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Wal-Mart's $200 PC - sold out

blogs.zdnet.com — About two weeks ago, Wal-Mart began selling $200 Linux-based PC. The initial run was around 10,000 units. Now Wal-Mart is sold out. Has Linux now found a niche?

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  • roberto_deneero, on 11/14/2007, -89/+13Yes, their niche is trailer trash too cheap to buy a real computer and too dumb to figure out how to use Linux.
    • daftman, on 11/14/2007, -3/+28Well that kinda prove you wrong since gOS is Linux and so far it's selling well to the "trailer trash"
    • sockpuppets, on 11/15/2007, -3/+92Some people don't have enormous disposable incomes. That doesn't make them trailer trash.
      • rheaume, on 11/14/2007, -31/+1you have blocked sockpuppet
        • afx1, on 11/14/2007, -1/+15good thing you didn't block sockpuppets.
        • GliTCH82, on 11/14/2007, -1/+23Do you remember that one time you thought other people actually give a ***** about who you have on your block list, and you inadvertently made everyone on Digg realize how much of a dumbass you are? Oh, right, that was now, no one cares, and you're still a ***** tool.
    • banmaster, on 11/14/2007, -25/+4If they shop at walmart it does!
    • RAEP, on 11/14/2007, -5/+12"Whuts that line-ux thingamajig Cleetus?"
      • TheSabre, on 11/14/2007, -1/+3"It's my sex box and her name is Sony.. err... RedHat."
    • skunkman62, on 11/14/2007, -13/+10most of them will be returned when they find out linux is not the same as windows or mac.
      • zwaldowski, on 11/14/2007, -1/+31) Online purchase
        2) They knew what they were getting.
        • stnkyme, on 11/14/2007, -0/+21) Online purchase? Who said it was an online purchase?
          2) No, they really dont know what they are getting because, as I'm sure the next month will reveal, lots of the computers will be returned because they dont have windows on them

          Dont underestimate how many stupid people there are and how easy it is to bilk them out of money
          • zwaldowski, on 11/14/2007, -0/+21) They were online purchases as the ONLINE STOCK sold out. RTFA.
            2) Online, it said "Linux computer."
      • objectcode, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3because these computers were selling out before linux was on them
      • cdahlkvist, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2Oh, I thought they would already be returning them since they typically can't make the welfare check last more than the 1st 10 days of the month.
    • Gavagai80, on 11/14/2007, -1/+25Congratulations on being rich. It certainly gives you the right to spit on those of us who don't have disposable income, my lord.
    • cowboy86, on 11/14/2007, -2/+5What a joke. Rather than not having a computer, now maybe lower income families can. Please just do us all a favor and kill yourself.
    • senatorpjt, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1Their niche is Linux supporters who want the thing to sell out. It's the same reason I actually paid for Leopard, it's sort of like voting against Microsoft with my wallet. At least I actually have a Mac to run it on so it's not a total loss.
    • objectcode, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1using linux is easy, its setting up or configuring linux thats the hard part for most people. but then again, how many people can configure or install windows. if you think anyone can, talk to someone who is in computer support.
    • Seidoger, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Nah niche as in "Id rather buy a computer at 1/3 of the price I'd pay only to get an operating system"
  • HoraceQS, on 11/14/2007, -15/+78I have to disagree, I think Windows is going to face some serious market share loss within the next few years. The next computing platform is the cell phone and cell phone sized computers, and linux already rules those.
    • manstein01, on 11/14/2007, -2/+8At some point, it will happen, but who knows when? The key right now is market share, and third party support. If they started making a turbotax or a photoshop for Linux, then things could very well pickup. Until then, it's a long up-hill struggle.

      And to others Apple would have a great deal more market share if the morons in charge didn't discontinue the MAC-clones ten years ago.
      • daftman, on 11/14/2007, -9/+4So your argument is that Linux's future depends on turbotax and photoshop? Are there only two professions in the world that use computers in your world? Accountants and Graphic Designers?
        • Darth_tater, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3i haven't moved over to linux because of Office 2007. that (and crysis) are the only things holding me back.

          yes, i know that i can run XP in a VM. That just dose not work or feel as fast (especially on my older machine)
        • Makaveli604, on 11/14/2007, -2/+5Planning to run Crysis on an old machine? GL WITH THAT.
        • Evildudetx, on 11/14/2007, -8/+2No, the point he is trying to make is linux severly lacks applications most people are familiar with or want to use. While a free OS is a nice idea, when there are no useful applications, its truely worthless. I've stood by this arguement for years and every year it still holds true.
          • daftman, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Get people to write for it. PS3 is quite useless if there's no game for it. But that doesn't mean that PS3 is "truly worthless"
          • HonoredMule, on 11/14/2007, -1/+3Exactly how does it matter that people aren't familiar with linux apps if they are not familiar with windows apps either? In case you haven't noticed, computer illiterate consumers and casual "email, browsing, and documents" users have consistently been the most readily satisfied by Linux, and the least likely to find fault in it.

            That's the vast majority of computer owners/buyers, and combined with availability of dirt-cheap yet fully capable Linux-based computers, the future of Linux and open source software in general looks bright indeed.
          • Flamekebab, on 11/14/2007, -1/+3No useful applications?
            Have you ever seriously used a modern linux distro, as in, for more than half an hour?
            Some applications are crap, but that's true of Windows too, but many of the applications are great, just as they are on Windows.
            Furthermore, if people only ever use what they're familiar with, how do they ever do anything new?
            Does that mean that when a new, fairly different version of Windows comes out, or Office, or whatever comes out, people don't use it? No, they use it and become familiar with it.
            My mother uses the internet, it's not solely for geeks. The point being that if we only ever used things we're already familiar with, nothing new ever gains traction.
        • senatorpjt, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1Do you think that accountants use TurboTax? It's marketed as a replacement for an accountant. It would be like those old commercials where the plumber secretly poured Drano down a drain when nobody was looking.

          Besides, Linux already has tax software. I did my taxes last year using bc. No joke. :)
      • ldog, on 11/14/2007, -0/+4Turbotax's online version seems to work fine in firefox. Would be nice if photoshop was ported though.
        • martalli, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Turbotax worked fine for me last year. In fact, it seemed to be a benefit to be able to use any computer to so my taxes, as I did some of the stuff from my office. Since I am self-employed, that was handy, and more secure than carting my laptop around with TT installed on the harddrive.
    • Roger, on 11/14/2007, -9/+32"The next computing platform is the cell phone and cell phone sized computers, and linux already rules those."

      Err... not really. Most PDAs run Windows Mobile and few cellphones run Linux.

      "I think Windows is going to face some serious market share loss within the next few years"

      I've been hearing that for 10 years now.
      • banmaster, on 11/14/2007, -22/+3Yep. I think its a case of the lintards hoping that if they say it enough, it will become true.
        Its just not going to happen!
        • KibibyteBrain, on 11/14/2007, -1/+8Android == Linux, and everyone is jumping on that...
        • zwaldowski, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Ha ha ha, ha ha ha, ha ha ha! You took the first syllable of a noun and made a portmanteau with "retards!" Now it's a collective noun. You're so clever!

          Did you come up with libtards as well? Say hello to my block list, troll.
        • mitchlourens, on 11/14/2007, -3/+2Android != Linux...it's just an opensource java platform, not linux...not all opensource is linux.
        • hansk, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1yer name should be called 'burymaster'
      • zman14321, on 11/14/2007, -1/+11Yes, windows mobile is common on smart phones, but a lot more phones than you think run embedded linux. Most people I know hate windows mobile and only use it because palm is limiting. A good linux mobile os alternative might easily take over. Also to banmaster, please, can we make real comments? banmaster do you think your comment makes you sound intelligent?
        • barnett25, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1I think Google is going to try to push Microsoft out of the phone business. They are well poised to do that within the next couple of years.
          It shouldn't take much, anything is better than Windows Mobile (except Palm's OS).
      • betterth, on 11/14/2007, -2/+4Hey look, it's Digg's weekly "Linux will take over the world soon! Just wait. No, wait a little bit longer. See, the sings are all there, it's just.. ehrm. Hmm" article. See ya guys next week, where we'll find out exactly how much Microsoft sucks (again) and how much Linux will take over (again).
      • Prosymnus, on 11/14/2007, -1/+0If I spend $200 on a computer I'd spend some time getting to know what I bought even if it was a mistake. Most users will find that Linux is an acceptable alternative and just might stick with it. They may have found their 'niche'. :)
        No mention of any display device though, what kind of monitor can be included in a $200 cost or do the users need spend more money for a monitor?
    • glasgowm, on 11/14/2007, -0/+7Sell this in the UK for £100 in a smaller case and ubuntu preinstalled and it'll sell like hell :o
    • glasgowm, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Sell this in the UK for £100 in a smaller case and ubuntu preinstalled and it'll sell like hell :o
    • bingobongony, on 11/14/2007, -4/+2People will still be buying desktops and laptops. The percentage of people who will be using their cell phones as their only, or even main computer device will be insignificant.
      But thta is OK. If you want to add yourself to the lsit of morons who have been predicting that Windows will losesignificant market share for hte last 10 years, go right ahead.
      • zwaldowski, on 11/14/2007, -2/+1Canyou learnhow touse thespacebar?
    • EgaoNoGenki, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Hello. Is financing available for these? For the sake of the poor, lets hope so.
  • saturn5, on 11/14/2007, -23/+6Linux will never be more than a niche OS used primarily by geeks. Mac users have been predicting "serious market share loss" for Windows for many, many years and it still hasn't happened. When the iMac was introduced 10 years ago a lot of people thought Apple would finally be a real threat to Microsoft but it didn't happen. Then the success of the iPod was going to do it, and so on. I don't think an OS that most people have never even heard of will do much better.

    Many people that bought one of those gOS PCs are probably running pirated XP on them now.
    • warsql, on 11/14/2007, -0/+17 -- Many people that bought one of those gOS PCs are probably running pirated XP on them now.
      Except that the hardware can't run XP.

      On the other hand, I wonder how many people bought these not realizing their favorite software (games, tax software, etc) won't run on it.
    • Gman1223, on 11/14/2007, -3/+10I won't sit here and rant and rave about how linux will take over, but I think its my place to sit here and tell you why what you said is retarded.
      You can't compare the two. Linux can be installed on pretty much anything with a cpu. Apple can only be run on their own hardware.
      Linux has an advantage over mac, anyone can sell it, be it dell, hp, gateway or what have you. Dell has said they want to sell OSX on their systems and apple gave them the finger, thats why mac will never get anywhere in the market share department. Linux has disadvantages too, like the lack of hardware support and people who are willing to port their software over, but those things are fixable, and people want them to be fixed. Linux is only beginning to become a real alternative, and will be one within the next 2 to 4 years. Give it time.
    • Kratos76, on 11/14/2007, -0/+6OUCH Saturn! That hurts dude. Tell us all how you are an expert again?! It seems to me that with this very PC being sold out by Walmart of all places, the release of the many Ubuntu Dell PCs and future rumors about HP and Sony, Your opinion is not based on facts.
  • saturn5, on 11/14/2007, -16/+3"Except that the hardware can't run XP" - huh? I have had XP running well enough on PCs with much lower specs than this one.

    And as the story says "Wal-Mart do sell a similar system with Home Basic pre-installed". So a similar system can handle Vista but this one can't handle 6 year old XP? WTF?

    I agree with your second point about software. I'll bet many of these are returned.
    • Gman1223, on 11/14/2007, -14/+10Dumb ass..... XP (and all other copies of windows) DOESN'T SUPPORT The CPU Architecture.
      Get a ***** clue.
      • Cymrubeats, on 11/14/2007, -3/+5Are you sure they don't? According to a google search, at least, you can buy comps with the 1.5 GHz VIA C7 CPU and XP installed.
      • saturn5, on 11/14/2007, -0/+4Yeah, that's why Wal-Mart sells a system with the SAME CPU that has WINDOWS VISTA preinstalled. You get a ***** clue dumb ass!

        http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_ ...
      • kamisama, on 11/14/2007, -0/+5@Gman1223
        what the ... a Via C7 is a X86 architecture CPU, the same as Intel Pentiums and amd athlons. They just are less powerful, but also use a lot less power, that's why you usually find them in laptops or embedded systems. If your motherboard supports the VIA C7 it will run any x86 OS, including windows vista and xp 32-bit. These may be somewhat slow cpu's , but if you don't plan on gaming with it, and you give it enough memory, it will run these operating systems and applications just fine.

        Why are you even getting dugg up? How about you get a a clue.
      • Gman1223, on 11/14/2007, -0/+4I withdraw my comment because: I got confused and thought it was running some sort of MIPS CPU, not a VIA. Sorry.
    • MrRockabilly, on 11/14/2007, -6/+8Wow . . . I'm actually embarrassed for you Saturn . . .Ive never heard someone make such an un-true statement and whole heartily think they were right.
    • banmaster, on 11/14/2007, -4/+8Huh? The VIA C7 (the chip used in these PCs) is completely windows compatible!
      Just google 'via c7' and even in google's little snippet from the site it clearly states:
      "The new VIA C7® processor is the smallest, lowest power, most efficient and most secure native x86 processor in the world."

      x86 means it WILL run windows!!
      Get a ***** clue you stupid douche!!
  • schestowitz, on 11/14/2007, -1/+24Well done, Everex team. As SJVN said:

    "When a desktop Linux distribution suddenly becomes popular before even DistroWatch starts tracking it, you know you've got something special. One new Ubuntu-based distribution, gOS, has managed to capture users' attention purely by word of mouth over the Internet."

    http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8172133608.html


    "Good Luck gOS and I am glad you are here..."

    Michael Perks
  • bigrod56, on 11/14/2007, -5/+14Screw the motherboard to the back of a 20 inch LCD (available at under $200) and offer it at the iLinux for $400. The single piece, with no cables to plug in, will be even less intimidating. Compare it to $1200 for the cheapest iMac. There isn't a Linux implementation of iTunes is there?

    Mitch
    • daftman, on 11/14/2007, -2/+8Amarok+Bittorrent
      I doubt people who buy $200 PC would waste money on iTunes
    • ElectroBot, on 11/14/2007, -8/+1You do realize that you're comparing a "toaster" (the Walmart $200 PC) to a "microwave" (the iMac)?

      I mean look at the big differences: Core 2 Duo vs Via C7, Wifi, Bluetooth, nice design, etc.
      • Wrathernaut, on 11/14/2007, -0/+13"Why-fy? I just want it to plug into that internet box the cable guy installed.
        Blue teeth? Not since I started brushing.
        So long as I can get my youtube, myspace, electronic mail and teh intarnets I'm fine."
        - Average PC User
        • ElectroBot, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1Actually the average user isn't going to want to keep the computer in the basement where they have their cable/dsl modem. And very few average users want to run CAT5 through their house just to get internet access.
      • Gavagai80, on 11/14/2007, -0/+7And what does the core 2 duo do for me when all my favorite applications (KDE, KOffice, amarok, kopete, opera etc) are quite speedy even with 20 windows open on my cheap older computer? What's the point of wifi and bluetooth for a desktop computer that sits in the same place all the time, exactly? Why would I care about a nice case design when I'm not entering a beauty contest or snobbery challenge?
      • Crisender111, on 11/14/2007, -4/+1Do u realize u shud be comparing urself to an idiot of the highest order?
      • RockMeAmadeus, on 11/14/2007, -2/+0I don't know about you, but I own both of those appliances for two different reasons. Think again.
  • tarkam, on 11/14/2007, -2/+69This comment really had me laughing:
    "Wal-Mart shoppers are so unsophisticated they equate physical size with capability."
    They should have seen the computers in the 70's those were pretty powerful!
    • jstone, on 11/14/2007, -0/+6I've actually seen this kind of thing done a lot. Many consumer electronics (especially low-end audio visual equipment) is a large, mostly empty, plastic shell with some metal added to make it feel heavier. The misconception that bigger=better is common. I guess people want to get a lot of material for their money; they must feel that, when something is small and expensive, they are being short-changed and should be getting 'more' (keep in mind that the average person does not take into account the R&D spent to make the items smaller.) The only thing that escapes this way of thinking is the cell phone, and I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason they do is that they are mostly battery, making their weight/size ratio quite high.
      • Kappa00, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3Famicom vs NES
      • Wrathernaut, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3Some people are happy with the form factor they've grown up with. Something small leaves more empty space for their wives to fill with $60 candles.
    • bingobongony, on 11/15/2007, -1/+5It is idiotic too. Trying to make it look like it is just Walmart shoppers that do that. The majority of ALL shoppers do that.
  • santiago1, on 11/14/2007, -4/+22 Considering the level of people who shop at Walmart, I get the strange sensation the Internet is about to get a WHOLE lot worse..... if that's possible.
    • ripple123, on 11/14/2007, -2/+9Itll be like AOL times 1000. Truly this is a black dawn for the internet
    • cawfee, on 11/14/2007, -0/+9I think the magnitude of what you're implying is equivalent of throwing a lump of coal into a smoldering volcano. What's a couple more Myspace pages and hits on Ebaums.
    • bingobongony, on 11/14/2007, -3/+3Do you mean people who are FAR smarter, FAR more successful, and FAR more socially adept than you could ever hope to be?
  • Corey1982, on 11/15/2007, -3/+54Hmm... while I love Ubuntu, I wonder how many of these machines were bought by mistake.
    • banmaster, on 11/14/2007, -6/+16As a commenter has said above, a LOT of these will probably be returned when the stupid hick purchasers find out they can't run ANY of the software they want!
      • Gavagai80, on 11/14/2007, -0/+4I would've thought so, but surely those people would be leaving negative reviews.
        • joebleaux, on 11/14/2007, -2/+8Those people do not know that there are a such thing as reviews. They will be giving their review to the obese woman at the Wal-Mart returns counter.
      • Flamekebab, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1I do wonder what kind of extra software this part of the market demands. Video games? A PC at this price point would be fairly useless for that even if it was running Windows.
        Please, give some examples, realistic examples of what they'd need?
    • Wrathernaut, on 11/14/2007, -2/+14Big Game Hunter XXVVIII will just have to make a Linux version.
    • nastajus, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1define a 200$ mistake for a computer. seems pretty clear what was being chosen.
    • joepaterno, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2These units were purchased from walmart's website. The people who bought these are the same linux users who chirp on this an every other community site on the net. As was pointed out on Slashdot the other day, there seems to have been a coordinated effort to encourage linux fans to buy these machines, and the comments on Walmart's site seem to back that up.
      • Atomic1fire, on 11/14/2007, -6/+320 million spent on walmart pcs
        wow
        (yes 10,000 * 200$= 20000000 = 20million)
        • dpjames, on 11/14/2007, -0/+9ten thousand times two hundred is two million
  • Cymrubeats, on 11/14/2007, -2/+3Has Linux now found a niche? No, but there will be a lot of little silver stars showing up in the sys tray of wal-mart shoppers. ;)
  • PhonicUK, on 11/14/2007, -3/+11I'm wondering how many people buy these machines knowing full well they run Ubuntu, and go and install a pirated copy of XP?
    Linux machine purchases != Linux users?
    Dunno guys, could go either way here...
    At the end of the day though, its a step in the direction! The more pressure the monopolies feel the more inclination they have to get their acts together and focus on quality products instead of manipulative (read: illegal) business practices to guarentee market share.
    • Wrathernaut, on 11/14/2007, -1/+3If this results in a "Windows: NAKED" for $20 I'd be happy.
    • herm1t, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Contradiction: the plural of monopoly.
  • UNL1M1T3D, on 11/14/2007, -1/+41They still have plenty of "Daddy's Girl" glitter shirts, though.
    • sockpuppets, on 11/14/2007, -2/+3Are you wearing yours right now?
      • UNL1M1T3D, on 11/14/2007, -2/+6No I picked up one for your mom. She still wears a XXL right?
    • bruenig, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1Only because they stock those by the millions not thousands.
  • avalys, on 11/14/2007, -20/+6Yes, Linux on the desktop has finally found its niche - cheap Windows knock-off.

    • zman14321, on 11/14/2007, -1/+6 sometimes its better to let those who don't understand opensource just use windows.
    • 4321234, on 11/14/2007, -5/+0And since Windows is a cheap Mac knock-off, you could just call it an even-cheaper Mac knockoff.
  • bradcrc, on 11/14/2007, -2/+11I'd imagine a lot of the people who bought these machines have absolutely no idea that the software isle at walmart doesn't contain software they can run.

    That said, I think this is a great step. If only schools would take the hint and begin buying these low price point PCs so new students learn on linux, they would bring that to their future employers and eventually the idea of spending more for a really awful operating system than the hardware to run it on will be a silly memory.
    • neodorian, on 11/14/2007, -3/+5"I'd imagine a lot of the people who bought these machines have absolutely no idea that the software isle at walmart doesn't contain software they can run."

      Luckily they can just add them from add/remove or synaptic for free.
    • phlll, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2I agree that there is the potential for a lot of pissed-off shoppers on Christmas morning. I hope the packaging is clearly marked that these are NOT Winboxes, and that they won't run the software one aisle over without first installing a different OS.

      Not to say Linux doesn't have good software, it just currently doesn't include the "Hello Kitty" collection.
  • JointheArmy, on 11/14/2007, -4/+52"About two weeks ago, Wal-Mart began selling $200 Linux-based PC. The initial run was around 10,000 units. Now Wal-Mart is sold out. Has Linux now found a niche?"

    I don't think it has. Wal-Mart customers without computers probably saw a $200 computer and thought it was a great deal - not because Linux found a new fan base.
    • Syvl, on 11/14/2007, -2/+5But you can't get a Windows PC with the same specs for $200. And that's where Linux comes in.
      • AgmLauncher, on 11/14/2007, -6/+2Yes you can. The OS is actually not expensive when distributed through ready built retail computers. And if MS wants to, it can reduce the built in cost of the OS even further by selling it cheaper to companies like Dell/HP.

        The majority of cost in a computer is the hardware and labor that assembled it, not the standard software.
        • digudown, on 11/14/2007, -0/+6how? Show me a retailer who sells $200 windows PC?
        • TeacherOfHeroes, on 11/14/2007, -0/+7Even dell pays somewhere around $60 for windows vista home (basic?). That is infinitely more than linux costs :P
        • Atomic1fire, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1its because linux is freely and legally accessible without payment
          and if your going to base your own distro most of everything is allready complete so no real work is involved which makes it cheaper then windows because of the work allready predone and the only real cost is hardware
      • arbulus, on 11/14/2007, -2/+3You can't even get a copy of windows for $200.
        • TeacherOfHeroes, on 11/14/2007, -1/+4*You* can't, but dell can get them at about $60 a pop.
        • cowboy86, on 11/14/2007, -2/+1I have XP home, pro, media center along with vista and Office Pro 2007. All for Free.
        • aussieNickuss, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3ARrrrrR.
  • likeyehokwhatev, on 11/14/2007, -0/+14Funny how something that used to be exclusively geek is now becoming popular among those who only care about using their internets and the google.
  • vladmazek, on 11/14/2007, -0/+9I can go by the sample size of my staff (~60 folks) that all went out and got one of these and stuck it in the data center for a spare shell box. I think the first wave might have been completely consumed by the people that actually know what Linux is, not just gazers that "got a computer for $200 to manage bank accounts"

    As for the summary, "did Linux find its niche" - no, "but more and more people are realizing that the platform doesn't matter when all your apps and data are in the cloud" and in that case the cheaper, the quieter, the lower-power-consumption the better.

    On face alone, $200 sunk on this gives a lot more back to someone that may have an aging 5-6 year old computer with expired A/V and 16 IE toolbars. Just sayin'

    -Vlad
  • RollFizzlebeef, on 11/14/2007, -12/+2When they pre-install what will run on the thing, of course Linux works fine.
    It's when those pesky people start wanting to run their own software that Linux breaks down like the totally unfriendly operating system it is.
    • KloroFormd, on 11/14/2007, -0/+12Install Mac software on Windows. Gosh, what a totally unfriendly operating system Microsoft has...

      Run software designed for the OS, and things are simple.
      • RollFizzlebeef, on 11/14/2007, -3/+2Wrong - I can't even run Ubuntu on my computer, because it isn't compatible with my video card.
        That's the kind of thing I'm talking about.
        • smickey1, on 11/14/2007, -0/+5Video cards aren't software. As for these boxes I'm sure they went with a video card that worked. Sorry your video card sucks though, maybe you should get a new one?.
        • smickey1, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2Video cards aren't software. As for these boxes I'm sure they went with a video card that worked. Sorry your video card sucks though, maybe you should get a new one?.
          • RollFizzlebeef, on 11/14/2007, -3/+1I didn't say video cards were software, and "going with a video card that worked" makes my point, doesn't it?
            And my PC is brand new.
          • arbulus, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2@rollfzzlebeef
            I call shenanigans.
            What brand new PC has a video card that is incompatible with Ubuntu? Is it integrated? Did you add the card?
            The only cards I know of that are troublesome with Ubuntu are older Raedon cards, and they still work, just not with acceleration.
    • neodorian, on 11/14/2007, -0/+13Why would you try to run Windows software on Linux (if you didn't know how to use Wine or whatever)? Why put PS2 discs in your XBOX? The point is that they have a basic web browsing and home productivity computer for $200. For all the grannies and hillbillies who only need an "internet box", this is perfect. The right tool for the right job. Why pay more if you don't need to?
      • RollFizzlebeef, on 11/14/2007, -3/+1Yeah, you just made my point for me, thanks.
        • arbulus, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1But why is it a problem if "hillbillies and grannies" want computers? It says nothing about the OS, it says that this is an inexpensive computer that is configured to make it easy to do the things that most typical users do: surf the net and send email. Why is that a problem? why is it worthy of your derision?
      • killtherebel, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3I agree. I dont see people who spend $200 on a PC even buying software. They will just use what it came with and play the flash advertising games on the top of myspace pages.
  • Riffraffs, on 11/14/2007, -8/+7People will take this home and get their nephew to put a pirate copy of XP on it.
  • Lane, on 11/14/2007, -2/+1hmm if it uses DDR2 ram this might just make it into my closet as a headless server.
  • ciano, on 11/14/2007, -9/+1Like the article says, image is everything. I predict that this will earn Linux (in the mind of the common man) a reputation as the "Redneck" OS. So will it really be good for Linux in the long run?
    • sjbdallas, on 11/14/2007, -0/+7If it had a camo paintjob they would have sold out faster.
    • arbulus, on 11/14/2007, -0/+6does the fact that wal-mart also sells $499 Dells mean that Windows Vista is a "redneck os"?

      No, it means that there is an affordable, accessible, easy to use computer that is just right for most average users. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you that you think everyone who buys a comp has to buy a tricked out uber gaming rig running Vista Ultimate that they built themselves from parts bought on NewEgg?

      You know, not everyone in the world is a power user. This $200 machine would be perfect for my mother in law, or my young nephew, or my teenage nephew, or my sister, or my parents, or anyone who just wants a computer. This is a great opportunity for people to have a computer who might not ordinarily be able to afford $1000 for a machine, and it gives them exactly what most users are looking for. Why do you have to ***** this down?
      • Atomic1fire, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1just call it a web optimized pc
        a fancy name for netware only
  • Lane, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3I hope they explain to people how to load up software in Ubuntu otherwise it will be a disaster when they pop in that new game they picked up.
    • 4321234, on 11/14/2007, -1/+0They'd probably have as much luck as the guy trying to run halo 3 on $200 worth of hardware running Vista.
      • louiedog, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1However, Halo 3 runs very well on $280 hardware.
      • digudown, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Halo 3 is not release on PC, but point taken.
    • zman14321, on 11/14/2007, -1/+5new game? show me a two hundred dollar computer running windows that can play a game newer than pole position.
      • Lane, on 11/14/2007, -0/+5Clearly you haven't played barbie dress up online death match.
  • Felix57, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1this is probably the best thing Walmart has done for itself and for once its not at the expense of others
    • bingobongony, on 11/14/2007, -2/+3What a dumb thing to say. In many different ways.
    • krusader3z, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1I choose not to shop there, but Wal-Mart is the epitome of globalization. World markets are going to be very open in our lifetimes, it is a fact of life we are going to have to learn to accept.
  • mrfreeziexp, on 11/14/2007, -0/+4http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_ ...

    Now it says that you can "Step up to the Everex GC3502 for Double the Memory and Windows Vista Basic." Ouch.
  • Kratos76, on 11/14/2007, -3/+5Thanks for the BREAKING News that Slashdot brought us two days ago.
    • sockpuppets, on 11/14/2007, -2/+3What's /.?
    • KaptainKandy, on 11/14/2007, -1/+1Welcome to Digg, sorry that our news is too stale for your highly exquisite tastes.
  • TheNik, on 11/14/2007, -3/+2They may be sold out but Bill Joe Kooter is going to be super-pissed when he has to use terminal.
    • dfarq, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2Wait until someone tells Bill Joe Kooter to type rm -rf / into that terminal...
      • Wrathernaut, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3With any forethought, the default Bill Joe Kooter user login cannot do that.
  • Evildudetx, on 11/14/2007, -7/+2These are mearly cheap Christmas presents and I guarentee if you were to look at them in 6 months, you'll only find a handful still running linux. Odds are these are getting hacked copies of XP/Vista installed on them as I type.....
    • mtekk, on 11/14/2007, -0/+5I doubt they'd run well with Vista...
    • AgmLauncher, on 11/14/2007, -1/+2If you read some of the reviews on Wal Mart's site, that's EXACTLY what people are doing.
    • ldog, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1hacked copies?
      Couldn't they just use regular versions that they bought or pirated?
  • redcard, on 11/14/2007, -0/+6I suspect we (the linux fans) bought all of them.

  • JohnFrazee, on 11/14/2007, -4/+2Windows is far to complex for the millions of pc tards. Intro......dumbed down Linux version.
  • furiouszebra, on 11/14/2007, -1/+5edit: *****, beaten
  • Mekun, on 11/14/2007, -8/+0Ya i bet no one will format the HD and install windows on it, ya thats not happening. All thoses people are using linux im almost sure of it, well pretty sure. Almost positive. I doubt it really.
  • KaptainKandy, on 11/14/2007, -1/+4"Even at the low end, however, image is everything. The gPC is built using tiny components, but put inside a full-size case because research indicates that Wal-Mart shoppers are so unsophisticated they equate physical size with capability."

    So that must be why the hillbillies try to race me in pickup trucks.
  • dfarq, on 11/14/2007, -0/+8I see two sides to this. I sold computers at retail in the mid 1990s and had to explain to people who were looking at Macintoshes that only two of the aisles of software were stuff that would run on a Mac, the other 8 aisles were for DOS/Windows (yeah, DOS). Some people were OK with that. Others developed a sudden interest in Compaq.

    But if you want a simple computer for basic needs and don't anticipate ever wanting off-the-shelf software, a $200 PC running Linux is awesome. The price is fantastic, but besides that, it's way too easy for someone who doesn't know what they're doing to destroy a Windows machine with viruses and spyware. The next time the guy my mom married messes up their computer and brings it back to me to fix, it's coming back to them with Linux (probably Ubuntu) loaded on it. As long as Mom can still read her e-mail and type letters, that's all that matters.

    Some people never run any software other than what comes on the computer when they buy it, and Linux can serve that niche as well as anything.
  • greevar, on 11/14/2007, -0/+8Linux has all the necessary productivity apps it needs to compete with windows (i.e. open office, gimp, firefox). What the Linux market really needs is a large influx of AAA quality game titles. I would be glad to drop windows if i could play my favorite games on Linux as efficiently as I can in windows. And as for the few odd MS apps you can't live without, WINE takes care of that. All in all, here's hoping these cheap Linux boxes bring new competition and innovation to a stagnant OS market.
    • bingobongony, on 11/14/2007, -6/+1Games are not driving Windoiws sales. The fact remainsis those Open Source programs are NOT as good as the brand name. Not even close. People do NOT want to use Open Office.
      • Arramol, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3Games and a handful of apps (mostly Photoshop) are the reasons I haven't formatted and gone Linux only.
      • vertexoflife, on 11/14/2007, -0/+4Actually, I really do think games are selling Windows. Open Office does everything Office does, and you can even get it to run faster by changing some options. My parents are fine running open office and firefox, that's all they really do with the computer.
      • arbulus, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3I want to use Open Office, and I do.
  • h4mx0r, on 11/14/2007, -0/+9200 dollars for any PC with any OS is going to sell. Well, maybe except Windows ME, but that's another story.
  • my10cent, on 11/14/2007, -11/+1*lol* I bought 5 of them to harvest the parts, you really cant buy all the parts for $200 so it was a good bargain, and I would never run Linux *lol*
    • Kratos76, on 11/14/2007, -0/+6OMG are you serious? What could you possibly use out of this? the $30 DVDrom/cdrw or the $15 512ddr2 ram? Mobo is proprietary for the same processor... not intel or amd. Onboard graphics and network and audio. Maybe a $20 powersupply. You wasted your money dude. You'd have been way better off having 5 working machines internet ready with firefox, office compatible apps and a cd burner.
    • dfarq, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1The motherboard out of these things is available separately for about $60, CPU included. So you're looking at $60 (mobo) + $20 (RAM) + $30 (optical drive) + $30 (case/power supply) + $10 (keyboard and mouse) + $50 (hard drive). I count $200 total, so it looks to me like this system is selling for right about what it should.
  • Scabdates, on 11/14/2007, -6/+2You can _run_ XP on a 20mhz machine with about 8mb of RAM. You can't run it well, but you can run it.

    You can run it _well_ on a 533mhz machine with 256mb of RAM (done it myself).
    • digudown, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2500 MHz Celeron 64 MB Ram could run XP well .. but it was SP1 and could not run office.. btw how does it contribute to the discussion?
  • baddog993, on 11/14/2007, -2/+1You bought 5 of them for a 1.5 gh and 512 ram? You got took, also you can run windows on 533 mhz and 256mb but it will be slow.
    • cowboy86, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1I just sold a couple of old compaqs that were in my attic with similar specs. 500 mhz processor 256 mb ram. Both for 65 dollars. Both ran XP pro without a problem. As long as you don't try to run Photoshop or Crysis you're good. I sold them each for 65 dollars.
  • OMGLINUXWOAH, on 11/14/2007, -3/+2And now you can find them on ebay for 250 buy it now price.
  • openx, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3I think that it is great to see something different on the shelf. In all reality Linux will serve the vast majority of computer users much better than the latest MS cash cow, it is only the “hardcore” PC gamer that must have a Windows machine.
    I love Ubuntu, and the fact that there is not a new virus every week, and all the normal software is bundled with it (for free) is great. I think if more everyday computer users could try Linux they would be well pleased. Linux may never take the place of MS, but competition in the OS market is great for us. If there were no Mac’s and no Linux how much would that new copy of Vista cost?
  • TheExtendedName, on 11/14/2007, -2/+310,000 crappy PCs running linux is 10,000 more people that think linux is crap. Not due to any fault in linux but due to crappy hardware. If linux is to make it in the main stream market it needs to be sold on mid and high end machines. If all people see is linux on slow and crashy PCs what do you think people are going to think about linux.
    • digudown, on 11/14/2007, -0/+3Why do you think Hw is crappy? Its powerful enough to run basic apps.
      • mvent2, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2Its the Windows mindshare. Windows is the only OS that becomes significantly more bloated with each release so fanboys think that any PC thats not high-end is absolutely useless.
  • Rupan, on 11/14/2007, -10/+3Holy *****! 10,000 new Linux users?! Linux just quadrupled its install base.
    • Gman1223, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1Only 2,500 Linux users before this?
  • Awspire, on 11/14/2007, -10/+1That Walmart PC is an absolute waste of money, looks like they found 10,0000 suckers. Dell's been having a one day sale for a $400.00 PC, which includes a 19" LCD monitor, Intel Dual-Core 1.6 GHz, 1GB RAM, CD/DVRW, 160GB HDD, and Windows Vista Home.

    http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/us/s ...
    • sirhomer, on 11/14/2007, -2/+4No thanks don't want Vista, and that machine isn't certified to run Linux.
    • DarkN00b, on 11/14/2007, -2/+3WTF would I want with a PC that has Windows preinstalled for? I'd just have to install Linux over it anyway.
  • JoeB4ever, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1I'd be interested in knowing what percentage of those computers get returned.

    I've used linux before and it took me some time to learn how to properly use the OS. I just can't see 10,000 walmart shoppers not get disgruntled with linux. Most PC users already have enough trouble using windows. Or maybe I'm wrong/stupid and linux has changed since I've last used it. If so I might give it another try.
    • dfarq, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1It's a new distribution (or a new approach on a new-ish distribution) that gives the computer an appliance feel. Icons for all the common tasks are out in the open. If all you're interested in is running the software that's already there, it's pretty easy.

      That said, plain vanilla Ubuntu makes things pretty easy for the moderately advanced computer user, and once it's set up, it's not all that difficult for inexperienced users either.
  • Atomic1fire, on 11/14/2007, -0/+1what they should do is offer a 20 dollar gamepack of precompiled linux games
    that would be the smartest method as far as installing goes
    and then just sell bundles of software they never heard of but can be used instead of something
    (like comparing maltomeal marshmellow mateys to general mills lucky charms)
    • 4321234, on 11/14/2007, -0/+0It's always hard to buy linux packages of damn near any category. I guess because it's free.
  • londubh, on 11/14/2007, -0/+2fnord
  • HouseFan, on 11/14/2007, -2/+5And, as usual, the douchebags strike again. It's getting hard to see useful comments here.
  • insomniac8400, on 11/14/2007, -6/+1Half of those already have copies of xp on it.
  • 4321234, on 11/14/2007, -3/+2Some people may buy these, and wipe the drive and install xp. If you figure that means windows is better, please remember, nearly EVERY linux home computer started life as a windows box. Of course, if there was some reason you absolutely needed windows on one of these walmart specials, then you could always install it on a separate partition, or add another hardrive.
  • qkmbr22, on 11/14/2007, -0/+0I think it's great that they're offering a choice. They should offer a choice of Windows or Linux on more of the models. Knocking $100 bucks off the price of any PC with Linux could encourage more people to give Linux a try. However, I think that some people will definitely get frustrated if they don't really realize that Linux is not like Windows before they buy the computer. Wal-Mart should train their employees to explain to the customers what they're getting themselves into... and perhaps offer some kind of phone support.
    • tesloz, on 11/14/2007, -0/+0Most people buying sub-$200 PCs don't bother to buy additional softwares. They would be satisfied with what it came with. At least they have access to free or open source from the net.
      The whole purpose of this PC is to sell as an appliance, and it fits that description very well.
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