WalMart's Jedi mind trick: "These aren't the PCs you're looking for"
There's a disturbance in WalMart this morning. It's as if millions of computers dialed out and then were suddenly disconnected. I've searched my feelings and... actually came up empty. When I searched my RSS feeds however, I found that WalMart retail locations will no longer be carrying Linux-based Everex computers. So much for the low-priced, gOS-powered units like the CloudBook and gPC. You'll still be able to get them online at WalMart.com, but that's it. Apparent Jedi-master and WalMart spokesperson Melissa O'Brian commented on the low-cost Linux machines: "This really wasn't what our customers were looking for." No official word on if she mysteriously waved her hand in the air when making the statement.
The low-cost items were a good fit for WalMart from a value perspective, but I sincerely doubt the majority of retail customers had a clue what Linux even was. I'm not knocking WalMart customers as I'm one myself; my point is that Linux is unfortunately not viewed as a mainstream operating system. Assuming I'm right, how successful could sales of Linux devices be in a mainstream discount store? Selling the devices there is a great idea, but one that the market isn't ready for just yet.
Kevin,
My guess is that there's several issues here affecting Wal-Mart's decision on this...
1) Obviously, there would be a lot of customers that would gravitate towards a Cloudbook when they see the price tag displayed. However, I'll bet that some people would grab one just because of the low price, get it home and then go 'WTF' when they turn it on and wonder what happened to WinXP....so, return it to Wal-Mart
2) Even if the customer didn't flip as per #1 above, the next issue would be when they boot up the first time and see that the buttons to accept or cancel setup steps are off the display and they go 'WTF' again and 'Now what do I do????'....so, return it to Wal-Mart
As for market acceptance of Linux, think that this is the proverbial Catch-22....it's hard for it to get more acceptance unless retailers get behind it, promote it alongside other options, and support it...otherwise, it will stay a niche item...
Same thing happened for the longest time with the Mac before OSX and Apple Stores...you'd go to the store and see miles of aisles of PC software and a couple outdated items for the Mac and no one there that could help you about the Mac....
So it goes....
;-)
Mark
Silicone Valley Digerati
Posted by: ArchiMark | March 11, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Wow. At some other site, a guy posted about the strangeness of Linux being sold by Wal-Mart. I told him I got my C=64 way back when @ Toys R Us.
I guess he was right after all.
Posted by: Mike Cane | March 11, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I don't believe the "Walmart crowd" for the most part is ready for Linux. They don't know what it is, how it works or how to get going with it. My guess is that Walmart has experienced a bunch of returns when the folks buy the cheap laptop and then get it home and it looks like nothing they've seen before. They then take it right back and return it. That's my guess, anyway.
Posted by: James Kendrick | March 11, 2008 at 10:42 AM
You're probably right, but that still sucks for me. I had hoped to be able to bus over to a WM at some point and pic up a CB. Now web order.
Unless I just wait for the 2133 (which lack of $ will probably make me do anyway...!).
Posted by: Mike Cane | March 11, 2008 at 11:19 AM
If you substitute the words "mass market" for "Walmart crowd" in James' comment, I think it describes the major roadblock/opportunity for this type of entry level PC.
Posted by: nomo | March 11, 2008 at 11:41 AM
As the Finnish Abomination proved to me, Linux is far, far away from consumer-grade.
Especially Everex's version. Asus just about bulletproofed the EeePC and gave it just about anything an average person could want -- as long as they understand to begin with that it's *not* Windows. (Well, not until, you know, ha!, the Windows ones come out!)
Posted by: Mike Cane | March 11, 2008 at 01:38 PM
i guess the problem right now is that one have a hell of a software based inertia in the tech world.
a inertia thats even biting microsoft when it comes the vista.
Posted by: turn_self_off | March 11, 2008 at 03:03 PM
I couldn't even find one of the CloudBooks within a 200-mile radius, anyhow. I was going to make it a fun road trip just to go pick one up. I need to spend more time with my current friends as-is (UX, EEE, etc.)
Posted by: Jay Harper | March 11, 2008 at 09:48 PM