Walmart Expands Low-End Linux Notebook Offerings

startleman writes "A story on Tom's Hardware reports that Walmart apparently will offer a Linare-equipped notebook below the $500 mark. Manufacturer Linare said that it will bring a Linux-based device to the retailer 'within the next few days.' Specs include an AMD Athlon 1800+, a 40 GByte harddrive, 128 MByte memory, a CD-ROM drive, an Ethernet port and the firm's Linare OS as well as Open Office."

Comments

Re:fp

[ReeprFlame]

its fine, especially for a web user period. or a basic word processor. or maybe even for music...

Warranty?

[PornMaster]

Absolutely no mention of warranty for the boxes at the Linare website. I'd be a little worried about buying a low-end unit from a foreign company, through Wal-Mart, without some kind of assurance I could get it serviced somewhere reasonably.

I worry that the money saved might be done so foolishly.

Re:Typical user?

[shumacher]

I had a friend that worked in the rent-to-own business. He was in collections, but the place was small enough that he could also find himself on the floor from time to time.

It didn't matter what the specs were. All the customers cared about was web (pr0n and music) and email, with a minority interested in chat.

These machines, running linux satisfy all the needs of this customer, provided they can come up with $500 all at once.

Re:My, the ambivalence!

[shumacher]

Wow, maybe we should have a law written that requires x86 manufacturers to assess a "Windows Tax" on each machine sold capable of running Windows, to cover the piracy.

Heck, let's do the same thing with CD-R discs and the RIAA!

Oh wait...

It's just a throw away for them

[fishlet]

I don't think Walmart is doing this for any other reason then they don't want to pay the sticker price for windows. They are not really advocating Linux, more so than just providing something so they can say it has an operating system. Sadly, for any of you who thinks this is a win for Linux... I feel most certain that most of they buyers of these machines will buy it not because of Linux but because of it's fairly low price... wipe the hard drive... and install the pirated copy of Windows they got from the kid next door.

Re:It's just a throw away for them

[Jason Earl]

Of course Wal-Mart is doing it because they don't want to pay the Microsoft tax. Wal-Mart has a long history of not going into a business until they can offer the lowest price, and Wal-Mart simply can't compete with Dell as long as Windows is part of the bargain. Remove Windows from the bargain, however, and all of a sudden Wal-Mart is a serious contender.

Heck, I know that I am interested. A low end Linux-compatible laptop is exactly what I want. Now I won't have to buy something that's been used. Personally I am glad to see Wal-Mart stepping up to the plate to make me the offer.

Lots of people want to be able to buy hardware without paying for software. Many of them already have a Windows license. Purchasing a computer with Linux pre-installed is about the only way there is to get a new computer without paying the Microsoft tax.

Sure, these laptops will almost certainly promote software piracy, but that's hardly Wal-Mart's problem.

Re:It's just a throw away for them

[Webmonger]

I don't think Walmart is doing this for any other reason then they don't want to pay the sticker price for windows. They are not really advocating Linux...

I think that's cool. If big, evil corporations are using Linux because it fills a need, not from an advocacy position, Linux is really gaining momentum.

Not many people buy Windows because of advocacy.

Re:What kind of MBA retards are in charge of the

[Stevyn]

Dell did this for a while. 128 with a raging fast P4 was the norm for their advertised specs for years. I guess their marketing department was banking on the fact that a fast CPU helps when the operating system alone uses all the ram and you're into virtual memory the moment you run an application. People on Slashdot understand the need for just enough ram, but most consumers only know what Intel marketing tells them.

Re:What kind of MBA retards are in charge of the

[Albanach]

It's probably more Walmart's doing than the manufacturer. Walmart will have said "give us a laptop we can sell below the $500 price point or someone else will." So the manufacturer has to cut costs somewhere. Not that I disagree, 128MB is too little, but you gets what you pays for.

Re:What kind of MBA retards are in charge of the

[plopez]

A crafty one. Have you priced memory upgrades? At Dell they are almost twice what a little online searching can get you, same model same manufacturer.

There's money in under specing a system then overcharging for upgrades.

Re:My, the ambivalence!

[The-Perl-CD-Bookshel]

Wal-Mart is also responsible for lowering retail prices by 10% since 1978. In turn, raising your real income by countering inflation. Don't shop there if you don't want to, but they are why you get good prices wherever you shop now.