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First Linux-only Retail Store?

Posted by michael on from the gone-crazy-from-the-cold dept.

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."

36 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Great by mothz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nothing like a high-profile store in the back of a car wash to raise awareness for Free Software.

    1. Re:Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah... but I bet those cars are really clean.

  2. first store? by Slyder · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's not the first one I've heard of - there used to be one in Atlanta, near Georgia Tech, though it went out of business a little while ago. Too bad, they had some cool stuff.

    1. Re:first store? by Strudelkugel · · Score: 3, Informative

      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
    2. Re:first store? by tmhsiao · · Score: 4, Informative

      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
    3. Re:first store? by dasmegabyte · · Score: 3, Informative

      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
    4. Re:first store? by Photon+Ghoul · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why do you say that? I think "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" sums up capitalism fairly well.

  3. Uhh . . . by concatenation · · Score: 3, Funny
    They also operate a car wash and figured they could use surplus office space at that location to open a Linux store.
    A match made in heaven, no?
    --
    "5... 4... 3.. 1... OFFBLAST!"
    1. Re:Uhh . . . by zonix · · Score: 4, Funny

      A match made in heaven, no?

      Well, it still doesn't beat "Joe's Wedding Gift Shop And Auto-repair". :-)

      z
      --
      What would an EWOULDBLOCK block, if an EWOULDBLOCK could block would? -- me
  4. Wait a minute... by slashrogue · · Score: 5, Funny

    You say I can get a car wash and buy Linux-based software at the same time! Now will those car wash babes be geeks too?!? I think my car's dirty...

    1. Re:Wait a minute... by justkarl · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, car washes will be administered by outsourced programmers who desperately need work.

    2. Re:Wait a minute... by lukewarmfusion · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Now will those car wash babes be geeks too?!? I think my car's dirty..."

      From your comments, it looks like your car's not the only thing that's dirty.

  5. Also "Sub300.com" by mcgroarty · · Score: 3, Informative

    The same people also run Sub300.com, for any who find Canadian currency to be challenging.

  6. um.... by daevux · · Score: 3, Informative

    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 :-/

  7. In other news... by revery · · Score: 5, Funny

    A sweat soaked Steve Ballmer announced that many stores that sell Windows will also be opening car washes to compete with this most recent threat from Linux.

    --

    Was it the sheep climbing onto the altar, or the cattle lowing to be slain,
    or the Son of God hanging dead and bloodied on a cross that told me this was a world condemned, but loved and bought with blood.

  8. Workin' at the car wash... by sczimme · · Score: 4, Funny


    From the summary:

    They also operate a car wash and figured they could use surplus office space at that location to open a Linux store.

    Live wash: $5
    Full wash: $6
    Professional Wash: $7
    Pro. Wash + Source: $8

    Buy a Pro+Source on Tuesdays and get a free wax or a 32MB USB pen drive!

    --
    I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.
    1. Re:Workin' at the car wash... by dasmegabyte · · Score: 4, Funny

      Er, no. The source would always be free. And nobody would buy a wash. Instead, they would spend several hours compiling their own from water, soap and wax.

      You know. To save $5.

      That's way too much for a car wash, especially since they don't even innovate that much at car washes anymore!

      --
      Hey freaks: now you're ju
  9. Wash Me by rute_1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The question is: Do they do Windows?

  10. Eat your own dog food? by jhkoh · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ah, too bad their web site looks to be running on Windows.

  11. Sub500.com by scottennis · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think it's hilarious they also have a US version of their store called sub300.com. Do they have to buy new domains whenever the exchange rate shifts?
    In Japan they're known as sub32000.com
    In Italy they're sub477777.com

    --
    Read any good sonnets lately?
  12. FrontPage?! by JebuZ · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Did anyone else notice the meta tags on this page?

    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
    <meta http-equiv="keywords" content="cheap, inexpensive, computers, new, computer, system, upgrade, replace, buy, AMD, Intel, looking, buy, sale, tower, industry, bulk, volume, rebate, deal, deals, special, compute, new, lindows, Microsoft, burner, 299, sub300">
    <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0">
    <meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document">

    Oh the irony..

    1. Re:FrontPage?! by hey · · Score: 4, Funny

      I assume they are running FrontPage on WINE.

  13. Re:Leftorium? by British · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will this be something akin to the Leftorium (a la Simpsons) where a retail store opens to an exclusive market?

    If they wanted an even more exclusive market, they could cater to just left-handed Linux customers.

  14. Sub 500 by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 4, Funny
    They live up to their name:

    HTTP 403.9 - Access Forbidden: Too many users are connected

    403.9 is indeed below 500...

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  15. Poor IIS by n17ikh · · Score: 4, Funny

    Linking to an IIS page on slashdot makes baby Jesus sad. HTTP 403.9 - Access Forbidden: Too many users are connected Internet Information Services Isn't it ironic how it's a site for selling Linux computers but runs on a Frontpage-generated, IIS served page. I bet it's the 5 connection version too.

    --
    Hard work pays off tomorrow, but procrastination pays off NOW!
  16. #1 phrase overheard at the Linux store? by The+Ultimate+Fartkno · · Score: 4, Funny



    Hey! Come back! You have to *pay* for that!

  17. Their site... M$? by Whatthehellever · · Score: 3, Funny

    I tried to get to the sub500.com site and received this message:

    The page cannot be displayed
    There are too many people accessing the Web site at this time.

    Please try the following:

    * Click the Refresh button, or try again later.
    * Open the sub500.com home page, and then look for links to the information you want.

    HTTP 403.9 - Access Forbidden: Too many users are connected
    Internet Information Services

    Technical Information (for support personnel)

    * Background:
    This error can occur if the Web server is busy and cannot process your request due to heavy traffic.

    * More information:
    Microsoft Support

    Wait... They're running Windows as a web server?!?!?! What gives?

    --

    ---
    IMHO, of course.
    May the SOURCE be with you.
  18. Re:Great to see a Linux-only store by nocomment · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd like to see it, but unfortunately their IIS webservers couldn't handle the crunch.

    --
    /* oops I accidentally made a comment, sorry */
    /* http://allyourbasearebelongto.us */
  19. Not a joke! by Nasarius · · Score: 3, Informative

    It really is IIS for some strange reason.

    --
    LOAD "SIG",8,1
  20. Not the first by a long shot by vandan · · Score: 3, Informative

    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?

    1. Re:Not the first by a long shot by FullCircle · · Score: 4, Funny

      We haven't invaded Canada just yet.

      --
      If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. - James Madison
    2. Re:Not the first by a long shot by vandan · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ah. Toronta is in Canada, eh?
      Yes, it's only a matter of time then :)

  21. Store in Sydney by LinuxFixer · · Score: 3, Informative

    EverythingLinux (http://www.everythinglinux.com.au/) has a retail store since about 1996....

  22. Not the first by Mind+Socket · · Score: 3, Informative

    Thou touteth incorrectly

  23. Everything Linux by CelestialWizard · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Everything Linux in Sydney,Australia has been operating as a retail store (with webfront) for many years now and is totally devoted to linux and linux related products.

    Nothing new. Again, our North American cousins believe they are the only people in the world. Been on that page already folks, catch up.

  24. I'll try posting this in the -right- thread now. by Dylbert · · Score: 3, Informative

    Everythinglinux.com.au , selling all things linux related.

    Kind of like a Thinkgeek for Australia (and they accept BPAY!) :D

    --
    I swear, if I see another Slashdot comment with "It will be interesting to see"...