Posted Mar 11, 2008 at 10:04PM by Sally B. Listed in: Laptops & Notebooks Tags: Linux, Wal-Mart
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Linux - Image 1Realizing that selling Linux-based computers via brick-and-mortar stores just isn't as effective as distributing them through online sales, retail giant Wal-Mart has pulled out stocks of Everest's Green gPC, powered by open-source operating system Linux. "This really wasn't what our customers were looking for," said Wal-Mart's spokesperson Melissa O'Brien. Wal-Mart had decided to stock their stores with the Linux computers as a test whether or not the computers will take off.

As a failed experiment, US$ 199 Green gPC just weren't flying off the retail shelves as much as it did when it was sold online. As Wal-Mart's first attempt to sell them from retail shelves - Wal-Mart stocked about 600 stores with the Linux-preloaded computers - the Everest gPCs didn't take off as well as computers pre-loaded with Windows. The in-store gPC inventory wasn't restocked.

Computers with Linux operating systems are actually a popular choice for server computers, though the operating system is yet to fully break into the home computer market currently being dominated by computers pre-loaded with Microsoft and Apple OS.


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   by Lunisneko - 2008-03-12
 » Hah.

You know why they didn't sell? Because the people at Wal-mart have no *****ing clue what Linux even is. It would seem that QJ knows pretty little as well. First, Linux is THE server system for almost every business or website. Probably even this site. You say that it's "actually" a popular choice, which implies surprise, but it should warrant none if you know what's up. Second, Linux is a long way past breaking into the desktop market. If Linux is so popular that Dell sells computers preloaded with it, then you know it is, in fact, "on the market." People don't know, don't understand, what Linux is, and how it could be advantageous, which is why it's not more popular. And people who aren't more clear about Linux, like, for example, QJ staff, who seem to know not very much about Linux, are only making Linux seem more like an unlikely and obscure choice.

   by GW2 - 2008-03-12
 » cursious

its as if people didnt want to buy a computer running an unfamiliar operating system. who would have guessed?