Wal-Mart debuts $498 Linux laptop (alternative to Microsoft)

[Grover_Cleveland]

I'm not endorsing shopping at Wal Mart. But I did think this was interesting, and I'd appreciate any opinions that anyone here has on it.

http://news.com.com/Wal-Mart+debuts+498+Linux+laptop/2100-1044_3-5498006.html

Wal-Mart debuts $498 Linux laptop

Published: December 20, 2004, 9:14 AM PST

By Dinesh C. Sharma

Walmart.com and Linspire on Monday unveiled a Linux-based laptop priced at $498. The computer, dubbed Balance, comes loaded with the Linspire operating system and the OpenOffice.org office suite, the companies said.

The companies said Balance is the lowest-priced laptop currently available with an operating system and an office suite. It features a VIA C3 1-GHz processor, 128MB RAM, a 30GB hard drive, a CD-ROM drive and a 14.1-inch liquid crystal display. The software includes a built-in firewall to protect users from viruses, spam and pop-ups.

The laptop launch comes as part of Wal-Mart's efforts to market low-priced consumer electronics. The retailer has sold other inexpensive PCs and notebooks, some of which come without operating systems.

The Balance laptop is available at Wal-Mart's Web site.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Who do you hate more? Gates or Walton?

But Dell has a similar box running WinXP for $549. Looks like Wal-Mart will have that price shaved down by $50 or $100 in a few months.

--p!

[Buck Rabbit]

3. Walton

Gates, charitable generosity whether guilt ridden or not, is massive compared to the Waltons. Gates employees are treated immensely better than the Walton's and finally Gates' father is a stand up guy on the issue of inheritance tax.

[Ally McLesbian]

4. Dell?

Don't even get me started on Michael Dell's massive support for W, and his prison-labor recycling scheme.

I currently use Dells, and will be replacing them soon. I'll buy from HP, Gateway, or Apple - all blue companies.

[arcos]

5. What's blue about HP?

http://www.buyblue.org/node/1138/view/summary

[Ally McLesbian]

16. Thanks for correcting me

Gateway or Apple it is, then.

[Born Free]

27. AMD 64 HP laptop + linux

A coworker recently purchased one of the newer HP AMD 64 bit laptops and just for fun installed the 64 bit version of SuSE 10.0 (aka Novell Desktop) He claims the 64 bit linux runs much better then the included windows os.

[gizmo1979]

2. I've heard Linux is hard to run.

I like Gates more at least he makes an attempt to give back.Wal-mart is just evil.This could get good though,Microsoft and Wal-mart duking it out Maybe they'll take each other down a peg.

[Solon]

8. Linux isn't nearly as hard to run as it used to be...

It all depends on the distribution you choose, it is after all about choice. Not only that, but nowadays, you can have a full operating Linux system with practically no installation of any sort. Burn Knoppix onto CD and you can boot straight from the CD into a full operating environment(KDE). It won't touch your hard drive unless you want it to, plus, if you want to save settings for it, you can set up a home folder on your hard drive without worrying about damaging anything on the hard drive. Of course it has a full install program set up so you can choose to install to hard drive.

Other options include Kanotix a Knoppix derivative, along with Ubuntu, what I use, that is another full distribution that you can install easily, and for once, my computer just ran. Literally click and go, with full office suites and I even have a decent 3D rendering program for it(Blender), though I would, If I had the money, get Maya, a popular 3D suite for movie studios.

ON EDIT: This isn't an endorsment of Wal-Mart, BTW. I still wouldn't buy from them, plus the system itself is actually not top of the line, though more than adequete for most people. Still, Wal-Mart is reprehensible in so many ways that this will do little if nothing to shake that image.

Also another thing, the main reason Windows has always been so easy is that it came preinstalled on computers. My experience in installing Windows from 3.1 all the way to XP has been less that stellar. In fact, Ubuntu Linux was actually EASIER to install that Windows XP. Yes I had to type ONE damned sentence on a command line(sudo nvidia-glx-config enable), but that was to install my Nvidia driver, it still was easier than Windows XP, hell, it was a pain looking for the drivers for my SB-Live! card on the internet(the CD wouldn't install, even though it SAID Windows XP on it!), not to mention that booting into VGA mode(640x480 16 colors) on Windows XP is ugly as heck and damn near unusable and then rebooting twice, just to install the Nvidia drivers on that system.

I don't see how a pre-installed Linux system would be any more difficult to Windows, add Wine to that, and you can run many Windows programs as well.

[banana republican]

22. i'm running linux on a computer that wont run windoz.

I have about 5 pc's running windoz, linux and OS X. I prefer OS X or Linux. The only reason that I have Windoz is because that there is software that runs only on windoz.

Windoz is over priced, under secure, and more likely to crash the the other two.

Debian is free ( although I recommend a contribution) and as easy to install as windoz. The human interfaces are better than windoz, and the menus are more configurable. Plus as I understand it Linux is *much* lesslikely to be subject to a VIRUS.

P.S. Personally i think that Microsoft is hacking the Linux code, Almost everything is identical in KDE to MS Windoz.

[Born Free]

28. buy the "Live" cd

if a person doesn't want to burn a cd/dvd whatever, all they need to do to try linux is buy a "live" cd for a buck or two - no installation required. They can get various distros and try them all, perhaps they like gnome better than kde etc.

SuSE 10 has a reputation for being easier than windows and packs a lot of good stuff, however if the person is new and decides on SuSE 10+, I recommend buying the box set from Novell as oppssed to downloading it. I have read a few mp3 related files were not available on the download version because of license agreements - it's no big deal for someone that can download the files and run the install program but for a new person it's better to have it all set up right out of the box.

[rman]

11. Running linux is not the problem,

and installing it isn't nearly the problem that it once was.
But this laptop comes with the operating system pre-installed, so you don't even have the small problem of installing it.

[gizmo1979]

15. Really I'm behind on the

info then.No big surprise there.

[yardwork]

6. LOL! The typical Wal-Mart buyer won't have a clue how to run Linux

and the Wal-Mart greeters aren't going to be much help.

The typical Linux user won't be caught dead in Wal-Mart.

[QC]

17. Quite right, old chum. These plebeian shoppers are exceedingly gauche!

[Born Free]

26. deleted

[firefox]

7. This is what I am looking for

The world cannot afford Microsoft. There is no reason that every person on earth should pay for an operating system on a computer and that is what inspired Linux and open source. I use openoffice and it does fine for me and it will get better as it cannot get worse. Openoffice is said to be compatable with Microsoft Office. The word processing application in OpenOffice is called Writer and you can move documents from it to Office.

Linspire is supposed to mimic the Windows environment better than most and I think it is the name that came after Microsoft took Lindows to court. Anyway the previous Linux system offered by Wal-Mart was Lindows.

Knoppix was the first Linux platform that I heard about that could run your computer from a CD. This would allow you to start that learning curve if you want to migrate to Linux. This is called a live CD and there is one for Linspire too.

Knoppix- http://knoppix.org/

Linspire- http://www.linspire.com/

openoffice- http://www.openoffice.org/

[EvolveOrConvolve]

9. My mother-in-law bought one of these cheap pieces of shit

It's manufactured with the lowest quality products by slave laborers in countries that are less than progressive in the way they treat their workers. The OS, while far better than previous versions of Linspire (Lindows?), didn't meet the needs of my MIL. Some of the applications that Wal-Mart promised her would work on their Linux platform simply didn't, and the "comparable" software that she downloaded sucked. The hardware had problems from the start, including inexplicable reboots every 30-40 minutes. The CD-ROM drive never worked, and had to be replaced.

She purchased a $249 version of WinXP because the Balance laptop with Linspire didn't work for her. She'd have been better off purchasing a real laptop with an OS they she could use.

[firefox]

13. I wouldn't want this particular notebook either.

What I would like is a basic computer to surf the web and tape television. I wouldn't want to buy a screen/monitor to go with a Linuz operating system as I see the first Linux machine as an educational device on Linux itself.

Everybody talks about education and a basic Linux computer that surfs and records the Internet, and brings about the long desired phenomena known as convergence, should only be about $200.

Outpost.com is an extension of the brick and mortar store, Fry's. They offer a $199 Linspire computer- http://tinyurl.com/7rucv I would be most interested in this as a learning device for Linux and hooking it up to record television.

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Don't think Lindows and Linspire are quite the same thing...

but I could be wrong. I've only used Linux, with no frou-frou, wimpy, handholding GUI (my boss was a Unix geek from way back). Here's a review of Lindows, from a third party:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1134574,00.asp


You might not find it under the name Lindows:

No me--ing about
By Jan Libbenga
Published Tuesday 17th February 2004 16:01 GMT

The operating system Lindows is now available as Lin---s (pronounced: Lin-dash) in those countries where Microsoft has blocked the availability of the desktop Linux distribution. The new name complies with a recent Amsterdam court ruling, the San Diego company says.

"By removing 3 letters from our product name, Lindows.com will not be creating any confusion regarding Microsoft's supposed trademark on 'windows', and still offer choice in the marketplace," said Lindows.com CEO Michael Robertson in a statement today. "Any action from Microsoft to block Lin---s will show their true intentions are not to protect their trademark, but to eliminate competition and maintain their monopoly."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/02/17/lindows_now_lindash/

[rman]

12. pcworld: Lindows becomes Linspire

LindowsOS Becomes Linspire
Company announces name change in hopes of ending legal woes.
Scarlet Pruitt, IDG News Service
Wednesday, April 14, 2004

"Embattled Linux-based software vendor Lindows.com formally changed the name of its desktop operating system from LindowsOS to "Linspire" this week.

The name change came after a two-year trademark dispute with Microsoft."

<more>

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,115668,00.asp

http://www.pcworld.com/resource/browse/0,cat,1706,sortIdx,1,00.asp

[eppur_se_muova]

14. Thanx, rman. I don't keep up with the Wintel world very effectively.

I'm one of those insufferable MacHeads. :evilgrin: Say, what's a Mac Mini sell for? $500 you say? Complete with OS X ?

[guruoo]

18. OSX on a PC

Works dual boot with XP, second HD
http://www.uneasysilence.com/os-x-proven-hacked-and-running-on-an-ordinary-pc/

[banana republican]

23. Used a duall boot win98 and Linux. Didn't wook too well

I now have a $15.00 computer running win 98; a $175.00 computer running Debian Linux; a $110 computer running win XP; and a $400.00 computer running Win XP. (small office home office).

I use Linux for web browsing and posting to Du and other forums since it is more secure.

[guruoo]

24. So far, Win NT-XP is

the limit of my dual booting experience.
Know a lot of people that have used various win-linux
dual boot combos that seem happy with it.
I use surplus thinkpad t22 (XP), PC300GL (Win2k), and a ,
Power Computing Pro210 (Mac clone w/OS9) I bought new 10 years ago.

If I had Linux as a second boot I'd use it primarily for
recovery, security, and wardriving. Probably go with Knoppix.
What I'm really lusting for now is OSX as a second boot on the Thinkpad.
You just can't beat Mac for graphics, and (as word has it)video editing..

[rman]

25. how much does the cheapest Mac laptop cost?

[htuttle]

32. I've read that 'Lindows/Linspire' is the most insecure linux distro

IIRC, they encourage things like using the root account for everyday use, etc...to make it more 'windows-like'.

Well, at least Windows viruses won't run on it.

[gristy]

19. underpowered in every respect

1-GHz processor, 128MB RAM, a 30GB hard drive

[high density]

20. VIA C3 is very slow and 128mb of RAM is inadequate

I own a VIA C3-based system and use it as part of a TiVo-like device, and I would not recommend it for any typical computing needs. I like it because I can run it without any fans, but it's a very slow processor and probably benchmarks under 600mhz Celeron chips in many ways.

Also, 128mb is not enough RAM at all, especially for any graphical based Linux environment. I tried running Gnome a few years ago on a system with 96mb of RAM and it was not usable at all. RAM is so cheap today that they should have increased the price by $20 and put 512mb in it.

[Junkdrawer]

33. Isn't VIA the new name for Cyrix technology?

I've owned several Cyrix chips and they ran like dogs (no insult to canines meant ;)).

I'm sure Gates is happy because this will give Linux a bad name.

[high density]

35. Yeah, VIA bought some crappy processor designs from Cyrix

The C3 design is from Centaur Technology, though. They are low power/low heat chips, but they're also low performance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIA_C3

[banana republican]

21. Still too expensive

a desk top's price starts at $200 and up.

(see Frys web page).

This is way too much for a computer running linux. especilly given the fact that Open Office is an open source (e.g. free with a suggested donation) software.

[lumberjack_jeff]

34. Agree.

Wal Mart sees profit margin.

[belpejic]

29. Won't work

I'm not a massive fan of Microsoft, but they run a serious software business. Mac and UNIX people might deride them, but MSFT's got some pretty impressive technology that they've carefully developed over decades. Walmart has no idea what it is doing wrt to retail technology (core competencies, anyone?). I hope this seriously backfires on them, those arrogant rightwing gentlemen.

I suspect that Costco could do much better, not that I regularly shop at any mass retailer.

[Solon]

30. And Linux isn't in serious businesses?

What about IBM? Or how about Sun? Not to mention Linux's scalability, from old 486's with as little as 16 Megabytes of RAM all the way up to 131,072 PowerPC 440 700 MHz processors running at 2.8 GFlops with 32.768 Terabytes of Ram. No, Linux isn't in serious businesses at all, its not like http://www.democraticunderground.com">DU itself is run by it. And let us not forget security, I mean, its not like Linux is ever secure, right? Almost forgot, Linux doesn't dominate anywhere at all, either. Speaking of domination, Hollywood wouldn't even think about jumping on this bandwagon, would it?

OK, I'm done, not to defend Wal-Mart, but its not Linux's fault that Wal-Mart decided to market it, that's the consequence of open source, after all. You can have people like Mark Shuttleworth (Two different links) using his money and resources to develop a distro of Linux and also Wal-Mart in collaberation with Linspire.

[alfredo]

31. Ubuntu Linux free discs

Check out this site. You can order a free copy of their install and Live CD.

http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

[OneTwentyoNine]

36. Bawhahah,Microsoft should pull ALL their software from Walmart shelves...

I don't really care for Gates or the Walton spawn but I'd like to see this become a big ass knock down drag out!!

Heh he.....

[Servotron]

37. Linspire is a ripoff!

Sure, it's one of the most "user-friendly" Linux distros out there, but they force you to buy an "annual description" to download all the other software that other Linux users get for free. And despite the fancy interface, their packaging system is based on apt-get like any other Debian based release.

As for the hardware, I believe that VIA is the same company that used to be known as "Cyrix". And the Cyrix processor was the biggest piece of shit to ever occupy a PC.

Look around the net for cheap hardware, and download your own Linux OS such as Ubuntu or Mepis, two excellent Debian based distros that include everything you need to get started. And won't cost a damn thing.