If you give a senior citizen a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you give a senior citizen a low-end Linux PC with big keyboard and a specially-designed UI, he’ll be able to forward you funny pictures he gets from his friends and read Drudge and Fox News.
This $499 PC includes Kiwi’s own version of Linux for the aged. While I’d normally be all gung-ho about the prospect of sharing open source love, considering you can get this Gateway for $449 and Ubuntu for free, I’m a bit concerned about the validity of this PC in the marketplace. However, as a person who once gave his father a Linux PC after he filled the Windows machine I gave him up with viruses, I wholeheartedly support anything that makes home tech support simpler and easier for our aging population.
Product Page
“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.”
KiWi PC desktop computer offers a simple to use navigation system. The fully customizable “Me Menu” provides users easy access to their most visited websites and programs straight from the desktop. Additionally, the icons and texts are larger to provide increased visual acuity.
The preinstalled “Evolution Mail” on KiWi PC allows users to integrate their Yahoo!, Gmail, MSN, AOL or any other email accounts making chatting and emailing a snap . Additionally, the base operating system comes with a “Software Centre” which offers hundreds of free downloadable applications.
KiWi PC is available now for $499.99 MSRP at www.KiWiPC.com.