Re: I-opener - Circuit City shuts doors on i-Opene

Well I tried to order one online, but have to wait till they are in stock again... Meanwhile I read the article below, os was wondering if anyone who ordered from CircuitCity has heard anything about this from them.

Article (The Register):

Posted 20/03/2000 2:48pm by Drew Cullen

Circuit City shuts doors on i-Opener $99 PC hack

Circuit City, the US giant computer retailer, has issued an email memo to staff, announcing that orders for multiple units of the I-Opener Net appliance would be cancelled, due to "increased demand" and limited availability.

Circuit City had been selling the I-Opener, made by Texas company Netpliance, as a $99 loss leader, reducing the retail price from $299.99, assuming t would receive a slice of subscription fees, from customers who signed up with Netpliance as their ISP for $21.95 per month.

However, a hack of the unit enables the user to choose a different ISP. Even better, with minor modification, the I-Opener can be turned into a fully-fledged, if rudimentary PC.

Sales of the i-Opener at Circuit City have been "surprisingly brisk," according to our informant, who says: "I wouldn't be surprised if all open orders, which can't be filled for a couple of weeks at least, are cancelled".