> From: Matt Lye <[email protected]> > The problem is there isnt "Linux Hardware"
Tom Sparks wrote: > we have apple shops, so why not linux shops? > There are plenty of shops that sell Linux *software*. But as Matt already said, there is no such thing as "Linux hardware", at least not in the typical desktop PC market. If you want non-PC hardware with embedded Linux on it, you don't have to look far. DLink routers, Sony Bravia TVs and BluRay players, dozens of commercial DVD players - they all run Linux. If you want to buy PCs with Linux pre-loaded, there are plenty of places that sell such combos. Asides from the usual Netbook market that's boomed lately, there are beige-box sellers who do the same. I assisted this company some years ago with setting up a low-cost, Linux-driven product: http://www.cheapestpc.com.au/ And there are many others around too. As for your idea of "Linux shops", the answer boils down to the fact that at this point in time, the average Linux user is a bit more technically savvy than your average Windws/PC user. End result is that high-priced, profitable PCs with Linux pre-loaded won't sell very well to the low-end-user market (which is where the profits are made). You need to understand that the average beige-box retailer makes about 3% margin in their business. Dell pull about 5%. It's the type of business where you don't bother selling hardware unless it's to the 99% "Joe Sixpack" user. Most PC places selling desktop Linux are targeting the two extremes of the market: the ultra-low-cost desktop/netbook style device, or the very expensive specialised Linux workstation user (I have a few clients in the film and TV business who fall into the latter). The middle ground isn't a viable business model right here and now, although I'm confident that will change as the years go by. -Dan -- ubuntu-au mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-au
