The trend of offering PCs in exchange for long-term internet access contracts has well and truly taken off in the UK now, with Time Computers Ltd following the lead of Tiny Computers Ltd in giving a low-spec PC free to subscribers.
Time’s offer on the surface seems more attractive. Users must subscribe to its NetlinePlus internet service provider at a cost of 9 pounds ($14.23) per month for a minimum of 24 months, plus a 34 pound ($53) delivery charge. This makes a total cost of 250 pounds ($394) not including VAT. This compares to a minimum of 348 pounds ($545) for Tiny’s box. But Tiny only requires subscribers to agree to minimum usage of its Tiny Telecom telephony service, and the prices are British Telecommunications Plc standard rates.
The Time box contains a 300 M-II IBM processor, 32Mb RAM, 2.1Gb hard drive, CD-ROM drive, modem and Windows 98 pre-installed. Like Tiny, Time does not include a monitor, but the firm has provided an upgrade path of 3.50 pounds per month over four years for a higher-spec machine, or a total of 168 pounds ($264) extra. Main retail competitor Dixons Plc, which runs ISP Freeserve Plc, is not expected to follow suit, as it looks set instead to begin offering Microworkz Inc’s iToaster net-access thin PC for 199 pounds ($313) shortly.
