--- Byron Como <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm not convinced this will be a_good_thing. Reason > being Lindows is > probably not the best representative to carry the > Linux flag. Yall should > read the documentation on the website, especially > the part about "Who should > not subscribe..." The secoond is that if WalMart > decides that the Linux > marketing seas get too rough they could pull out at > anytime, leaving the > stranded users to sink or swim as they can on their > own. That said, the > Japanese proverb "A man can't stand in a swiftly > running stream applies > here." as does "The only thing constant is change."
You made a good point, but the significance is that WalMart has started doing this at all. Other retailers are sure to follow: CompUSA, Best Buy, etc. As Choppy pointed out earlier, Linux was held back by the OEM's reluctance to sell machines without M$. Now WalMart has done both: sold machines without an OS and with Linux installed. Microtel must have some pretty smooth talkers in it's organization. I'd like to ask all BRLUG members to do some recon work at your local WalMarts to get an idea of how the Microtel boxes are selling. Please report your findings here. What I want to know is WalMart's reasoning for doing this. It is obvious that WalMart _knew_ it would piss off M$. But I can't imagine M$ pulling its products out of WalMart. M$ needs WalMart. WalMart is the alpha male in commerce, and even Bill G. reluctantly shows his rump to it. WalMart is plenty big enough to experiment. I think it is doing so. Could it be just a plain drive to sell PCs to those who don't yet have one? If true, this will be an explosion of newbies like never seen before. Be nice to newbies, people, and help em out. They are our shock troops. John Hebert __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com
