Walmart to start selling computers with out any operating system installed!

[mcveigh]

<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A86798&dept=3944&cat=86798&sb=61&bti=0
">link</a>

I feel this is great. It gives people a choice of what OS to put on their hardware!!

 

[Vadatajs]

<< <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A86798&dept=3944&cat=86798&sb=61&bti=0
">link</a>

I feel this is great. It gives people a choice of what OS to put on their hardware!! >>



It is great, I would love to be able to put my own OS on a computer, but I'm unsure of how ready the common conusmer is for that sort of thing.

 

[RPB]

i feel thats the way all pc's should be and if the buyer dosn't want to install the software the seller should install it for a reasonable fee.

 

[DaiShan]

walmart sells computers?

 

[BigJ]

Going in the right direction, but you really gotta think about something. How many people who know how to install an operating system buy computers from Walmart?

This would definitely be great if Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc started offering an option on there systems to have no operating installed, but I'm not sure how successful this will be.

 

[zigCorsair]

<< Going in the right direction, but you really gotta think about something. How many people who know how to install an operating system buy computers from Walmart?

This would definitely be great if Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc started offering an option on there systems to have no operating installed, but I'm not sure how successful this will be. >>



Yep. I think consumers will actually be confused with this for awhile, as we're used to buying systems with operating systems. Then again, Walmart might be trying to set a new trend. Oh well, it'll be interesting to see where this goes.

 

[ugh]

<< How many people who know how to install an operating system buy computers from Walmart?

>>



My sentiments exactly. But hey, I guess they should start someday. Perhaps one day geeks will be buying computers/parts from Walmart

 

[azkiwi]

hard to see how this can go anywhere. For the average Walmart shopper there is no choice of OS. THis will actually put more $ in M$ pocket - not less. The price on the puters will look good though...

 

[bbarnes]

I don't see how this is going to work, unless they offer to install the OS of your choice for a fee.

The average consumer probably does not know how to install the OS from scratch, maybe upgrading...

 

[ToBeMe]

<< I don't see how this is going to work, unless they offer to install the OS of your choice for a fee.

The average consumer probably does not know how to install the OS from scratch, maybe upgrading... >>


LOL! I actually got a call on one of these already! The person apparently bought one of these for his kid, and is now going to drop it off to have us put Win XP on it.............. It'll end up being more expensive than buying one with XP already installed as you guys already touched on above, but, may prove to be a windfall for us small business owners.............

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< hard to see how this can go anywhere. For the average Walmart shopper there is no choice of OS. THis will actually put more $ in M$ pocket - not less. The price on the puters will look good though... >>



Walmart sold Mandrake and RedHat last time I was there.


The Microsoft tax should be removed on every computer.

 

[ToBeMe]

<<

<< hard to see how this can go anywhere. For the average Walmart shopper there is no choice of OS. THis will actually put more $ in M$ pocket - not less. The price on the puters will look good though... >>



Walmart sold Mandrake and RedHat last time I was there.


The Microsoft tax should be removed on every computer. >>


I agree................I'll gladly accept the systems these people purchase and load the O/S for them!

 

[Willoughbyva]

I think it is great that they sell computers without an OS on it. You can easily buy win9x for about $35 or $40. It makes sense. Most people have a friend that knows enough about computers to install and get the system up and running.

Also I was reading on Wal-Marts site the listings of some of the stuff that comes with one of these computers and it listed a version of Linux that was included. I hope that these computers becomes popular and more companies start doing it.

 

[TBC]

The ONLY people who love this are linux lovers. They figure people might be more likely to convert to Linux if they don't know what they are missing.

Having Windows preinstalled on a new computer saves a LOT of money. Walmart apparently isn't computer literate enough to realize that.

I can just imagine their customers buying the computer, getting it home, and can't even turn the dang thing on because there is nothing to load. Yeah their customers will just love that.

 

[TBC]

I'd also like to add for all the people here who seem to think this is such a great idea. Most computer savy people who know about installing their own operating system, aren't going to go to Walmart, or any store, and buy a prebuilt computer. They are going to build their own computer from parts they buy seperately.... (therefore you pay for no operating system).

But as usual, the Linux users are promoting this as yet one more attempt to bash Microsoft.

 

[freebsddude]

Humbly disagree! I think the idea or the issue is having the "choice" of various operating systems. Walmart DOES sell PCs which are preinstalled with Windows XP. There are at least 5+ decent linux distributions and at least 3 BSD distributions. I have honestly not seen any retailer doing that. You are correct that XP is cheaper when preinstalled but to not have it if people so desire is equally important IMHO!

I forgot to metion that I have a FreeBSD, and a Linux and 2 Windows machines myself.

 

[ultimatebob]

It's a good idea in theory, but this is what will probably happen:

The Linux/xBSD geeks will LOVE this idea... until they see the hardware specifications on these systems. Once they find out that they're filled with a bunch of intergrated crap that has lousy driver support, they'll probably to back to buying Dell's or building their own budget systems.

Joe Six pack won't understand what "Operating System not Included" means, and buy one anyway. Once he plugs it in and finds that it won't boot, he'll probably bitch to Walmart saying that "it's broken". Then, he'll either return it, pay $100 for a copy of Windows, or have someone install a pirated copy for him. A few of these people might try Linux, but most of them will give up on it when they find out that it won't run TurboTax, or Nascar 2002. Remember, we're talking WalMart shoppers here, not CompSci professors from MIT.

Cheapskates who know what they're doing might buy them anyway, however. They already have their pirated copies of Windows XP Pro Corporate on CD-R, and won't mind saving $100 by installing an OS on their own. Microsoft will catch on to this, sue some WalMart customers on trumped up piracy charges, and Walmart will be forced to pull the entire line to avoid the bad press.

Of course, I could be wrong, as I'm not a fortune teller. You don't have to be Miss Cleo to see some trouble in Walmart's future from these computers.

 

[bozo1]

<< This would definitely be great if Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc started offering an option on there systems to have no operating installed, but I'm not sure how successful this will be >>


I don't know if this is still true but in order for OEM's to get the best price on Microsoft OS's, they pay (or paid) a license fee for each PC they shipped, whether Windows was on it or not. This is why it was so difficult to get machines preinstalled with OS/2, Linux, etc.

This was an item in one of the many lawsuits of recent years, don't know what the outcome was. Microsoft's line was that they weren't forcing Windows down the OEM's throats, they had their choice of what pricing structure they used.

 

[MGMorden]

This would be better if they offered a choice of Windows installed for an extra fee or Linux installed for a lesser fee ($10 or less; maybe nothing if they sold all identical configs). People would buy the machines for the cheaper price and not think twice. most of these people don't/can't install any third party stuff anyways. To a lot of people a computer consists of what it comes with. They never consider upgrading or buying new software. This is the crowd that could be prime targets for pre-installed Linux (they don't have to be able to install it; heck they couldn't install windows). And then when little Timmy starts figuring out the computer he's figuring out Linux instead of Windows. We've breed a whole new generation of Unix geeks . . . . assumming it stays around. when little MGMorden figured out how to work his Commodore 64 only to find that Commodore didn't make computers anymore then he had to learn a whole new system (DOS/Win3.1).

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< The ONLY people who love this are linux lovers. They figure people might be more likely to convert to Linux if they don't know what they are missing.Having Windows preinstalled on a new computer saves a LOT of money. Walmart apparently isn't computer literate enough to realize that.I can just imagine their customers buying the computer, getting it home, and can't even turn the dang thing on because there is nothing to load. Yeah their customers will just love that. >>





<< I'd also like to add for all the people here who seem to think this is such a great idea. Most computer savy people who know about installing their own operating system, aren't going to go to Walmart, or any store, and buy a prebuilt computer. They are going to build their own computer from parts they buy seperately.... (therefore you pay for no operating system).
But as usual, the Linux users are promoting this as yet one more attempt to bash Microsoft. >>



What am I missing? Give me one GOOD thing that I am missing by avoiding Microsoft products? I bet you cant. If you do I will convert ALL of my machines to Windows and sell the Mac.

I would also like to know how the frig I bashed Microsoft. Or where your punk ass gets off calling me a "linux lover." Also, tell us how choice is bad. Since when is being able to buy something a little different bad? I like looking at a variety of cars and I would walk before I would drive a ford if it was the only option.

Get off Bill's lap and give us some legitimate answers here kid.

 

[manly]

<<

<< This would definitely be great if Dell, Gateway, Compaq, etc started offering an option on there systems to have no operating installed, but I'm not sure how successful this will be >>


I don't know if this is still true but in order for OEM's to get the best price on Microsoft OS's, they pay (or paid) a license fee for each PC they shipped, whether Windows was on it or not. This is why it was so difficult to get machines preinstalled with OS/2, Linux, etc.

This was an item in one of the many lawsuits of recent years, don't know what the outcome was. Microsoft's line was that they weren't forcing Windows down the OEM's throats, they had their choice of what pricing structure they used.

>>



Yes, this pricing policy is totally anti-competitive and illegal.

I don't believe it's still going on for desktop PCs, but it was still the case pretty recently for notebooks. Some people may recall a "Windows Refund Day," which was organized by some consumers who were tired of being forced to pay for Winblows licenses.

The notebook OEMs threw up their hands, and claimed that it was part of their contract with M$ over OS licenses that they had to offer only Winblows. Whether the contracts have been rewritten is not public information, but I'm not aware of any major notebook OEM besides IBM that provides an alternative from Windows.

One of the remedies the states want in the M$ Anti-Trust trial is a public price sheet for operating system licenses so that they can't continue to arm-twist OEMs.

 

[n0cmonkey]

All I want is a choice. Mark the no-OS selection in big red letters telling morons and Microsoft users (notice I do not include them both in the same category) that there is no OS, and mark it down $xxx.xx (whatever it costs for Windows). I dont want to support Microsoft in any way. Plain and simple.

 

[freebsddude]

While we are on this topic ....

Personally, I think Gateway is as good a buy as the Walmart, probably better.
Check out the specs here!

I also found a $100 gatway coupon code which will make the pricing comparable.

 

[NorthenLove]

A 1.4ghz AMD pc with a 15inch LCD monitor and windows pre-installed cost $979.00 while the same 1.4ghz AMD pc without windows but with a 15inch LCD screen added on costs $848.00. ( $499.00 w/o LCD screen or windows OS ) Thats a differrence of $131.00 dollars you save if you already own a windows OS like W9xx-ME, W2K or Linux, BSD and $349.00 if you already have a monitor and only want a new box.

 

[jhu]

Give me one GOOD thing that I am missing by avoiding Microsoft products? I bet you cant. If you do I will convert ALL of my machines to Windows and sell the Mac.

selling your soul of course.