Posted on 07/16/2002 3:46:15 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
Wal-Mart's Web Site Sells Computers Without Windows Software
Published: Jul 16, 2002
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"We're simply offering this to a specific niche looking for this specific operating system," Walmart.com spokeswoman Cynthia Lin said Tuesday. "It's about extending more choices to our customers."
Instead of the popular Microsoft Windows software, the Wal-Mart computers come loaded with Lindows, a Linux operating systems company based in San Diego.
Lindows says the operating system supports some, but not all of Microsoft's programs. Lindows marketing vice president John Bromhead says users shouldn't have a problem with the main Microsoft office products, such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
"We don't try to run every Microsoft Windows product out there," Bromhead said.
Bromhead said the company is more concerned with the more widely used "bridge" programs. He said the company wants to make it easier for users to view attachments to e-mails and open common file forms.
Wal-Mart said it started marketing the computers when customers started asking for machines to come preloaded with alternative operating systems to Microsoft's Windows.
So in February, Walmart.com started selling computers without operating systems.
"So customers could load an operating system of their choice and response was strong," Lin said.
After that change more customers came to the company asking for a Linux solution, Lin said. In response, Wal-mart collaborated with Microtel and Lindows to create the new machines.
Wal-Mart made the inexpensive computers with the new operating system available on their Web site last month. Lin said the computers began to sell immediately. She said there are no plans to market them in Wal-Mart stores.
The Wal-Mart systems range in price from $299 to $599. The most expensive has a 40 gigabyte hard drive, an Intel Pentium 4 processor and a CD burner. A monitor, speakers and printer are not included.
In December, Microsoft sued Lindows, arguing that the product is too similar to Microsoft's rival Windows system. This March a federal court told Microsoft that it wouldn't block the small startup's software from using the name Lindows.
A spokesman for the Redmond, Wash., software giant said the company intends to pursue its claim in order to protect its trademark.
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On the Web: www.walmart.com Online shopping site
www.walmartstores.com Corporate site
www.linux.com Linux site
AP-ES-07-16-02 1644EDT
A good start!
I saw a copy of that in a California antique computer store a few years ago. Should have bought it for the museum.
Now that really makes me feel old!
Slightly off-topic, but WMT dropped like a rock near the close today (49.88; down 6.66%!). I heard an order went out to store managers to drastically reduce labor costs in the coming weeks but don't have a reference. Falling consumer sentiment is starting to affect the discount retailers???
Couldn't find a good image file for it either.
This guy says something about it in his blog:
Who buys computers at Walmart? Generally, it isnt the computer-savvy consumer. They'll see a computer for $299, and not realize that Lindows isn't gonna be able to run EVERYTHING Windows can. It'd be a customer-service nightmare.
Nothing against linux. Its a good OS if you know what you're doing. But the person who'd buy a computer at walmart generally doesnt.
Sounds like they have the customer demand.
That's not WalMart's problem. They just move the boxes. Whoever builds the computers will have to deal with any headaches. And given the typical Wal-Mart customer, they will have headaches.
Windows? Nah, none of 'em match up to this:
Easy to use
Advanced
Tons of features
Runs any software ever written
Very fast
Complete MS Office and Word Perfect compatibility
Extremely small
And, best of all, it's free and you can run it on your computer right now!! Takes just a minute to download. Be sure to explore ALL the options. You'll be amazed, I promise!
You forgot one word "A @#$!(censored)good start!
That was lots of fun. I can't believe that download could improve on my OSX - but it did not disappoint.
I may have to send that to a couple friends.
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