Linux PCs a bust at Wal-Mart
Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:25AM EDT
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Linux and Wal-Mart seem like they should go hand-in-hand. Wal-Mart's avowed goal is to offer the lowest prices at retail. And when it comes to PC OSes, you can't beat Linux: It's free. So it comes as a bit of a surprise when Wal-Mart says it's pulling its Linux-based computers off of store shelves. Why? No one was buying them.
The Everex "gPC" Linux computers, which cost just $199, made headlines when they were launched late last year and quickly sold out. But after the initial rush to grab the units (10,000 were sold in a week), sales appear to have stopped, or at least dramatically slowed.
Wal-Mart says merely, "This really wasn't what our customers were looking for," which is corporate-speak for "We didn't sell enough to justify the shelf space." Wal-Mart is infamous for pushing suppliers to slash prices to razor-thin profit margins and demanding sales be maintained at very high levels lest the shelf space be given away to better-performing products. I've no doubt that's exactly what happened here: The profit on a $199 computer can't be more than a few bucks, and desktops take up a ton of room.
Of course, the reason why the ultra-cheap computer wasn't selling requires a bit more conjecture. The specs on the Everex machines were decidedly stripped down, but I imagine it's the lack of Windows that ultimately made it tough for most people to pull the trigger and purchase one. Everyone loves to bash the Microsoft OS, but when it comes time to buy a new computer, people tend to gravitate toward what's familiar (and, importantly, what they use at the office). If anyone has other theories why the Linux computer didn't make it, post them in the comments below.
Here's some good news for Linux fans: The $199 computer will still be on sale at walmart.com.
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2 Posted by miller6994 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:18PM EDT Report Abuse
There are also so many different free versions (Distributions)of Linux available for the download. To each his or her own as far a look and feel and how you customize it. There are infinitively more ways to setup YOUR desktop on Linux than on anything MS. Be an individual, be totally independent of those malware people that spread viruses and such. Why bother with all of that needless stuff.
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3 Posted by salubrious98 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:12PM EDT Report Abuse
what comes down to is support. Most people can approach families or friends to help on any MS products. But when it comes to Linux, how many can step up and help? Most consumer also asks around before making the purchase and the lack of knowledge on Linux deters most from committing.
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4 Posted by bigwavedave000 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:18PM EDT Report Abuse
Just promoting a Linux PC as "its cheaper" isn't going to be enough, it will have to be on its capabilities. Most people will need more information on those capabilities before risking even the $200 on an unknown, at least unknown to them. That's partly how iPod won its converts. Those folks who are most familiar with Linux capabilities probably have already used a Live CD or installed Linux on their PC in at least a dual boot mode. Not many potential customers in either of those groups then, as Wal-mart discovered. Linux doesn't have a large advertising budget behind it like MS Windows, it relies mostly on word of mouth and that's a big disadvantage. Like it or not, Linux is the long shot write-in candidate against the millionaire incumbent.
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5 Posted by miller6994 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:30PM EDT Report Abuse
Support abounds. Linux forums are the most wonderful places for support. Each distribution (version) has it's own forum. Plus there many generic Linux forums all FREE and FRIENDLY. Just register and ask away. Free online support, there are Linux users all over the globe in every time zone. Post a question, concern or a how do ya and at least one person will answer most likely more. Look at Freespire.org it's a great free distro with a strong forum. Newbie (new user) questions are welcomed and eagerly answered. It's the same with PClinuxOS, Linux Mint, Fedora, Ubuntu and many, many others. Free support, encouragement and ideas. Where can you find global community driven support like that?
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1 Posted by miller6994 on Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:08PM EDT Report Abuse
What a shame. Linux is more stable, faster and customizable. There isn't any need for anti-virus or anti-spyware. It's just a little different than Windows, just operates better. There is learning curve that most people do not wish to deal with. We learn things all of the time. Look how fast people learn when the iPod or any other ne device hits the market. The usable differences are slight, if you can handle XP you can defiantly handle Linux. The entire basis of using a PC is to use it as a productive informational and entertaining tool. Each time you need the hammer it works, it doesn't need anti-virus, or massive service packs to continue its job and neither does Linux.