Wal-Mart sells out of the $200 Linux gPC

We honestly didn't know what to expect from Wal-Mart's $200 Everex gPC, but it looks like the early results of putting Linux in front of Middle America are overwhelmingly positive -- Wal-Mart's online warehouse has already sold out of the cheapo Linux box, and users both savvy and new are filing enthusiastic reviews. Of course, it's still early and we can't imagine anyone getting too down on a $200 computer, but it certainly looks like Team Ubuntu is making a strong play to shift the balance in those OS wars.

[Via Slashdot]

[mattbrown @ Nov 13th 2007 4:11PM]

I foresee a lot these PCs getting returned (or at least some will try to return them). I'm sure that 90% of the folks who bought these PCs think that you can install Windows programs on them. Good luck to them; I'm fairly computer saavy, and I have had difficulties the few of times I've tried different Linux distibutions over the years.

[Luke @ Nov 13th 2007 4:28PM]

I can see it now.

"I tried to install... anything... and it wouldn't work"

Definitely going to be a bunch of returns. Unless they were all snatched up by some company trying to build a cluster.

[Charlie Calhoun @ Nov 13th 2007 5:13PM]

what I see is people returning it saying "It wouldn't Play Doom!!!"

[Salem @ Nov 13th 2007 6:02PM]

Actually I sort of got the feeling that most users who bought a $200 computer as their main computer (as in they don't have another windows computer to use), aren't really going to want (or in many cases be able) to install programs, be it on linux or windows. What comes with the OS is what they're going to use.
I know it's hard to believe, especially for the type that would frequent a site like Engadget, but I personally know people at that skill level.

[ejordan @ Nov 13th 2007 6:25PM]

You're exactly right. Those pc's are going to get booted up, and the first thing people will say is "where's windows?" Maybe all those getting returned will get marked down..

[Jake Howe @ Nov 14th 2007 4:03AM]

I used to work in computer sales and service, and this is what is going to happen, most the people who buy these cheap pcs dont kno anything about them, they just grab it cos its a bargain. we sold a £200 laptop once, and really all it could do was word process and the interenet i personally spoke to one person who wanted the unit for gaming, and one who wanted to run graphics applications!

[McGinley @ Nov 13th 2007 4:21PM]

Comments disabled on the Zune Review?

WTF?

Any explanations forthcoming?

[Luke @ Nov 13th 2007 4:24PM]

Then stay over there and STFU.

[Luke @ Nov 13th 2007 4:30PM]

Well now my comment looks stupid out there all by itself.

[Rususeruru @ Nov 13th 2007 5:45PM]

Yes sir it does... so here's a reply to your first comment to reduce the silly-ness of it all!

[Brian @ Nov 13th 2007 4:24PM]

It's things like this where I can see the Linux push succeeding more than the Mac at taking a bite out of the Windows market share. If this were a Mac with the same specs, it would cost $500 (granted the case would look better too). As far as people returning it because installing programs is too hard, from my experience with Ubuntu, it couldn't be much easier. Go to Add/Remove and search for your program. Put a check in the checkbox and install. Granted some smaller programs don't install this easy but the majority of what people will use installs easy and is free.

[Michael @ Nov 13th 2007 4:39PM]

the above comments were reffering to stupid users trying to install Word 97 on their linux box.

[Ayle @ Nov 13th 2007 6:01PM]

You're talking about the mac mini...

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:05PM]

It comes with Open Office which arguably is more than enough of a Word Processor for those interested in a $200 PC.

[engadget-account @ Nov 13th 2007 4:30PM]

I agree with the first comment, and I think Brian is missing the point. How many of the buyers either a) have no idea they are buying a computer that doesn't run Windows or Windows software (please don't bring up WINE) or b) are tech-savvy and bought it as an additional Linux box or to run pirated Windows on?

I really don't see this as any real indication of the mainstream acceptance of Linux.

[Jake Howe @ Nov 14th 2007 4:10AM]

simply, walmart will have made a killing with this machine - putting linux on it is a way of getting it cheaper, just the same as using cheap components, or old technology. People see cheap and they buy, and walmart can basically wipe there hands of it now.

[muddyh2o @ Nov 13th 2007 4:31PM]

anything to displace redmond, even it does have to happen through the evil of wally world.

this is great news.

and why wouldn't it be? the average user browses the web and reads/writes email. and in just a few years, they'll use SaaS providers for all their application needs.

so why wouldn't ubuntu and firefox be all you could ever need?

think about what your parents really use their computers for. why should we have to subject them to microsoft pain, and why should we have to be their tech support when they can get something like this (for $200!) and have fewer issues than a windows based machine?

mom and dad, you're getting ubuntu for christmas!

[Rususeruru @ Nov 13th 2007 5:59PM]

The average user just clicks 'the e' to get online too... and when that 'e' is gone and there's little/nothing to explain that the 'e' and firefox serve the same purpose Jo Blo is gonna be irritated and want his money back.

[Rususeruru @ Nov 13th 2007 5:59PM]

The average user just clicks 'the e' to get online too... and when that 'e' is gone and there's little/nothing to explain that the 'e' and firefox serve the same purpose Jo Blo is gonna be irritated and want his money back.

[Rususeruru @ Nov 13th 2007 6:00PM]

DAMN YOU ENGADGET AND YOUR INSISTENCE ON DOUBLE POSTING!

[Ayle @ Nov 13th 2007 6:06PM]

The average joe blo I know click on the icon labeled internet if this is what they want to do...

[Scott @ Nov 14th 2007 1:10AM]

@Rususeruru

You do know how to confirm only one comment do you not?

[skhawaja @ Nov 14th 2007 4:45PM]

Definitely give mon and dad ubuntu for christmas

Has anyone else seen the photos of the gigantic box this thing comes in? It's like a OLPC green color kinda with huge text saying "gPC" did they play the GooglePC card on that one :)

Does this thing play nice with the Ubuntu LiveCD?!?!

How many gPC's have been sold so far?!?!

[David Clark @ Nov 13th 2007 4:46PM]

Silence, you!! A P.O.S. Lindows box at Wal-mart should suffice your tech news appetite!

[Ethan @ Nov 13th 2007 4:48PM]

This is the one they made intentionally large, didn't they? Unglad it worked.

Happy to see Ubuntu, though.

[arthurt dent @ Nov 13th 2007 4:48PM]

You are all missing the point. If you don't know that you are buying a windows or a linux computer, chances are that you will also
not use the computer for anything more complicated than some
webbrowsing or emailing. For these people this is a perfect computer,
and by the time they will start doing more complicated things, they
will have figured out how to download open office instead of word 97.

[Adrian Williams @ Nov 13th 2007 4:55PM]

for 100$ more you could get Vista home Basic, a 17" CRT ,speakers, kayboard, Mouse, and a dvdrw
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5673669
or you can just get the MB, CPU, and a 1GB stick of ram for 60$
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A4842001

[Ayle @ Nov 13th 2007 6:01PM]

Those 100$ can be used elsewhere like to buy food... And not everybody has the knowledge on how to build a pc or doesn't have the time for that.

[Adrian Williams @ Nov 13th 2007 6:21PM]

I am not saying that, Walmart have that same pc (the Linux box) with all I mentioned for 299 or 100 dollars more

[Fyrewerx @ Nov 13th 2007 6:59PM]

Just wait until "Black Friday" ..... Best Buy will have their eMachine with Vista for $200 INCL. 17" monitor.

[TheCow5 @ Nov 13th 2007 4:58PM]

For Linux to be considered and everyday system it must first give the user support to a decent Vdieo editing software like Pinnacle Studio or Ulead, it must have an answer to MS Outlook and its UI needs to change, don't ask the ppl to switch to a UI that too alien and not as user frendly.
Vixta Linux (http://vixta.sourceforge.net/) with support for those two things mention above can work.
if only linux would get there act together

[helfrez @ Nov 13th 2007 5:10PM]

Nice to see the gang all here and clueless as ever..I am not even going to try to start any firefights, because most of the comments here are extremely biased, unfounded, and just plain silly. If you look hard enough, its easy to find fault in anything, but this whole conversation is a pretty amazing display.

Pinnacle and ulead can barely support their own stuff, let alone be considered a standard upon which something else is based. How many "everyday" users even know what either of those are? Joe user arguments are so 1999. Joe user will have an equally hard time with linux/osx/vista when placed in front of it for the first time.

[murray @ Nov 13th 2007 5:12PM]

Video editing? Video editing is not a mainstream "everyday" application.

[TheCow5 @ Nov 13th 2007 6:46PM]

Guys, I have Fedora Linux on two of my boxes, and its try booted on my ThinkPad T42.
I tried getting my sister on a Linux box but it was a no go, she uses her handy can to video tape her two kids soccer games, her kids water skiing, on the quads and everything her kids does, she then goes to her PC and place all her videos on DVD disk for her and her friends, and her friends do the very same. There are what you call a soccer mom. Those are the ppl whom you want to use Linux because they spend money, and there not loyal to any OS but want they can do on the OS.
Video editing is something everyone I know who had kids does, you must accept it and cater to them.
MS has created a nice UI for their OS look at win 3.11, Win98 and now Vista (it’s the UI! And functionality) and honestly it’s not the best but it works and everyone has their head around it, they also created complementary software not the very best but it works and most ppl are using it.
Linux will win the future if it not only creates an OS but a better UI and software to compliant it. Open office and Star office are a good start. You must compete with MS to get ppl to your system and you must offer them something they use.
P.S. Most ppl who run a small business depend on Outlook, I’ve tried weaning many off but they need outlook, they have a mobile phone that needs it too, because they depend on their mobiles

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:06PM]

Just so you know, I'm reporting your comment here for removal. If you have an issue with Engadget on a particular thread, please take it up with them personally.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:08PM]

And this isn't the Zune thread.

[Randy Oh @ Nov 13th 2007 5:14PM]

all i have to say is that i predicted its success.

[hn333 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:14PM]

Why is this news? A few years ago walmart was selling cheap lindows computers. How did that turn out?

[hn333 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:17PM]

LOL, iEngadget can't take the heat.

[Fady @ Nov 13th 2007 5:22PM]

I bought one, but to use as a cheap Windows Home Server box. I guess someone will count me as Linux used now ;-)

[Dave @ Nov 13th 2007 5:23PM]

ROCK..... ON!!!!!!!!!!!

This is Awesome news! Im not a huge linux user myself, but if I didn't have Mac OS X, I'd be using Linux instead. I really really hope that this is the start of the infiltration of Linux into the mainstream. Also, if people are happy with it, what do you think will happen when the "word of mouth" recommendations start?

Watch out Microsoft... Now you have 2 competing OS's gaining on ya!

[McGinley @ Nov 13th 2007 5:26PM]

Unfortunately,comments were disabled on that post and we gotta post somewhere!

[hn333 @ Nov 13th 2007 5:52PM]

Gizmodo had a real review.

[Ayle @ Nov 13th 2007 6:02PM]

Just zipped trough the comment section of "that" article... You don't often see flamefest on Engadget but there... Ryan sure got roasted on that one....

[Ayle @ Nov 13th 2007 6:02PM]

read the first post of the last comment page...

[Jim @ Nov 13th 2007 6:33PM]

I think it's great that more and more people are being exposed to a linux distro as easy to use as Ubuntu. The average person buying this computer is most likely buying it for a son or daughter in school to do their homework on. I've been using ubuntu for the last 7 months now, and have rarely come across anything too complicated to figure out. It is by far one of the most complete distributions put together for the entry level linux user, and for those that want to take it a step further, there are tons of open forums and blogs to pick information off of. Lets face it, for the average student, when it comes down to it a printed term paper is gonna look the same whether its printed off a Windows, Mac, or Linux machine.

[GeoFan49 @ Nov 13th 2007 7:13PM]

What will happen when they try to download photos from their HP, Kodak, or Canon digital cameras?

[GeoFan49 @ Nov 13th 2007 7:14PM]

Perhaps they will discover that Picasa has a Linux client?

[John Bailey @ Dec 6th 2007 10:19AM]

At a rough guess.. they will either plug the cable into the USB port, or if the camera has some weird format, they will get a cheap card reader that will connect with no need for drivers. Just like I did with my Fuji.

[Jonathan Michaels @ Nov 13th 2007 7:35PM]

Like a good majority of you, I'm a certified geek power user. These $200 gOS computers are NOT intended for us. They're for people that want to do basic tasks painlessly - and they work well at their intended function.

I received a call last week from a client that I'd previously worked with (removing viruses/malware from her old XP machine.) She asked me to pop by and teach her and her computer-phobic husband to use the new system they planned on buying.

She called back today to cancel her appointment. She told me she bought one of these new systems and that "so far, no problems." She promised she'd call if she couldn't figure something out and needed help.

She's quite happy to have her email/IM/web browsing working. The husband just discovered Facebook and Wikipedia (hard to miss with those huge buttons). I think it's a killer idea. Bonus: When I do go over to teach them how to get more out of their new system, I won't be wasting my time (and their money) teaching them about viruses, scanning for malware, defragging and all the other nonsense they previously assumed was a necessity.

The downside to being a power user is that we lose touch with what non-geeks want from a computer.