PCs sold with NO preinstalled software.

[Calum]

http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/05/02/1514240.shtml?tid=7" target="_blank">From News Forge:

quote:Thursday May 02, 2002 - [ 03:18 PM GMT ]
Topic - Hardware - By Russell C. Pavlicek -
On Monday, we published the article, "Installing Linux On a Wal-Mart OS-less machine." The review was positive overall, but it highlighted a problem: that the modem included in the machine has no functional Linux driver.

Less than three days later, the builder of the Wal-Mart systems, Microtel Computer Systems, announced that it has heard the voice of the Open Source community and will soon begin shipping Linux-compatible modems in its Wal-Mart PC packages.

What do we think?

[creedon]

I haven't been posting for a while (I stayed out of the juvenile pissing contests that were going on), but I'm ambivilent about this.  Walmart's business methods strangely paralell Micrsoft's; it strikes me as passing strange that a "middle America"-type company like Walmart would recognize a fairly small element in the computer world that WANTS computers without O.S.'s (read:Windows).  Maybe it's just paranoia (or Alzhiemers), but I do not trust Walmart's motives.

[psyjax]

quote:Originally posted by creedon:
I haven't been posting for a while (I stayed out of the juvenile pissing contests that were going on)...

A bunch of us (including me    )were made moderators to thwart lamers. Their gone for good now... or are they?

[Calum]

oh come, come, my feelings are harshly divided over this one and i thought that people would have some interesting opinions about it, i mean, like creedon says, why are WalMart (huge) trying to pander to the nonwindows (particularly linux) faction?
Have they just identified a niche early? Or is it some other thing? Surely they would make more mony by shipping ready made linux PCs, which would not cost them a cent more, but would sell a lot more units to people who don't want to install an operating system?

[Calum]

just to throw fuel on the fire; click this link.

quote:Indeed, Wal-Mart operates as a massive wealth extractor. Instead of profits staying in town to be reinvested locally, the money is hauled off to Bentonville, either to be used as capital for conquering yet another town or simply to be stashed in the family vaults (the Waltons, by the way, just bought the biggest bank in Arkansas).
It

[voidmain]

I like Wal-Mart personally. Yes, they do some stinker things here and there but I think all in all they are a good company. And I believe they are *very* good for the average consumer. And I could be wrong but I don't believe they are selling those machines specifically with Linux in mind but to give the consumer a choice.  If they want to put Linux on it they can. If they want to put Windows XP on it they can (of course it will cost them more). If they already have Win9x but just want to upgrade their computer they can install their Win9x without having to pay for the OS again and get caught up in that assinine licensing of XP. If they want BSD, they can. If they want SCO they can. etc, etc..

If I was in need of a general purpose PC at the moment I would certainly buy one of the Wal-Mart models.

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by VoidMain:
I like Wal-Mart personally. Yes, they do some stinker things here and there but I think all in all they are a good company. And I believe they are *very* good for the average consumer. And I could be wrong but I don't believe they are selling those machines specifically with Linux in mind but to give the consumer a choice.  If they want to put Linux on it they can. If they want to put Windows XP on it they can (of course it will cost them more). If they already have Win9x but just want to upgrade their computer they can install their Win9x without having to pay for the OS again and get caught up in that assinine licensing of XP. If they want BSD, they can. If they want SCO they can. etc, etc..

If I was in need of a general purpose PC at the moment I would certainly buy one of the Wal-Mart models.

I agree with you about the OS-less machines; it's a given that generally available computers without an OS are difficult to buy, and someone who already has their own software CAN save money this way; my argument is with Wal-mart.  As was said in the article, they are ruthless.  I don't want to remove my support of MS by supporting a company whose business practices are the same.  I will continue to build my own boxes, and reccomend that others do the same.

[jtpenrod]

Given Wal-Mart's reputation, I'm not sure this business of selling these dirt-cheap, OS-less computers is such a good thing. You can be sure they aren't doing it for the love of Linux. If that were the case, why not sell Linux systems good to go right out of the box? Go to Wally World: right next to those wonderful new boxen you'll find Win XP boxed sets featured prominantly. Buy the cheap, naked PC, then spend up to $299 to put XP on it.    :eek:   Gee, I wonder who benefits here?(!) There is also the possibility that this is a ploy to help Macro$uck with their legal troubles. "We, a monopoly? Not us: the largest chain store in America sells computers that don't feature our software. How could we be a monopoly?"        There is also the possibility that Macro$uck is, or will, use this as a means to screw over the OEMs who have licensing agreements with them. This can't be a good thing for Gateway, Dell, HP, etc. who've been putting XP on their systems. (Not that I feel real damn sorry for them: deal with the devil - get burned in the end     ) Keep an eye on this situation; things are going to get interesting    
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[ May 06, 2002: Message edited by: jtpenrod ]

[sporkme]

seeing as how walmart is so rich and powerful like the omnicient oz, maybe the big rat in yon hold can sense the sinking of the proverbial ship, thus opting out of selling the faltering operating system... COULD WE BE SO LUCKY?

maybe they see that they can have the lowest prices possible if they don'y pay ms for os's.

walmart hasn't done anything in particular to piss me off... at least you can buy blank boxes

HA THE NETZERO CAR JUST CRASHED -- they do piss me off... he got into a jam with the smuckers car AHHHHHHH!

[sporkme]

i buy a lot of stuff there, but only at 4 am when all the white trash nightmares (at least here in indiana) that tend to frequent that place have parked the poor overworked motorized shopping buggy and headed on home to tornado alley.

still, wal mart can be a freak show!

about them taking the money and running.... a whole shit load of people work there... either young or underskilled or maybe moonlighters.  those people make money and those people live in that area.  sure it ain't much, but it stays.

plus, there is something to be said for a store where you can not purchase music that sings about drugs or guns, but you can get your darviset scrip filled and tool over to the outdoor shop and buy a 12-gauge shell shucker!

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by jtpenrod:
Given Wal-Mart's reputation, I'm not sure this business of selling these dirt-cheap, OS-less computers is such a good thing. You can be sure they aren't doing it for the love of Linux. If that were the case, why not sell Linux systems good to go right out of the box? Go to Wally World: right next to those wonderful new boxen you'll find Win XP boxed sets featured prominantly. Buy the cheap, naked PC, then spend up to $299 to put XP on it.     :eek:    Gee, I wonder who benefits here?(!) There is also the possibility that this is a ploy to help Macro$uck with their legal troubles. "We, a monopoly? Not us: the largest chain store in America sells computers that don't feature our software. How could we be a monopoly?"         There is also the possibility that Macro$uck is, or will, use this as a means to screw over the OEMs who have licensing agreements with them. This can't be a good thing for Gateway, Dell, HP, etc. who've been putting XP on their systems. (Not that I feel real damn sorry for them: deal with the devil - get burned in the end        ) Keep an eye on this situation; things are going to get interesting        
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[ May 06, 2002: Message edited by: jtpenrod ]

LIKE your thinkin', dude!!  Remember, sometimes paranoia is just good thinking!!