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$199 Linux PC a Success at Wal-Mart

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

November 13, 2007, 10:58 AM

A $199 Linux-based PC from Everex has proven to be quite a success at Wal-Mart, with the computer selling out online and at most store locations. Reviews have also been overwhelming positive, with one buyer calling it "a wonderful first computer for anyone."

The Everex machine runs a variant of Ubuntu Linux called gOS, which is designed to be simple and directs users to Google services and applications. OpenOffice.org 2.0 is also included for working with documents. On a hardware level, the $199 PC features a 1.5 GHz processor from Via, 512MB of RAM, 80GB hard drive and a combination CD writer and DVD drive, making the purchase price quite a deal.

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By zridling

edited Nov 13, 2007 - 6:06 PM

In my town, these flew off the shelves not only because of their price, but because of their speed and UI. The store had one running at the front door, and in the electronics department, and they let people play with it. Unlike a Win machine, they weren't going to hurt it even if they tried. Kids wanted to play the games, of course, but the adults liked the Web 2.0 focus on the desktop, similar to Fedora 8.

Besides, why not learn a little Linux?

Score: 0

By imafurby

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 7:22 PM

watch them fly back when wallyworld customers figure out it ain't winders and it's busted ma.

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By fewt

edited Nov 13, 2007 - 7:30 PM

that, or you could read the reviews of the 50+ people that love it on walmart.com.

http://www.walmart.com/c...s.do?product_id=7754614

Thanks.

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By PhoenixPath

edited Nov 14, 2007 - 10:32 AM

"flying off the shelves"

and

"50+ people who loved it"

doesn't really engender thoughts of a high satisfaction rate... :p

It should be noted that these come with the standard 1 year warranty and tech support. Since this is ONE configuration on ONE set of hardware, it should be really easy to support.

(Insert restore CD, play tux-racer while it restores, get pissed at the unit when it interrupts your game to tell you it's done, reboot...)

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By fewt

posted Nov 14, 2007 - 11:28 AM

Agreed, however it's an effective sample of satisfaction. If it was a complete failure, there would be 100x more complaints than compliments.

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By PhoenixPath

posted Nov 14, 2007 - 12:35 PM

True. Wal-Mart would never remove negative comments, would they? ;)

Haven't seen the thing in action. Still considering the purchase of one myself...

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By Program86

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 4:23 PM

...noobs

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By PhoenixPath

edited Nov 13, 2007 - 2:11 PM

Decent system. 1 year warranty. This will do nicely for folks who only need basic computing.

$99 bucks more for the $298 version with Vista Basic (if they want to learn the basics "Windows")...

Not a bad deal either way. I may actually be tempted to buy one of these for my kids. (I'd probabyl go with the $298, but my kids are already familiar with windows and do want to be able to play their $9.99 wal-mart kid-games.)

Score: 0

By Diam0nd

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 2:07 PM

OMFG
Google is taking over... This is getting REALLY scary...

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By PhoenixPath

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 2:12 PM

It's not a Google product.

You forgot to take your meds. Chill.

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By pforbes

edited Nov 13, 2007 - 2:15 PM

For Microsoft big business is in working groups, tight underground control system of any user of the group by the Administrator, permanent updates, giant OSs, featuritis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creeping_featurism) and an increasing "calling home" policy in their own interest. They don't have a real offer for humble home users who only want simple things. The success of anyone who cares about individual and no network based systems is granted.

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By PhoenixPath

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 2:05 PM

*poke*

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By xyzcb1

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 1:37 PM

I am wondering if they know what they are buying into

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By PhoenixPath

edited Nov 13, 2007 - 2:00 PM

A system that will allow them to do basic PC tasks with minimal cost or effort?

I'm sure they have an idea...

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By Golden Falcon

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 1:22 PM

For people who surfs the web, check emails, wanna type things up and Print, occasionally read files from CD. this PC is perfect. If you wanna d more... I don't think it'll handle it as well as others will.

Score: 0

By pitdingo

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 1:06 PM

I can't wait to see how all the M$ drones belly ache about this...

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Nov 14, 2007 - 5:08 AM

I wonder when the pit$ingo drone will post his M$ hate, oh wait....

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By SGD

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 4:17 PM

Ah M$ drones that is something so new from you.

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By PhoenixPath

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 2:12 PM

*poke*

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By smarterthanyou

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 1:00 PM

I can't believe there are that many suckers buying this computer. While I do think Linux is an excellent operating system, Via's processors are slow as molasses regardless if they run Linux or Windows. There are better and faster computers with Intel Pentium 4 or Intel Pentium dual core (Core 2-based) CPU's that have a very similar price tag.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 1:59 PM

If it's configured properly, it will boot clean, lean, and quickly.

As for loading times, if this is a first PC, they don't know any better. If it isn't, they aren't expecting any miracles.

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By smarterthanyou

posted Nov 14, 2007 - 6:03 AM

People could probably dig that old Pentium (as in Intel 586) computer out of the attic and get better performance running Linux than with this computer.

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By PhoenixPath

posted Nov 14, 2007 - 10:28 AM

Sure, if they care to take the time to configure it properly.

You do realize this computer is for folks who don't really want to spend the time learning how to do that, right?

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Nov 14, 2007 - 2:23 PM

There are a lot of Linux distributions that will run on an old Intel Pentium PC and they are just as easy to install as Windows Vista. Chances are, an old Intel Pentium computer's hardware would be supported out of the box in Linux so there really wouldn't be much more configuring to do than if you were to buy Walmart's $199 PC.

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By PhoenixPath

posted Nov 14, 2007 - 3:43 PM

You are missing my point:

The installation of Linux on this system is configured to boot as fast as possible and support only the current devices attached to it.

A user installing Linux on "old hardware" would have to spend quite some time configuring the system to get it to the point these are sold at.

Even so, that's still not the point. The folks this is targeted at don't HAVE an old Pentium lying around, don't know anything about Linux, and don't care to learn, and this describes a whole hell of a lot of people.

Score: 0

By cap737

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 12:05 PM

Just checked out the reviews on the walmart website. It's great to have a machine on the market that is made for internet and office productivity using open source alternatives. There's even a model that's $100 more for 1gb of ram and vista basic with openoffice, but there's plenty of those in stock.

Score: 0

By iamtux

edited Nov 13, 2007 - 11:50 AM

Sounds like an excellent box to keep around for testing and for light computing.

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By markus.t.laumann

edited Nov 14, 2007 - 1:35 PM

If you're looking for testing, you can get the gOS dev board (mobo and cpu from this machine) for $60. Add $20 of ram and some spare parts and you've got a good start for a test machine (or second machine to keep the kids from messing up your gaming rig)...

Score: 0

By zenarcher

posted Nov 13, 2007 - 1:26 PM

I agree....it would be a very low cost test box. I always keep a test box here, and would be lost without it.

Best of all, for the slowness and whatever all else, it exposes people to Linux who probably don't even realize there is an alternative to Windows...and I think that's a good thing.

Score: 0

By cptmat

edited Nov 28, 2007 - 1:16 PM

the everex TC2505 comes with a dial up modem installed without a driver or support from everex. your only recourse is to return the item as told to me at there support #866-850=8835.

Score: 0

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