The $500 Linux PC Aimed at Senior Citizens
Kiwi PC, a company that specializes in computers for the older computer user, this week launched a low-end Linux PC for senior citizens.
Linux likely wouldn't be the first choice among those who consider themselves anything less than tech-savvy. However, KiWi PC is using a customized version of the open source OS on its latest offering, which it claims will fill a gap in the current market.
"Until now, there has not been an easy way for senior citizens to navigate the internet and stay connected to friends and family," said Oscar Ferreira, President of KiWi PC. "Linux based KiWi PC provides the elderly with an easy way to stay in touch, learn and game online."
Though one could argue that senior citizens could navigate the internet and stay connected to friends and family from any other machine, KiWi PC's desktop has a custom UI, called the 'Me Menu' that allows users to easily access to their most visited websites and programs straight from the desktop. It also boasts larger icons and text for increased visual acuity.
The $499 computer packs a 1.66GHz Intel Atom CPU with INTEL GMA 3150 GRAPHICS, 2GB of DDR3, a 19-inch monitor, Ubuntu 10.10, DVDRW drive, one-year of tech support, access to a download store, and lifetime upgrade support from KiWi PC.

It's not that they don't care, it's more of the fact that they don't know any better. Their minds aren't sharp enough to "dot their i's and cross their t's" anymore. Something like this has recently happened to my grandparents and we're trying to resolve the issue.
Trying to lock customers into their own cash cow?
Hey, isn't Kiwi a fruit too?
Now, yes, I agree with other commenters, the price seems incommensurate with the product. One can build a faster system for $500, or less. One might ask, "pre-built/configured, etc., and with a decent monitor included?"
Maybe not too much faster, but, still possible, I'm sure.
I just built a 2.8ghz duo core Xeon AMD64 WITH 4GB ram for about $400, but had to build it myself, and no monitor or fancy colored keyboard included. (It IS running gnu/linux, of course).
I do agree that gnu/linux is a good choice for the not-so-tech-saavy, though. A lot less likely for them to break stuff, mess it up with malware, spyware, have crashes, etc. that will frustrate them.
I installed Debian on my Mom's old computer after she got tired of the mess of XP she had. She hasn't had a problem since.
I can personally attest to getting women, children, and the elderly to use Ubuntu... For a week or 2 they complain that it's not what they're used to, then they immediately forget what Windows is and chug along, virus free... Which BTW has less to do with obscurity, and more to do with security... As evidenced by perpetually better results in pwn2own...
Then you're not senior enough.
Custom whah?
LOL What?
This may be helpful for that small minority of unfortunate individuals who suffer from various dementias. But that's about all.
Exactly. 'Preying' on people in this manner is not illegal, so it will continue.
Many elderly folks are constant financial victims.
"lifetime upgrade support from KiWi PC" ??
WTF does this mean?
Yeah, I'm 66 and my fathers 98 and we both have no problems. Just because were older doesn't mean we lost our minds.
However, these days, for someone who has no experience of computers whatsoever but would like to get 'connected' there is a far better way to spend $500. An iPad. Most senior citizens would be better served with one of those than with an overclocked gaming computer running Windows that their grandson built for them or a linux based computer that virtually no one in their neighbourhood knows how to use.