Mirus to Ship Desktop Computers with Linspire

segphault writes "Ars Technica reports that Mirus has teamed up with Linspire and plan to ship budget desktop PCs with Linspire preinstalled. From the article: 'Designed specifically for optimal Linux compatibility, the Mirus Koobox line computers feature AMD processors and Linspire preinstallation. The Koobox systems, which start at US$299, will come with a variety of open source applications, including Firefox and OpenOffice. [...] At this point it is hard to assess the potential of the Koobox systems. If it succeeds, the product could help legitimize desktop Linux and bring it further into the mainstream. Regardless of how many get sold, the availability of yet another budget Linux PC illuminates the growing popularity of the Linux platform, and contributes to the perception that Linux is applicable to desktop computing. With Dell selling low-cost computers sans OS, and Apple selling the popular Mac Mini at a price that doesn't look as much like typical Apple extortion, Mirus is going to have to fight an uphill battle to pick up a worthwhile chunk of the desktop PC market.'"

Comments

Re:Hmm, not exactly pretty systems

[lisaparratt]

However it'll outperform today's Mac Mini that costs $499.

I think that all depends on whether you measure performance in MHz, or in the amount of productive work a machine allows you to do. Macs might not do too well in the first category, but they're devastatingly powerful in the second.

Doesn't work...

[Chaffar]

Any PC that comes pre-installed with a Linux distro should come with a label that says WARNING: YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PUT IN SOME EFFORT ... people expect their PCs to have the usability of their washing machines, i.e, you press this-then-this to send an email/write an essay/download pr0n...

Besides no tech support team would be allowed to tell you HOW to install XMMS/Azureus/DVD ripper, and these user will HAVE to *gasp* search for sites such as the unofficial Ubuntu Guide to get things done...

Elitist talk? Maybe... I just don't see the point in selling a PC pre-installed with a specific *nix distro when in the end it would require the EXACT same effort from the buyer to buy a virgin PC and install the distro of his choice (or the one recommended by his friend(s)).

Re:Hmm, not exactly pretty systems

[hattig]

I have an iBook, so I agree with you totally.

However a decently configured Linux PC (i.e., not this one as it runs Linspire, the screenshots didn't look like an easy-to-use desktop OS) would come with all the software you'd need, without limitations. How many users would know to find Adium X for chatting on their Mac Mini? At least until iChat does MSN anyway... On the other hand iPod owners would prefer the Mac Mini because of iTunes and support.

At least a Mac comes with far more software by default than a Windows PC, and the software is arguably easier to use - iTunes, Safari, Mail ...

But if you can only afford $400 then your options are going to be restricted. Arguably you shouldn't be buying a PC if you can't afford more than $400, but say you're a student or something... Hell, then I'd get either a laptop or a Mac Mini because they're easy to transport.

Oh, a new record for me:

Slashdot requires you to wait between each successful posting of a comment to allow everyone a fair chance at posting a comment.

It's been 51 minutes since you last successfully posted a comment

Cheap PCs?

[vettemph]

Why must everyone push "cheap PCs" via linux. Any vendor that offers a cheap linux PC should also offer an expensive linux PC. Linux isn't about cheap, It's about power and freedom.
  Of course, Windows is also about power, but the power is not yours.