
Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
User status: Offline
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UK FIRM OFFERS FREE IBM PCs IN EXCHANGE FOR WATCHING TAILORED ADVERTISEMENTS
UK start-up Metronomy has joined forces with IBM to offer free PCs to UK consumers in exchange for watching 90 minutes of advertising every month.
Users must watch three minutes of advertising for every hour the PC is used. And households will have to use their PC for a minimum of 30 hours per month, which equates to an average household of four each using the PC for 15 minutes every day.
The computer must also connect to the internet at least once a month to confirm that the ads have been watched.
Metronomy chief executive John Thornhill has big plans for the scheme, likening it to the impact of pay-as-you-go on sales of mobile handsets.
"We have a projection of getting two million households on board in the next three years," he said. "But we have chosen not to launch until now, having households pre-register to get an idea of demand."
The PC is free in return for signing a three-year agreement. It is either returned or upgraded with a new agreement when the old one expires.
A CD-Rom containing the ads will be sent for the user to load each month. It will also update the operating system to allow for continued use of the PC.
Windows XP Home will come preloaded on the PC, allowing for different levels of access to content when defining individual user profiles. But households will have to collect and set up the PC themselves, with 24-hour telephone support.
Thornhill said: "When users first receive their PC they're guided through an on-screen questionnaire. Their responses are sent to a central database when they connect to the internet and made available to the advertisers so they can offer tailored ads."
A warning will appear 60 seconds before each 'commercial break' is due, offering the choice of accepting or delaying the transmission. Each broadcast can be delayed for five minutes to enable users to pause a game or complete online transactions.
Adverts will be shown against a black background and will combine broadcasts with links to online offers or further information on other websites.
Metronomy said that the content of the adverts would be appropriate to the profile logged on to the computer at the time. Otherwise, they will be shown at times that reflect the 9pm broadcasting watershed protocol.
Distribution of the PCs will begin at the end of February 2004.
Minimum specifications include:
Intel Celeron 2.4GHz processor
256MB Ram
40GB hard drive
Intel Extreme 64MB onboard graphics
DVD-Rom
56K modem
Integrated audio
Infinity external speakers
Microsoft XP Home pre-installed
IBM E54 15" CRT monitor
Keyboard and mouse
Full three-year IBM warranty
Users can pre-register for a free PC here, or contact Metronomy on 08717 50 50 40.
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Martyn
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 17th Oct 03
Location: Luton
User status: Offline
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so there's not point in really having one Adam, because you cant really do what you wanna do on it can ya?
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Wolfy
Member
Registered: 1st Apr 02
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
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looks like its a ISP money grabber, you have to dial in to say u watched the ads.
stuff that!
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Cybermonkey
Member
Registered: 22nd Sep 02
Location: Sydney, Australia
User status: Offline
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fuk it, emmigrate with it and just format it when you are ou the country and cancelled whatever contract it is
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Martyn
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 17th Oct 03
Location: Luton
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Cybermonkey24
fuk it, emmigrate with it and just format it when you are ou the country and cancelled whatever contract it is
good Idea, not that I'm thinking about doing it 
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Macca_G
Member
Registered: 15th Jan 03
Location: Stockport, Manchester
User status: Offline
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celeron are good ?? what u talkin about...Cybermonkey
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Adam
Member
Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
User status: Offline
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Celeron are shite
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Adam
Member
Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
User status: Offline
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It's just a P4 but with all the onboard cache taken away
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Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
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^agreed
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GIBBS
Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 01
Location: Kent, Jap Car Importer :)
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Macca_G
celeron are good ?? what u talkin about...Cybermonkey
Celeron are SHITE
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Adam
Member
Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Martyn
so there's not point in really having one Adam, because you cant really do what you wanna do on it can ya?
er eh? I don't want one, already got enough PC's
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Cybermonkey
Member
Registered: 22nd Sep 02
Location: Sydney, Australia
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Macca_G
celeron are good ?? what u talkin about...Cybermonkey
FPMSL, Celeron are nearly as bad as AMD Duron's 
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Martyn
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 17th Oct 03
Location: Luton
User status: Offline
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hey, I've got a AMD 28000+
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Adam
Member
Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Martyn
hey, I've got a AMD 28000+
not a 2800+ ?
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Cybermonkey
Member
Registered: 22nd Sep 02
Location: Sydney, Australia
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Martyn
hey, I've got a AMD 28000+
Good for you. I have the 2200XP. Good processor
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vibrio
Banned
Registered: 28th Feb 01
Location: POAH
User status: Offline
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I have a P2 400
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Martyn
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 17th Oct 03
Location: Luton
User status: Offline
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yer sorry at AMD 2800+ Its very good and very qucik I wanted a 3.2Ghz one though
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Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
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On machines ive been building ive been overclocking the 2500+ to a 3200+ running stable.
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