Walmart is selling PCs with No OS, Lindows, or Mandrake Linux

[JoshT]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=86796&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796

It's all about freedom of choice...

[Cander]

I wish Microtel would do laptops like that for cheap.

[JungleMan]

I'd hate to see the look on some people's faces when they can't figure out Linux and Lindows won't run half their programs or games.

[Cander]

Well I would guess the majaority of people ordering one of these would more than likely know about Linux.

[JungleMan]

The majority of people who know about Linux would probably build their own. :p

When you sell a PC that isn't even yet suitable for home use in a place like Wal-Mart, you will have a lot of confused customers.

Lindows has potential but as of now there are a lot of apps it CAN'T run. Maybe little Tommy won't be very happy when the Sims and Bob the Builder won't run...

It's very misleading to sell PCs with an unsuitable OS in a common store like Wal-Mart. The no OS thing is a good idea though :)

[Cander]

Lindows sux butt and always will. It amazes me that all these people do is either write windows emu's for linux or make their own Linux distribution meanwhile hardly anyone writes any commercial grade software for Linux.

It is not so much Linux is not ready for the desktop, which in reality, as an OS it is pretty close. The problem is there is no on the shelf software for Linux out there. Goto any software store and the only thing Linux you are likely to see is Red Hat.

[JoshT]

But it's a step in the right direction - Mandrake Linux can probably do everything a lot of people need it to do without the added cost of Windows. There are still people out there who don't actually install anything besides what came with their computer.

I agree about Lindows - if I wanted to run Windows programs, I would just get Windows. I can get all the Linux programs I need for free ( legally, too) anyway.

[Cander]

even RedHat is a breeze to isntall and use. In fact, i found RedHat easier to isntall than Mandrake.

[SoCalled]

Tsk, Linux always reminds me of the Apple people. The first thing they claim is, we have software that will run your windows applications. Yeah, another level of buggy software to install. Gee that works for me.....

I would trust first time buyers to install Win2k, and that one basically talks you through the install process. Remember,not every on understands what volumes etc are...