CNET News.com: Microworkz shake-up underscores free PC troubles

Aug 26, 1999, 21:13 (0 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Stephanie Miles, Michael Kanellos)

"Companies offering "free" PCs have insisted that giving away costly computers with paid Internet service can be a successful business. But moves such as president Rick Latman's departure today from start-up Microworkz may indicate otherwise."

"This past spring, Microworkz joined a bevy of similar start-ups including Emachines, Free-PC, Gobi, Enchilada, and DirectWeb. Many in this group have since been hit with similar problems, including a lawsuit from Apple Computer over Emachines' iMac look-alike.

Many say the issues affecting these ventures are more than growing pains and reflect a fundamentally flawed business plan."

Complete Story

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