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Big Retailers Timid About Selling Linux Boxen

Posted by Zonk on from the linspiring dept.

RollWaves75 writes "Jay Lyman reports in IT Manager's Journal that major Linux retailers like Wal-Mart, CompUSA, Fry's and Best Buy are being timid and waiting to see how a small, Midwest-based chain called Micro Center fares in selling Linux software. Turns out that Micro Center not only is out-selling Wal-Mart in Linux systems, it is taking the bold step to have Linux-knowledgeable clerks and trained sales support for customers like you and me." From the article: "[Kevin Carmony] described three levels of mainstream retail Linux: Wal-Mart, which provides no sales support, only offering its Linux machines online; Fry's, where Linux is viewed as a loss leader on the ultra low end; and Micro Center, which is only carrying Linspire Linux at this point, but is behind Linspire's in-store training for reps, Micro Center Marketing Communications Manager Ed Lukens told ITMJ in an email. He said the chain, which is selling boxed and pre-installed Linspire 5.0 desktops and notebooks, will promote the Linux systems with offers through its direct mail pieces."

25 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. Excellent news by It+doesn't+come+easy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I used to live in Houston, TX (back when the world was young), and Micro Center was easily the best computer store in the city. They supported Windows and Mac equally, both with hardware, software, and classes. I am not surprised that they are doing so for Linux as well. In my opinion, this is exactly what Linux needs: Public exposure through a local store that can provide technical support to your average home user when it is needed.

    I think it's time to give my local Micro Center store a visit.

    --
    The NSA: The only part of the US government that actually listens.
    1. Re:Excellent news by Erbo · · Score: 3, Informative
      The Micro Center in Denver, on Quincy just north of the Tech Center, is probably the best computer store in the metro area. Whenever I need some piece of hardware, that's generally the first place I look.

      I'll have to take a peek at those Linspire notebooks...though, if I got one, I'd probably rather install Debian on it.

      --
      Be who you are...and be it in style!
    2. Re:Excellent news by ImaLamer · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm not suprised either, because it is what people want. In fact, I never saw Apple computers in a retail store until I walked into my local MicroCenter.

      But then again, the people in the Apple section were always a little snobbier than the rest. I can't wait to see their Linux associates...

      --
      Get your Unix fortune now!
    3. Re:Excellent news by databyss · · Score: 4, Funny

      All linux associates will be required to yell "RTFM n00b!" before answering any questions.

      I only speak from experience, cause that's the response I get when I need linux help.

      --
      Hmmm witty sig or funny sig? Maybe elitest techy sig!
  2. He he ..... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mostly I'm going to watch this thread to see how lively the 'boxen' discussion gets. :-P

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:He he ..... by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

      What discussion? Boxen is a word... Just ask Webster:

      Boxen \Box"en\ (b[o^]ks"'n), a.
      Made of boxwood; pertaining to, or resembling, the box
      ({Buxus}). [R.]
      [1913 Webster]

      Clearly the big name stores aren't eager to offer an OS with low market share on luxury wooden computers that already have such a tiny market appeal.

    2. Re:He he ..... by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This usage stems from the 70s and 80s era usage of the plural "Vaxen" to refer to a class of computers which were based on Digital Equipment Corporation's VAX processor

      I worked with Vaxen in the '80s. We also used terms like "time to rebootski," "cay-byools" for "cables," and "pooter" for "computer." We also quoted Monty Python, named our Vaxen after computers in William Gibson novels, argued over why Chekov never got his own ship, and giggled a lot. We were Geeks.

      But we never presumed that if we were somehow persistent in our dweebishness that some of our geek-isms would be adopted in the English language proper. What is it with you 'virii' and 'cracker' and 'boxen' bozos that you seek such vindication from the mundanes? What, did the tech boom of the '90s so over-inflate your feelings of self-worth that you think you can wave some magic screwdriver and move language in any direction other than that which majority of people, the media, and academe doesn't want it to move?

      English is a living language. Cope.

      Right, And the Oxford English Dictionary (not... not... 'jargonfile' or 'wikipedia' or some other self-serving "hey, kids, let's put on a reference work! Gosh, I know, we can use the Web!!" recent invention) has its finger on the pulse of that living language. When the OED recognizes 'boxen' as meaning 'more than one box,' I'll deal with it, but in the long, long meantime, I'm suggesting it's you be the one doing the 'coping.'

  3. You mean by Enigma_Man · · Score: 4, Funny

    Merchants are wary of selling a computing product that is all-but-unknown to the public at large? You don't say!

    -Jesse

    --
    Nothing says "unprofessional job" like wrinkles in your duct tape.
  4. Linux-Knowledgeable Clerks? by Doc+Squidly · · Score: 5, Funny

    Linux-Knowledgeable Clerks

    When is the last time you met a Knowledgeable Clerk in any retail store?

    --
    I think I think, therefore I think I am.
    1. Re:Linux-Knowledgeable Clerks? by Martin+Blank · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Oh, sure, this thing is the latest technology. It has a Viamamia Serious chip in it that does over 600 million Bogoblips running the latest Microsoft. It also comes with 200 megs of memory, and more than 100 megs of ROM! And look at this new two-button moose -- better than anything that Applesauce place can do. It can play all the latest games just as good as those big name-brand units, and for only half the cost at $1500 (monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer extra)."
      -- Random Fry's floor sales rep

      --
      You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
    2. Re:Linux-Knowledgeable Clerks? by codeguy007 · · Score: 3, Insightful


      My experience is based upon a particularly
      knowledgable friend of mine who had A+ and CCNA training plus years of Linux use and network administrating (on linux boxes) under his belt and was turned down there.

      If his resume was that good he wasn't turned down because he wasn't knowledgeable enough. Chances are more likely that they were afraid to hire someone with too much experience / knowledge because they don't pay well enough to keep them any significant length of time.

      Having a high employee turn over ratio doesn't increase the bottom line especially if you provide training to new employees.

    3. Re:Linux-Knowledgeable Clerks? by DrAegoon · · Score: 4, Funny

      Fry's clerk: "Don't forget your special USB 2.0 cable for your new $40 printer" Me: "Why does it cost four times as much as this USB 1.1 cable?" Clerk: "It'll make your printer go faster." Me: "The printer doesn't say it supports USB 2.0" Clerk: "Don't worry it's still better" Me: "It's not going to magically increase the speed of the printer, the computer it's going on doesn't support USB 2.0 anyway, and I'm not adding 50% to the price of a printer for a cable that doesn't do anything the $5 cable doesn't do." The saddest part is that he'd probably gotten people with that line before.

    4. Re:Linux-Knowledgeable Clerks? by ThousandStars · · Score: 3, Funny
      Me: I'm only interested in laptops with Pentium-M chips.

      Fry's guy: We have a lot of Centrino.

      Me: I don't care about the wireless chipset, I just care about the processor.

      (So we look at the laptop selection. Some are Centrino bundles. I find a machine that uses a P-M w/o "Centrino".)

      Me: This one.

      Fry's: It doesn't have Centrino.

      Me: I only care about the chip.

      Fry's: I think you want this one. (It's $500 more).

      Me: What's the difference between a P-M and Centrino?

      Fry's: They're the same.

      Me: Slams head into table.

      This is in working on finding a laptop suitable for my sister. Eventually I retreat.

  5. How do they make money on free software? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Volume!

  6. Well Obviously... by Momoru · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...I would be timid to sell an OS for Losers too.

  7. I hope their marketing is better by sanctimonius+hypocrt · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can't think calling them "boxen" helps.

    Hey Mister! You wanna buy some Linux boxen?

    Get away from me you freak!

  8. Test Market by 0kComputer · · Score: 4, Informative

    I live in Columbus, Ohio and it is essentially used as a test market for a lot of different products. Many times when companies want to test out new products, well see it here first. New Soda's, resturaunts, fast foods, etc... I think it has to do with the demographic running parellel with the rest of the country. Anyways, theres a micro center here, and its pretty good. The staff is usually pretty intelliget. Most employees are typically comp sci students or generally tech smart people wanting to get into the industry. Sounds like a good idea, if it can succeed in Columbus, its got a pretty good shot nationally.

    --
    Top 10 Reasons To Procrastinate
    10.
  9. Re:Micro Center by RocketScientist · · Score: 4, Informative

    Agreed.

    Microcenter also has about the best return policy in the business. On most things they don't charge a restock fee. If you give them enough personal info (address + phone) they can re-create your reciept if you lose it. They have good prices on parts. They always have the cable I'm looking for, usually in the length I need, including weirdo SCSI and fibre cables.

    Their Apple people generally have more product knowledge than the Apple employees at CompUSA, and just slightly less than the ones at the Apple store.

    No commercial interest in them, just want to give a good company a little rep bonus.

  10. Re: Can we banish the term Boxen by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny


    What's with all the nixen on boxen?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  11. Happens everwhere by climb_no_fear · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In German, the slang term term for a mobile phone is a "Handy". Funny thing, everyone thinks this is a real English word ...

  12. It's marketing. by fsck! · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Maybe they think "boxen" is a stupid, stupid word.

  13. Big Retailers Timid About Not Turning Profit by gatkinso · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Revised title.

    --
    I am very small, utmostly microscopic.
  14. But what are they really exposing? by paranode · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Seriously, when people look at one of these things in a store what are they going to think? "Hey here are these cheaper ones with the cheap Windows knock-off". I think Linux is great but Linspire is really just Linux contorted to be as much like Windows as possible. So to the public who doesn't know what Linux is, it becomes "that cheap Windows knock-off".

    Linux power users probably won't be interested unless they only want the hardware. So that just leaves the in-the-middle folks looking for a cheap computer. Heck I'll bet half of them will just install a pirated Windows copy on it.

  15. Re:Linux---great! But 'Linspire'? by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If Linux really wants to become a player

    Linux doesn't want anything. It isn't a person, it isn't a corporate person, it isn't a country.

    If you want linux to become a player, go ahead and do whatever you feel is necessary.

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  16. That Suxen by spun · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sounds like they're nixen the whole ball of waxen. What're they smokin, craxen?

    ** duxen **

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton