Mandrake Hits Wal-Mart (.com)

caveat writes: "The Register is reporting that Wal-Mart is shipping PCs with Mandrake preinstalled. 'Prices range from $391 for a 900MHz Duron machine to $648 for a 2GHz Pentium 4 with CD-RW.' more power to them." So now walmart.com customers seeking a pre-installed Free OS aren't limited to Lindows. I wonder if any Wal-Mart manager is brave enough to actually set up a few machines in-store. Update: 07/15 15:35 GMT by T : As many people have pointed out, the systems running Mandrake -- just like the Lindows machines on offer -- are only available through Wal-Mart's website.

Comments

Now how many people will actually buy one?

[chris-johnson]

I'm curious what will happen when some redneck purchases one of these, goes home, and can't figure out why Deer Hunter won't work.

Re:Now how many people will actually buy one?

[oyenstikker]

Easy. They sell him Windows for another 200USD.

Re:Now how many people will actually buy one?

[nemesisj]

Here's where someone needs to come along and verbally abuse you for abusing someone else. A template:

Why do you insist on looking down on [insert people group] when you're just as bad because of [insert something their people group is known for]. Your [bad adjective] attitude is responsible for [insert any open source project or multiple projects for bonus]'s failure. Screw off.

Re:Indirectly claiming a flaw in Linux, tim?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why is the bravery required? Are you suggesting its hard to install Linux? Are you suggesting its hard to use Linux?

If a manager can't setup demos, then the whole idea of selling Linux in the stores is flawed and will ultimately fail.

Considering the intelligence level of the average Walmart employee, yes, bravery is required and yes, perhaps they will fail.

Re:Walmart vs. MS

[HisMother]

> or maybe just Walmart Linux?
"Walmart Windows" actually would be more fitting. Both companies (MS & WalMart) want you to believe they are your friend, when they're actually huge evil megaconglomerates that would sell your internal organs for a dime if you fell asleep in the lobby at corporate headquarters.

Many a sci-fi hero has emerged victorious by hiding in a cave while two opposing giant bad robots battled to their mutual death, so WalMart vs Microsoft is a good thing no matter how you slice it.

Re:Can buy one online

[lovebyte]

Following your link I found this at the bottom of the page describing one of the computers:

Components Country of Origin: USA and/or Imported

I love the extreme precision of this statement

been approached by a stanger outside Walmart?

[H3XA]

I can see it now..... a guy wearing a large jacket ouside Wal-Mart comes up to you and says "Psst.... wanna buy a prirate CD vesion of XP for that cheap box you just bought?"

I sometimes wonder if these Wal-Mart PCs encourage piracy of MS OSes...... not that I really care if it does :)

I would assume the average customer who buys these PCs don't give a damn about what cheap OS is on the system (be it Lindows or Mandrake).... they probably just wipe the hard drive and stick XP on it from a CD they borrowed from a mate. Mandrake is still not ready for the n00b public, which is kidn of good, so Wal-Mart don't realistically expect that these PCs will be useful. As someone already posted, a retail version of XP worth a couple of hundred dollars would be an easy add on sales with a decent profit margin.

- HeXa

Re:Returns

[techstar25]

The following is the obligatory flame:
That's wal-mart.com, not Wal-Mart, the store.

Brave?

[macdaddy]

I don't think brave is the right word. Dumb or ignorant might be a better choice. ;-)

When I was much younger a bunch of my friends and myself would sneak into our Wal-Mart electronics area and install Doom on all the machines. They were networked at the time. When no one was looking, we'd have a fragfest. Lots of fun. I think we actually sold more Wal-Mart machines then they actual paid employees did!

They'll have to change the name of fsck

[gelfling]

It's too close to.....well you know. And Walmart has a strict policy of protecting us from dirty words and evil thoughts.

Come to think of it, kill will have to change too.

Re:Indirectly claiming a flaw in Linux, tim?

[Darby]

However, I think we all realize the danger of a poorly implemented demo of Linux-powered PCs.

Actually, this could be as much fun as when they sold Commodore 64s at Kmart. Since the machines will prolly have a compiler installed, how long before someone types in compiles and runs:

int main()
{
int i;
for (;;)
{
printf("Walmart sucks\n");
}
}

Meanwhile...

[Heghta']

Meanwhile, in a deep cavern below Redmond...

Bill: "Did it work?"
Steve: "Yes, and they only asked 10 millions for it."
Bill: "That cheap. The company didn't ask more?"
Steve: "Yes. It's actually all money for bribing their higher-ups."
Bill: "Splendid. So they will start selling machines with Linux. Monopoly, my judge? No, we don't have one. See, even Walmart sells Linux Machines. So how dare those States say we have a monopoly."
Steve: "And the best thing is, all the strupid peons will order software along, and when they realize it wont work, they will blame Linux for it, and get Windows for the machine. So we will even increase our retail Sales."
Bill: "Damn Steve, your evil beats mine. You should really ask Slashdot for an icon of your own!"
Steve: "So how's the other plan going?"
Bill: "Fine, fine. With the RIAA and the MPAA on our Side we can't fail. And once DRM is a must, we will crush those Linux Geeks."
Steve: "Yes, Yes. But the young Torvalds. He could be very useful for us if he joined us. Can you arrange that?"
Bill: "He will either join us, or die..."