I disagree. This is great for Linux, mass marketing is exactly what
Linux needs.
Sure there will be lots of uninformed users buying it, but then they
will wind up asking 
people for help, complaining to companies about things that don't work,
etc. This will be
an opportunity to make new inroads, get new input, make some companies
wake up. Yes,
there will be downsides to this, but I prefer to look at a half full
glass than a half empty
one.

Brian
> -----Original Message-----
> From: zscoundrel [mailto:zscoundrel@kc.rr.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 10:11 AM
> To: kclug@kclug.org
> Subject: Re: Wal-Mart shipping PCs with Lindows preinstalled
> 
> 
> Probably not the best thing for Linux, but it is a good thing for the 
> industry.  Wal-Mart is a 600 pound gorilla in retail sales 
> and they are 
> NOT afraid to throw their weight around.
> 
> I am sure this is just a ploy to get better terms from the 
> Hell Hounds 
> in Redmond, but we may benefit from it.  If they are going to offer 
> Linux machines, I suspect that they will then start to offer after 
> market apps.
> 
> BTW, Sams Club has been offering boxed RedHat linux since back in the 
> 5.1/5.2 days. . . I bought several versions from them.
> 
> Aaron wrote:
> 
> > Hmmm...  This could be a bad thing.  Think of the average 
> person that would
> > buy a machine at WalMart and then imagine them with Linux.  
> I don't think
> > this would have been my first choice for an entry point to 
> the market.
> > 
> > Aaron
> > 
> > 
> >>Kind of interesting..
> >>
> >>In a move that appears to be a coup for Michael Robertson et al,
> >>
> > Wal-Mart's
> > 
> >>online store is offering eight different Microtel PCs with LindowsOS
> >>included. The computers sell for USD$299 to $599 and ship 
> in one to seven
> >>days.
> >>
> >>http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/25734.html
> >>
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> majordomo@kclug.org
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> majordomo@kclug.org
>