There was an article on a news site a few weeks ago about a Linux installation on a Wal-Mart blank box. Everything went fine except the Winmodem, but the Winmodem was a PCI card, so it can be replaced. That, to me, sounds like a worthwhile $20 add-on.
If you search slashdot.org for "Wal-Mart", you get two hits near the top of the list. The main story a few links down is the actual installation review. The top of the list (most recent) was a slashback comment from Monday the 6th that the manufacturer, Microtel, actually wrote back to the reviewer and announced that new versions of the systems will ship with Linux-friendly modem cards. THAT, my friends, is a friendly company! -- -j John Beamon On Thu, 23 May 2002, Chopin Cusachs wrote: > Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 15:13:56 -0500 > From: Chopin Cusachs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [brlug-general] Wal-Mart > > > No guess about pricing. eMachines used to have a very poor reputation > for quality, but since early this year seem much improved. I'd check date > of manufacture.... My son did get Gateway to match a price for a similar > machine elsewhere -- chopped a couple of hundred dollars off. He likes > his machine. > > If all else fails, ask if you can have a 'cheaper' operating system, like > Win98SE, > and be sure to get the CD. > > No experience with WalMart machines. > > Choppy > > At 02:40 PM 5/23/02 -0500, you wrote: > >Hey, I was just wondering if anyone had purchased one of those operating > >system free computers at WalMart that had been discussed about a month or so > >ago. As I recall a number of people had thought about the idea. Also, is > >anyone familiar with the Emachines that are available. I saw where you can > >get one for $400 and that includes a 17" monitor and XP, not that I need the > >monitor but I don't think I could build one for that price. I wonder how > >much they would knock off if I said I didn't want the monitor and operating > > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > [email protected] > http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net >
