Walmart stocking a very cheap Linux machine

[Mr. Picklesworth]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/pcs/everex-200-linux-gpc-hits-wal+mart-bowls-rednecks-over-317284.php

This computer is power-efficient, fairly powerful, and runs Ubuntu 7.10. It also costs $200 and is at Walmart. Too bad the case is so ugly, but it's still interesting.

Discuss!

[Incense]

Doesn't look too bad. Not sure they they messed with Ubuntu so much. I think a stock ubuntu install would have been a better choice. I don't really like the look of the desktop itself, but I'm sure that can be changed. $200 isn't a bad deal though. I really didn't understand why the article said it was for first time computer buyers, who would be disspointed with the lack of iTunes. Anyway, hope it goes over well.

[TeraDyne]

It comes with an Ubuntu build with E17 as default, and RAV TUX isn't here wetting himself over the news yet. XD

It looks very nice. I'd get one just to use as a spare machine. Well, if I had the money, that is. Anyone know if "gOS" is downloadable anywhere? I'm wanting to try it out in VMWare.

[disturbed1]

This is pretty neat. I wonder if the g in gOS stands for google, since it's powered by google search, google maps, picasa, and has links to other google apps :)

[osxcapades]

Ugh, Walmart. If there is anything that will result in Linux forming a reputation as a low-cost alternative to Windows, selling Linux machines at Walmart will is it.

[tdrusk]

How good is the processor in this. How does it compare to a celeron m?
This looks like it would make a decent server. (I would install debian on it for personal reasons)

[BuffaloX]

This is soo cool,
Everex is now a part of the industry, that want Linux compatibility.
I hope this system sells really good,it sure looks like a very sweet deal, for a low end system.
About Linux being branded as a low end OS, I not worried about that,
It will just show that Linux is capable of running smoothly even on low end systems, and that it is a really good OS.


How good is the processor in this. How does it compare
to a celeron m?
This looks like it would make a decent server. (I would install debian on it for personal reasons)

The VIA CPUs are not as fast as AMD and Intel, but they are OK for most tasks and servers really don't require much, if it's just for home use. It's probably not quite as fast as a Celeron.
The strong point of the VIA chip, is its very low power consumption, this system is probably close to a laptop in power efficiency.
If I lived in the states, I'd probably buy one myself, to replace my current server, just to save on the power bill.

[Kingsley]

This is pretty neat. I wonder if the g in gOS stands for google, since it's powered by google search, google maps, picasa, and has links to other google apps :)
The article explicitly states that the g doesn't stand for Google. This new computer does sound interesting.

[daynah]

I read somewhere that the case is so big because WalMart research suggests that its shoppers associate size with power.

It was in my RSS feeds, I didn't save the article, sorry. I'm horribly misquoting. If anyone finds it...

[Mazza558]

I read somewhere that the case is so big because WalMart research suggests that its shoppers associate size with power.

It was in my RSS feeds, I didn't save the article, sorry. I'm horribly misquoting. If anyone finds it...

I personally think it'd look a lot better smaller. In terms of portable electronics, smaller is better. Anyway, how cool would it be to only have to carry around a Wii-sized PC around? It's almost the same as a laptop :)

[TrailerTrash]

http://www.thinkgos.com/

http://www.everex.com

http://www.walmart.com

Link to links. http://apnews.excite.com/article/20071031/D8SKEBB00.html

[betweenthetines]

The article explicitly states that the g doesn't stand for Google.

That's kind of strange. While you're correct that Gizmodo specifically states that the "g" in gOS does not stand for Google, PC World says the exact opposite...

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/005830.html

Strange.

At any rate, I feel that any exposure to the presence of Ubuntu, albeit a "Google-ified" version in this case, is, at least from a publicity and marketing standpoint, generally a good thing for the OS and FOSS in general.

[Mr. Picklesworth]

1.5 MHz Via Technologies C7-D processor (http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&search_query=gPC&Continue.x=0&Continue.y=0&Continue=Find&ic=24_0)
*Sigh*... What is it with department stores and poorly constructed inventories?

[-grubby]

Rav Tux will love it! It runs E-17

[klange]

1.5 MHz Via Technologies C7-D processor (http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&search_query=gPC&Continue.x=0&Continue.y=0&Continue=Find&ic=24_0)
*Sigh*... What is it with department stores and poorly constructed inventories?
Wow. Apparently someone just skimmed the specs when they put it in.
Nice little embedded processor, though, I was looking at them while perusing the PicoITX board a while back...

[sloggerkhan]

Anybody know what the mobo will be like? I agree that this thing seems like it'd make a good simple server of some sort.

[n3tfury]

too bad it's being sold at walmart - linux or not, screw them.

[kopinux]

how cool would it be to only have to carry around a Wii-sized PC

not just wii size, we should do a wii strategy. small, simple and cheap, while the big guys is fighting in the high end computing, (apples;mac vs. windows;vista) we should be sneaking in and targeting low end computing, targeting casual users, new users or new generations.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1340/zonbumx0.png
zonbu; by everex also.
http://www.zonbu.com/learn/green.htm

this is a new trend emerging in computing, we have seen this in cars.

[Flying caveman]

The same one for $100 more comes with Vista home basic and a 17" CRT, it already has some bad reviews.

[Dr. C]

The same one for $100 more comes with Vista home basic and a 17" CRT, it already has some bad reviews.

I am not surprised. Running Vista on a 1.5 GHz Processor with 64 MB of shared video RAM even with 1GB of Memory will lead to bad reviews. It is just far to underpowered for Vista.

[andrewpmk]

I would like to see more mid-range and high-end Linux computers. Linux should not be confined to low-end computers; that simply cheapens it and makes people forget that Linux is better than other operating systems in many respects. Low-end machines have their place - if Wal-Mart sold these in developing countries, they would make a fortune. However, getting Linux onto mid-range and high-end machines will show people that Linux is a viable desktop operating system.

[Wiebelhaus]

Article (http://www.physorg.com/news113062923.html)


The chain was taking orders online Wednesday for a computer called the "Green gPC" that is made by Everex of Taiwan, costs $199 and runs Linux. It will be available in about 600 stores, as well as online, Wal-Mart said.

A comparable Everex PC that comes with Windows Vista Home Basic and more memory costs $99 more, or $298, partly because the manufacturer has to pay Microsoft Corp. for a software license. Both computers come with keyboard, mouse, and speakers, but no monitor.

Linux is maintained and developed by individuals and companies around the world volunteering on an "open source" basis, meaning that everyone has access to the software's blueprints.

It is in widespread use in server computers, particularly servers that host Web sites. But it hasn't yet made a dent in the desktop market. Surveys usually put its share of that market around 1 percent, far behind Windows and Apple Inc.'s OS X.

Wal-Mart started selling Linux computers at its online store in 2002, at prices as low as $199. Computers from several manufacturers were available for several years, but are now gone from the inventory.

The variant of Linux on the gPC is called gOS and is derived from the popular Ubuntu variant. It's heavily oriented toward Google's Web sites and online applications, like YouTube, Gmail and the company's word processing program, all of which can be used only when the computer is connected to a broadband line. The PC comes with a dialup modem, but gOS doesn't support it. So most users likely will get online other ways.

Google's push into desktop applications is relatively new, and gOS, the Los Angeles-based startup behind the software, sees it as crucial in overcoming consumers' reluctance to leave the familiar Windows environment.

"We feel the timing is right for open source because of that," said gOS founder David Liu. The company has fewer than 10 people on it staff but gets help from volunteers in the Linux community.

Whether value-minded shoppers who would be enticed by a $199 PC will also be interested in making the jump to Linux remains to be seen. The operating system isn't known for ease of use and mainly attracts the tech-savvy.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien said it is stocking the computer in about one in eight stores to test the demand for an open-source product.

The gPC has a low-end processor from VIA Technologies, plus 512 megabytes of internal memory, an 80-gigabyte hard drive and a combination DVD drive and CD burner.

Everex says the processor is very energy efficient, meriting the "Green" part of the name.

---

http://www.thinkgos.com The OS looks pretty nice from the Screenies.

http://www.everex.com

http://www.walmart.com

[kostkon]

Someone already bought one! (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=599025) The one who did it is RAV TUX, of course :mrgreen:

[loell]

from http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS7114714037.html




Although the company claims in a FAQ that it was "created as a conceptual Google PC with a conceptual Google OS," Paul Kim, Everex's director of marketing, in a discussion with DesktopLinux clarified that "popular applications such as those from Google are an integral part of our product, however, gOS is an entity entirely independent from Google. Furthermore, while we make use of many applications from Google, 'Google Apps' is not bundled with this particular system."

[kopinux]

dell, hp, lenovo, is already offering mid to high end linux desktop products. also ps3 as a 64-bit cell computer.

[Wiebelhaus]

Someone already bought one! (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=599025) The one who did it is RAV TUX, of course :mrgreen:

Holy crap! I missed that , darn it.

[Frak]

Pretty Cool :)

[Wiebelhaus]

Please admin , Delete this thread because I look like a noob :)

My Bad people four triple posting news , seriously.

[popch]

I find the marketing decision to introduce a bottom-end computer with linux a pure stroke of genius.

That segment will attract people who simply view their computers as appliances.

No geeks will stoop so low as to actually touch such a system with a stick. No power user already set on using MS Office and Photoshop is ever going to give as much as glance to those horrible bricks.

Plain ordinary folks however will love the thing (provided it works at all and does not fall apart within the year). It has more than enough functions and will also suffice for their small children. It is easy to use. It is reasonably secure. Besides, people with children often are those without any money to spare.

It might not be ready for 'your' desktop, but it is ready for the household.

Pure genius.

[luckycharmz68]

Hey Everyone, just FYI I live in Bentonville AR, by th HO, guys in electronics have not gotten any yet , but supposedly they will be released with Ubuntu. just thought that was kinda cool, im sure you can fing some articles on it by google. have a great holiday season

[Deathmoon]

a search brings up several websites...

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS7114714037.html

[gururise]

Already on Slashdot: $200 Walmart Linux PC (http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/01/1421218)

Apparently it uses a ITX Motherboard in a Full tower case.

[esaym]

Looks like there is a linux based pc that walmart is selling:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7754614

The reviews are awful though. Anyone a good writer and willing to write up a good "What is linux and why you need it" report and post it on there? :)

[Hendrixski]

[QUOTE=popch;3682632
That segment will attract people who simply view their computers as appliances.

No geeks will stoop so low as to actually touch such a system with a stick. No power user already set on using MS Office and Photoshop is ever going to give as much as glance to those horrible bricks.
[/QUOTE]

I haven't thought of it that way before, but it makes sense. It's getting a foothold, starting from the bottom and working its way up. This way if every redneck who shops at Wal*Mart with low expectations buys it people will point to that as a statistic "LOOK, people are buying Linux and they like it". Which will then cause more people to create more diverse offerings with Linux elsewhere.

Let's hope it moves beyond the Wal*Mart phase so that it doesn't get associated with low-quality in the long run.

[Hendrixski]

Please admin , Delete this thread because I look like a noob :)

My Bad people four triple posting news , seriously.

Good news bares repeating.

[-grubby]

I can't, I don't own one. The reviews are worthless though, to sum it up they pretty much say "linux=bad Windows=good" one reviewer even said it was worthless because it can't run Windows XP!

[n3tfury]

i'm not helping walmart do squat.

[n3tfury]

lol "good news". and no, it doesn't.

[popch]

Let's hope it moves beyond the Wal*Mart phase so that it doesn't get associated with low-quality in the long run.

'It' (Linux) is doing that at this very moment, in the incarnation of the Asus eee PC which appears to be a real geek attractor. However, since it is ostensibly targeted at kids and moms, it could have quite an influence on the market.

I would like to point out that - in my perception - the Asus eee also is an appliance as opposed to a computer.

[funrider]

let those people keep using *******. if they love it, why bother?

[Hexydes]

I find it hard to believe that the VIA processor saves that much money over a dual-core AMD offering. Also, 512MB? Why?! I know you have to cut costs somewhere, but the difference in price between 512MB and 1024MB is basically negligible today, and for what I would imagine can't be more than $5 per unit, choosing something by AMD would have provided a lot more power.

The only place where VIA is a decent alternative is the extremely portable market, due to the low power requirements.

[aysiu]

I've merged all the threads "announcing" Wal-Mart's new offering.

[n3tfury]

thank you.

[Frak]

It comes with an Ubuntu build with E17 as default, and RAV TUX isn't here wetting himself over the news yet. XD

It looks very nice. I'd get one just to use as a spare machine. Well, if I had the money, that is. Anyone know if "gOS" is downloadable anywhere? I'm wanting to try it out in VMWare.
He bought it roughly 4 hours after its debut.