Warm? STRANGE? Lindows PCs at WalMart starting at $299

[murphy55d]

Linky

They use LINDOWS! I don't know how Lindows works, whether it sucks or not, but these start at 299 and if you already own Win98/XP/2k, whatever, this may not be a bad deal for a cheapy computer for Dad(fathers day) or someone who needs a very basic machine. Doesn't come with monitor.

I hope this isnt a repost, I didn't see anything when I searched.

 

[WHSLacrossekid]

interesting!

 

[Rooski]

http://www.lindows.com/

 

[nino]

I think that these look pretty good. Much better than the solutions being offered by compaq and HP for that price.

Plus it is PRE-INSTALLED with Linux so everything should work right out of the box. I think it's pretty HOT !!

I'm going to refer a few friends that are looking for CHEEEAAAPPP computers to them

 

[zizi]

If you plan to install some version of Windows on these, you may also consider 'naked' pc's from walmart (yes, walmart sells PCs without ANY os too).

 

[lsman]

take some time to build pc yourself,
i sold some $360 computers with better CPU and with monitor.
Ok, they are without OS, of course.

 

[murphy55d]

Originally posted by: lsman
take some time to build pc yourself,
i sold some $360 computers with better CPU and with monitor.
Ok, they are without OS, of course.

Its obvious these aren't for a normal enthusiast. For 300 bucks this is the PC grandma will buy to learn to surf the net, not play RTCW at 250fps.

 

[Rilescat]

Originally posted by: murphy55d

Originally posted by: lsman
take some time to build pc yourself,
i sold some $360 computers with better CPU and with monitor.
Ok, they are without OS, of course.

Its obvious these aren't for a normal enthusiast. For 300 bucks this is the PC grandma will buy to learn to surf the net, not play RTCW at 250fps.

True True....but how many enthusiasts would really buy hardware at Walmart anyway? Not the one by my house anyway I guess. I like Walmart, but all they have for computer stuff are mice. (Little Walmart in Mid West).

Perhaps they are trying for a whole new market though. LINDOWS? That is VERY interesting. Is anyone else selling machines with Lindows?????

 

[lungster]

According to the Lindows site, it's not fully cooked yet. Is this Microtel PC shipping with a pre-release OS ?

 

[alyosha]

And for roughly 500 dollars you get a 1.8GHz Pentium system form Dell- is there really a dilemma?

 

[ai42]

Wow I'm rather impressed with the Lindows itself. Does this computer come with a subscription to Lindows? If I'm reading this right you can download as much programs as you wish from Lindows as long as you have a subscription (1yr subscription cost 100). Also if you take a look at the user screenshots they are running Windows Programs! They might be ported to Linux but still rather impressive if it runs stable.

This looks likes perhaps this will be my new toy and hey you can run a server on it (cept you probbably want more RAM/HD). BTW did anyone else notice that there is a inlayed port for a Floppy disk drive but the thing says there is no floppy included, thats pretty bad that there is a space for it just the company is too cheap to actually throw in a $7 floppy disk drive.

 

[murphy55d]

Originally posted by: Rilescat

Originally posted by: murphy55d

Originally posted by: lsman
take some time to build pc yourself,
i sold some $360 computers with better CPU and with monitor.
Ok, they are without OS, of course.

Its obvious these aren't for a normal enthusiast. For 300 bucks this is the PC grandma will buy to learn to surf the net, not play RTCW at 250fps.

True True....but how many enthusiasts would really buy hardware at Walmart anyway? Not the one by my house anyway I guess. I like Walmart, but all they have for computer stuff are mice. (Little Walmart in Mid West).

Perhaps they are trying for a whole new market though. LINDOWS? That is VERY interesting. Is anyone else selling machines with Lindows?????

That is my point. lsman says build it yourself, well obviously that's what most of us here do now anyway. This deal, or whole idea, is not aimed at the person who custom builds their own PCs. 90% of Walmart shoppers don't know the difference between AMD and Intel, let alone how to build their own computer. It is a low cost machine which does all your basic functions. People will see this 299 machine, add a KDS monitor from WalMart while youre there, and you're set to go for 400 bucks roughly. Plus I am sure there is some sort of tech support included, which isn't included when you build your own.

Believe it or not but there ARE still people who look to an OEM to buy a PC from, and don't actually build themselves. This would be a good deal for them.

 

[ingenue007]

Hmmmmm so lindows is subscription based?

I want an install CD myself. I wonder if this would work on PPCs? I highly doubt it though. But if I can install linux on my g4....hmmmmm.

 

[bonk102]

interestint, this deserves looking into

 

[unclebud]

i think all these nerds who run all up in these type of threads and whine about how they can build their x-box for ten dollars cheaper with out an os included are just showing how solitary and alone they are. i know too many people who are always asking me what i think the best deal is
i tell them one with a good return policy cause i know they will break something
does wal-mart not have the best OVERALL? who does? i need to shop there, just in case... i buy stuff and sometimes it's a month before i can use it and find out if it WORKS, due to my job...

 

[ChrisIsBored]

Whoa.. you're a PLATINUM member at a computer hardware forum and you're bitching about people being nerds because they can build their own pc's? Yet you're a PLATINUM member at a computer hardware forum.... and who has no life?

 

[unclebud]

*shrugs*
look at the date
and then think about the all the "irrelevant" questions about deals people have that need to be answered
if i THINK i KNOW the answer to a question, i TRY to answer it
as opposed to little lurkers like the respondent to my last post that try to tear a deal down instead of building it up
and anandtech has OTHER forums BESIDES HOT DEALS...
but methinks someone protests a wee bit too much
maybe i struck a nerve?

 

[VaG]

Originally posted by: unclebud i buy stuff and sometimes it's a month before i can use it and find out if it WORKS, due to my job...

Is surfing/posting at anandtech your job?

 

[Macro2]

OK, I give up...what is LINDOWS?

Linux and widows?

 

[CKDragon]

Originally posted by: chrisisbored
Whoa.. you're a PLATINUM member at a computer hardware forum and you're bitching about people being nerds because they can build their own pc's? Yet you're a PLATINUM member at a computer hardware forum.... and who has no life?

UncleBud wasn't complaining about nerds who can build their own computer, he was whining about nerds who come in and crap on HD threads that think everybody else should be able to build their own computer and therefore crap on any OEM deals.

I have proudly built computers for myself, family and girlfriend but when a friend asks me for computer advice I usually recommend Dell for their service simply because I don't want to have to support their computer myself. They deserve better than having to wait for me to get around to it and I always have other things to do. It still makes sense for the majority of the population to go and buy a pre-built computer just as it makes more sense for people to go and spend $15 to get their oil changed at a gas station instead of spending more time to do it ourselves.

Also: stop whining.

CK

 

[RDMustang1]

I disagree with some of the crapping rules... I think some thread crapping is good in hot deals. There have been many 'craps' that have stopped me from getting a deal which turns out not to be a great deal. I've found deals where I thought it was a great deal and someone posted an alternative or another place that has a better price and then gotten much better stuff for less money. Constructive 'thread-crapping' is good in my opinion (like someone saying build a pc instead of buying one which if you have the slightest bit of technical ability this should be the route for you).

As for this PC being for non-technical people like the grandma who wants to surf the web, linux is not the best OS for it (Note, from what I read last week about lindows, it's basically linux that can install and run windows programs, so you are still looking at the linux GUI/command prompt which isn't quite as intuitive as windows, but this is not from first hand experience).

Just to clarify this, people who come in and say "wow,a horrible deal", that's a real thread crap that is not constructive at all.

Just my $0.02

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: Macro2
OK, I give up...what is LINDOWS?

Linux and widows?

Lindows is a Linux distribution which comes with WINE, which allows Linux to run some Windows software. I wouldn't use it, though, because Lindows isn't finished yet, and is still incompatible with a lot of Windows software.

Come to think of it, I don't think that I could even want to touch one of these computers. Along with having motherboards with a lot of integrated crap on them, I'll bet that they all use the cheap cut-rate cables and fans that will fail soon after the warranty runs out.

Sure, it's only $299, but you get what you pay for.

 

[Omagh]

Hey ingenue007


You can get a version of Linux to run on your g4 or PPC.
Go to Linuxiso.org. Do a search on Google and you will find them available for free downloading.

No worries about licensing. And never a blue screen of death.

 

[jfolds]

I've been looking into Lindows for a while now, even though I havent subscribed to run a alpha version I have corrisponded with them and they said they had over 100 windows games that can be ran in Lindows.. Sounds like they are doing pretty well.

Jamie

 

[ingenue007]

Omagh - Yeah. I already have yellow dog distro running on my titanium powerbook.