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First Linux-only Retail Store?
Greedo writes "The Toronto Star is reporting that 'Toronto will become home this weekend to what's being touted as the first retail computer store devoted exclusively to Linux-based products.' The store, Sub500.com, will sell PCs and laptop computers based on Linspire. Marc and David Silverman had been selling Linux products over the Web for 18 months. They also operate a car wash and figured they could use surplus office space at that location to open a Linux store."
The same people also run Sub300.com, for any who find Canadian currency to be challenging.
First Linux store? There used to be a Linux General Store here in Atlanta, GA (home of the wonderful LUG@GT). I remember buying a mouse pad there and even a bumper sticker (which is still on my car). They also had weekly meetings, and Linux-related classes. Unfortunately they closed down a couple years ago or more, for reasons unknown. I've heard through the grapevine that the owner fled the country :-/
It is. Their American counterpart is sub300.com, with systems starting at $222.
For more information, click here.
Sure would be interesting to see the P&L statement from Linspire. Last I heard MR was looking to raise money via IPO to pay off his loan to the company. The move might only be an attempt to create interest in the IPO.
As for the stores, without something like the iPod, it's going to be difficult to draw customers. The specialty stores are already competing with Wal*Mart, among others.
Imagine how much harder physics would be if electrons had feelings! -Feynman, maybe
The difference being that, AFAIK, walmart does not offer support or service.
As detailed in the first reply to the parent, it was the Linux General Store. Right around the corner from my old jerb, it shared a street with two adult entertainment venues, two bars, and used to have a large Tux mural on the side of the building which was a bit unseemly and menacing at night.
"My God...It's full of ads!" -Fry, about the Internet, Futurama
Ehhh....
> In Italy they're sub477777.com
More like sub280.com. (Hint: Euro)
As Heise reported (translated version) on June 1, there is already a store which sells all about Linux in Berlin, Germany.
Let's see as far as I know there are only 3 Apple stores in downtown T.O.
Two non-chains come to mind:
-Computer System Centre, Inc.
-Northstar
CompuSmart/Compucentre deals in Apple products, though I'm not sure if you had them in mind.
Who else sells Apple stuff?
Someday, you're going to die. Get over it.
It really is IIS for some strange reason.
LOAD "SIG",8,1
That's the only difference you can see between WalMart -- a gigantic, soulless corporation that manipulates and underpays its workers and offers inferior merchandise solely to funnel money to their shareholders from those consumers so infinitely stupid that they would prefer to saving eleven cents to getting something worthwhile -- and a Linux store run out of the back of a car wash?
Man, you need new glasses or something.
Hey freaks: now you're ju
It's been going for several years now: I bought my "Happy Hacker" keyboard from them, and that's nearly worn out now. They're still going, too. Bricks, mortar and all (and a web presence, of couse).
-- Andrew
http://www.everythinglinux.com.au is a Linux-only retailer in Sydney that's been open for years.
Perhaps they are the first Linux-only retailer in the US?
EverythingLinux (http://www.everythinglinux.com.au/) has a retail store since about 1996....
No - seriously it is.
Thou touteth incorrectly
Everythinglinux.com.au , selling all things linux related.
:D
Kind of like a Thinkgeek for Australia (and they accept BPAY!)
I swear, if I see another Slashdot comment with "It will be interesting to see"...
HI. Marc from Sub300/Sub500 here. Firstly I'd like to thank all of the supporters here. To answer a few items that were brought up: 1) We don't host our own web server. We pay a company to do so, and until being slashdotted yesterday, I had no idea of what software they were using. I will be speaking to them today about perhaps making the changeover to Linux. 2) About the car wash. We happen to be in a building with a car wash in it. (We also happen to own the car wash). The two companies have nothing to do with each other. We won't be washing computers, and we won't be installing kernels in our drive-thru. The article made it sound like our store was an afterthought. The truth is that we've been doing wholesale of computer parts for the last 12 years, and we've been doing online sales through our websites for the last 18 months. The tennant renting the store space at our car wash recently ended his lease, so the space was available. The location is actually quite good, and there is plenty of parking. The idea was well pretty much well thought out. We didn't just say one day "Let's open a computer store in a carwash!" 3) We will be featuring other distros than just Linspire. We just believe that an absolute newbie coming in to our store for the first time will be much more familiar with the look and feel of Linspire. We know the "geeks" don't dig it, but very often, the geeks can fend for themselves. We are trying to convert more people to Linux. I don't see that as a bad thing. 4) Sub300 is in US Dollars, Sub500 is in Canadian dollars. I've noticed some people confused by the issue. Have to do comparisons correctly. 5) As far as the website, it's being redone (without Frontpage). We've seen the error of our ways. We also made the site before we became Linux exclusive. That's about all I have to say. Feel free to contact me via our website if you have any questions or concerns. Again to the supporters, thank you! Marc Sub300/500