Two Hundred Dollar Desktop-Linux Computer.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2007-11-14 12:50pm

Being Sold at Walmart. I predict the equation for this will be Linux + Rednecks = Epic Lulz. Either way, this is pretty much my cue to learn Linux so I can migrate away from Windows or fix these new computers...

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2007-11-14 01:09pm

Enlightenment requires minimal resources?

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2007-11-14 02:07pm

Definitely need to learn Linux, now...and it's great to see some really bargain-basement computers going on sale. We're not at a desktop in every home yet, but we're getting there...

Laird · Post by **Laird** » 2007-11-14 03:23pm

Hmmm, I may have to go to walmart and see if they have these in canada. Just to get a cheap box to play with linux.

Jawawithagun · Post by **Jawawithagun** » 2007-11-14 04:47pm

Walmart's particular flavour of Linux has gotit's own site too.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2007-11-14 04:58pm

Jawawithagun wrote:Walmart's particular flavour of Linux has gotit's own site too.

I'm gonna try to download it and see if it's any good.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2007-11-14 06:02pm

Bounty wrote:
Jawawithagun wrote:Walmart's particular flavour of Linux has gotit's own site too.
I'm gonna try to download it and see if it's any good.

I got torrentz!

Post by **Gandalf** » 2007-11-14 06:10pm

On the upside, this could be good in toppling the MS monopoly on half arsed computing.

andrewgpaul · Post by **andrewgpaul** » 2007-11-14 06:31pm

Hmmm, 200 bucks plus monitor.

RThurmont · Post by **RThurmont** » 2007-11-14 07:16pm

From what I've read, Wal-Mart managed to sell out of these fairly quickly.

Also, Enlightenment should run fine on the hardware in question (given that it runs fine on the PS3 and other platforms that are less powerful than a typical Vista PC). I've managed to use it on less...

Probably my biggest concern with these boxes would be motherboard and/or CPU failure. The VIA chip is integrated directly into the board, and I'd be rather suspicious of the quality of the whole works. For $200, my preference would be to buy a good quality used computer (such as used IBM ThinkCentre or Dell Optiplex) and install Linux on it, rather than taking a chance with one of these heaps.

That said, I think even the less computer literate, well off Wal Mart customers should be fine with these computers. At the very least, you can't deny its a safer bet for them than running some ancient, cruddy Windows 9x box (which is probably what many people considering buying this have).

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2007-11-14 10:53pm

I'm with RThurmont on this one. Bargain-basement PCs are always made of shit components, and the old phrase caveat emptor comes to mind. It's easy to list off some figures that indicate it should have enough power to get the job done. But those figures say nothing about reliability.

All these rednecks will buy these el cheapo Linux boxes, run them until they start fucking up, and then blame Linux.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2007-11-14 11:49pm

Darth Wong wrote:I'm with RThurmont on this one. Bargain-basement PCs are always made of shit components, and the old phrase caveat emptor comes to mind. It's easy to list off some figures that indicate it should have enough power to get the job done. But those figures say nothing about reliability.

All these rednecks will buy these el cheapo Linux boxes, run them until they start fucking up, and then blame Linux.

I would agree with you, except that the people who buy these boxes are not used to quality components. I imagine that even someone who was curious about using Linux and wished to do so without a large financial investment would either install it on a "retired" computer or would splurge for a slightly more impressive system.

RThurmont · Post by **RThurmont** » 2007-11-15 01:44am

One might also observe that there appears to be a lack of explicit Linux branding on the PCs...I would honestly be more worried about their crappiness affecting Linux's brand equity if they actually had a "Linux Inside" sticker on them, or Tux, or other overt branding.

That said, IMO the commercial success of these units is inspiring. I recently spoke with a gentleman "in the know" as it were, and he's of the opinion that Linux adoption will be spurred by OEMs really picking up Linux and marketing it in an integrated, Macintosh-like manner (as opposed to the half-assed selling of it done by Dell), and that's sort of what we're seeing here.

The fact that these units are cheap isn't neccessarly bad either...the original Apples were ridiculously low end among computers of the late 1970s, and I would argue that a major reason behind Linux's adoption as the UNIX server platform of chocie in the 1990s was the fact that it was darn cheap compared to proprietary alternatives from Sun, et cetera.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2007-11-15 04:50am

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote: I got torrentz!

Better hope the MAFIAA doesn't get me, eh Ein? Eh? Eh?

Probably my biggest concern with these boxes would be motherboard and/or CPU failure.

Those failures can happen on a $800 PC too, and would probably cost more than the total cost of the Wally version to repair. Integrated graphics have worked more-or-less reliably in laptops for years.

As long as people keep the origin of these PC's in mind, and the pricetag, I don' think they'll blame failures on Linux - especially when the OS doesn't degrade as fast performance-wise as Windows does.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2007-11-15 05:22am

I've given it a spin. gOS is just an idiotproofed (well, further idiotproofed) 7.04 with a pretty new skin and social networking shortcuts on the desktop. It does work pretty well, it's all bright with big buttons; really an install-and-forget operating system. For someone who's nervous about computers, it's a decent choice. Pics:

Old Plympto · Post by **Old Plympto** » 2007-11-15 07:59am

That's not too bad. I've been trying to get my dad to try out Linux, maybe he'll feel more comfortable with gOS than Ubuntu.

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2007-11-15 10:08am

Are the window close/resize buttons all the same colour there, or that just my Daltonism?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2007-11-15 10:33am

Xisiqomelir wrote:Are the window close/resize buttons all the same colour there, or that just my Daltonism?

Different shades. I wonder if they do the OS X thing of identifying themselves when you mouseover them.

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2007-11-15 12:55pm

phongn wrote:
Xisiqomelir wrote:Are the window close/resize buttons all the same colour there, or that just my Daltonism?
Different shades. I wonder if they do the OS X thing of identifying themselves when you mouseover them.

They do, but they're mirrored compared to XP. It's like they desperately needed something to be different and didn't really think it through, cause this is going to be mighty confusing for people who switch between the two.

RThurmont · Post by **RThurmont** » 2007-11-15 02:55pm

From a UI design standpoint, I'd say the windeco is rather terrible...they should've followed the PC standard of putting the window control buttons on the top right (since that's what people are familiar with), and placing symbols on them so you know what a button is going to do without having to mouse-over it. At least on OS X the buttons are different colors, that are easier to recognize.

That said, one interesting aspect appears to be the Mozilla Prism style of desktop/web integration.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2007-11-15 04:16pm

Surely you can re-skin it. I didn't like the original Ubuntu look, so changed it all, buttons, title bar, the lot.