AuctionWorld offers all-in-one LCD PC for a tenner

Update British satellite TV auction channel AuctionWorld is offering bidders an all-in-one TFT LCD PC at a starting price of just £10.

AuctionWorld broadcasts on the BSkyB and NTL networks on channels 651 and 924, respectively. It's on from 12pm to 1am Sunday to Thursday, and 12pm to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Auctions are apparently "live, interactive [and] viewer-driven". You tune in, see what you fancy and ring up a premium-rate number to make an offer.

Most of the stuff on offer is typical TV home shopping stuff - gold chains, diamond bracelets, cheesy ornaments, designer shirts, and so on. The PC - called the Envision, from Far Easter manufacturer

, by way of US vendor

- features a 15in TFT display, 1.7GHz Intel Celeron processor, 128MB of DDR SDRAM, 40GB hard drive, DVD/CR-RW combo drive, built-in 56Kbps modem, 10/100 Ethernet, four USB ports, 1394 port, and ships with a wireless keyboard and mouse. it's got built-in speakers and Dolby 5.1 sound.

The triangular all-in-one shell features a stand that doubles up as a carry handle.

AuctionWorld says it schedules the Racer Envision twice a day, early on and during the evening. The company's web site offers a daily auction schedule to help potential bidders zero in on their preferred products.

Of course, the starting price may only be a tenner, but the guide price AuctionWorld suggests is £1600. In the US, the Envision sells for $1299 - just £900. Fortunately, most successful bidders pay around £1000 for the machine over here.

Or are they? Several readers have elerted us to Ebuyer, a UK web site which is offering the machine for just &pount;470, including VAT. Ebuyer's Envision page is here. It's a barebones system, minus RAM, CPU and hard drive, but boosting the spec. to match the AuctionWorld system takes the price to under £600. ®