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.

Comments on Linux PCs a bust at Wal-Mart

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  • 6 Posted by romeowsam@sbcglobal.net on Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    remember, you get what you pay for.cheap is cheap and it is not something you can depend on.i would rather spend a little more for a system with a proven ,professional support base that is handy when you need it.if i need help i don't want to go knocking door to door to door to find the solution to my problem...

  • 7 Posted by paul_soares on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    miller6994, online support doesn't count. 99% if the people that buy a PC at Walmart wouldn't have a clue what an "online forum" even is, nevermind how to get there, sign up, and know what to look for and then actually follow through. It comes down to familiarity. People want what they have at the office and what their friends are all using.

  • 8 Posted by miller6994 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    Both of you sound like die hard stuck in the rut MS users. People where happy with Conestoga wagons a while back too, but they moved on. We'll see that in offices, schools and business where people are looking at the bottom line there will be a change. IT groups are realizing that they can slim down their budgets by not worrying about the ridiculous licensing that MS stuff involves. Open Source will be the path forward, just move your wagons to the side and get ready.

  • 9 Posted by kupriaa1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    miller6994 - You dont need virus protection? Or rather maybe you should say there are few options for virus protection.

  • 10 Posted by miller6994 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    In Linux there isn't any need for virus protection. According to a recent poll of Linux users 95% do not use any virus protection. Without the root password no one can do anything to your stuff. Its real simple. There are several anti-virus options, but why use them when not required? Its just needless MS required overhead. http://www.linux-xp.com/features/no-viruses/ http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/Linux.vs.Windows.html

  • 11 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Never saw the machines in the Walmarts around here - were they really selling them, or is this all hype?

  • 12 Posted by kupriaa1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    who says they are not required? Anyone could write a virus for a linux OS and infect your machine- no OS is virus free. It doesnt matter what most Linux users do- I havent run virus protection on my Windows computers for fifteen years- and have never had a problem. Many times the reason linux users can get away without virus protection is because they know how to use their computer. They know what kernels and operating systems are.

  • 13 Posted by jtownsendindy@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    Linux, Linux, Linuxxxxxx, how about "what" software runs on "Linux??? Maybe people will buy if they know what software is out there for it? Are they free as well????

  • 14 Posted by kupriaa1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Most software that is written for Linux is free- and usually pretty good for that matter. However, most of the really nice program Windows (cost money software)users enjoy wont be found in Linux. For instance you can download openoffice which is a suite of programs that mimics Microsoft Office. For the average consumer, most of the features they use in MS Office can be found in OpenOffice. However, advanced users who use VBA with MS Office will be disappointed with Open Office. Then again most Ms Office users have never used VBA to its fullest extent.

  • 15 Posted by miller6994 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:20PM EDT Report Abuse

    Linux has software that does everything anyone would need and more all for free: OpenOffice vs. Microsoft Office look here http://www.linux.com/feature/118986 Linux software is stored in repositories just online storage bins where the latest stuff is kept for access. Each distro has its own and users such as yourself (give it a try) can search via category or name for what ever they want. Just Click-N-Run as in CNR.com or what ever tool the disto has. Just install if you like it and remove if you don't. Just download and install, all free. Right now Freespire has 25844 software packages available that do everything from games to finance to web hosting and server stuff. All free.

  • 16 Posted by irwin12428 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have seen a review of the Wal Mart machine in one of the major computer magazines, PC World, I think. The review stated that the computer worked poorly and wasn't worth the low cost. I wish there were an alternative.

  • 17 Posted by agent_046 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    ok first of all, with wal-mart your dealing with the run of the mill customers, over half are old gripey ladies in their 70's who see a $199 computer and think they can play solitare and then bring it back when they realize they have to type some "gibberish" just to make it work and argue for hours even with their grandson on how it's a stupid computer and they threw it away because she didn't like it. i know most of people here are "i.t" guys and girls, but these are average and below average people, who have NO CLUE what linux is, some are now just hearing it, so it's a full on lose lose situation.

  • 18 Posted by agent_046 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    ok first of all, with wal-mart your dealing with the run of the mill customers, over half are old gripey ladies in their 70's who see a $199 computer and think they can play solitare and then bring it back when they realize they have to type some "gibberish" just to make it work and argue for hours even with their grandson on how it's a stupid computer and they threw it away because she didn't like it. i know most of people here are "i.t" guys and girls, but these are average and below average people, who have NO CLUE what linux is, some are now just hearing it, so it's a full on lose lose situation.

  • 19 Posted by chase2hoop on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    BOO walmart you stink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 20 Posted by demolaydad1997@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    The Wal-Mart customer for the most part isn't sophisticated especially when it comes to computers. Computer nerds love Linux, but the average family can't understand how it operates, nor can they go to the store to buy their favorite games and other programs.

  • 21 Posted by tcsenter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    Linux community forums are helpful and responsive because all 3000 people who know Linux around the globe are there offering help to the remaining 3000 people around the globe who want to know Linux. The logistics are vastly more favorable to the quaint little enthusiast or hobbyist subculture with extremely limited mass appeal. Drop 10 million Linux boxes into the homes of typical cut-rate PC users (e.g. eMachines) around the globe and those helpful little Linux forums would be swept under a megatsunami of users needing help.

  • 22 Posted by tcsenter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    Re: irwin12428 The reviews were right. Linux is good but it can't perform miracles. Any modern OS and half-decent mainstream applications are going to need a little more oomph than the anemic VIA processors and DX7-class UniChrome integrated graphics that Everex stuffed into those boxes. These processors are suitable for cash registers, ATM machines, set-top boxes, and maybe those video poker machines, not much else. An embedded RISC processor (e.g. PPC) would probably have offered better performance than the super-low end VIA x86 processors Everex used. It takes Open Office Writer (2.3.0) between six and eight full seconds to initially load on my Athlon XP 3000+ (512K), 1GB RAM, with 7200RPM SATA 1.5Gbps hard drive running under Windows XP. I can't imagine what mainstream application performance would be like on a stinking VIA C7-M with 512MB RAM. Java application performance is especially brutal on low-end processors.

  • 23 Posted by jh7873tch on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can't help but wonder whether this is entirely due to a pair of facts (my suppositions): ... those who are savvy enough to manage Linux on their own PC aren't inclined to techshop at Walmart. ... those who are inclined to buy PCs from Walmart are not only incapable of comprehending hex to binary conversion but also reluctant to unscrew their PC case unless someone with an MCSE is present.

  • 24 Posted by t_rick.geo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    Honestly, I think the support question as well as lack of marketing are the biggest factors in the Everex Linux failure at WalMart. For the record, I am typing this post on my main desktop running Linspire 6.0 (with Microsoft Intellectual Property Protection). I am also a Computer Science graduate. I think that if someone can begin a grassroots franchise to sell Linux machines with support at least as good as Dell, we will begin seeing some progress. Another good example of my theory is Dell's Linux experiment. I believe that only 200+ Linux-equipped Dells per day were sold (in comparison to 1.6 million Windows PCs). Dell makes sure that customers understand they are on their own and Dell can provide no support. As for tcsenter's post about resources: you are correct about Linux unable to perform miracles, but I disagree that it was the cause for the Everez Linus failure. My main desktop is happily steaming along on a PIII 850 Mhz CPU. It honestly is a little slow in real data cruching, but it is extremely competitive through real day-to-day tasks compared with both my work and home laptops running Windows XP (Athlon XP 1800, Pentium Centrino-M @ 1.6Ghz).

  • 25 Posted by bravoall1552 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    i agree with whoever said that it was a shame. It is. In fact, i'm using linux to write this. It works, and I don't see why anyone wouldn't get it besides the fact that they don't know commands. I mean, there's tons of them in the world. Linux will probably soon kick Windows a little bit. But first, a really good Linux that resembles Windows has to appear so that people know the basics. Probably why it slowed is because of its window manager and is distro. People who like Mac should stay with is (unless they like linux, in which that case they should a distro with the window manager GNOME as their default), while Windows on the other hand seems to be a bit expensive right now, with all the features, while linux is completely customizable...

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