Walmart.com To Sell PCs Sans OS

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
<a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1017-842375.html"; target="_blank">CNet reports</a>.



[quote] "We decided to sell the computers without an operating system so those customers who didn't want Windows could load the OS of their choice," said Lin, adding that another attractive element in not offering an operation system is that eliminating Windows considerably drops the cost of PCs.



For example, on PCs that sell for $599 or less, Windows becomes one of the most expensive components in the mix. Linux, of course, can be obtained for free.

<hr></blockquote>



<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/24165.html"; target="_blank">The Registers take</a>:



[quote] And when they get their OS-naked PCs what will they do next? Our guess is that the majority will load them up with pirate versions of Windows, as opposed to Linux distros.

<hr></blockquote>



That sums up what I thought when I first heard of this.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 31
    crusadercrusader Posts: 1,129member
    I would go buy one just to run linux, the price is right, and the machine has been untouched by M$ poison.
  • Reply 2 of 31
    groveratgroverat Posts: 10,872member
    They use my case.



    My computer looks like a Wal-Mart computer.
  • Reply 3 of 31
    [quote]Originally posted by groverat:

    <strong>They use my case.



    My computer looks like a Wal-Mart computer. </strong><hr></blockquote>



    poor grover...

    im sry dude. i would cry, but i really dont care...





    <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
  • Reply 4 of 31
    serranoserrano Posts: 1,806member
    mmm, no windows. i'm really not impressed by these prices, for these components you could build a cheaper box ... a kvm to share my monitor and kb/mouse is gunna be pretty pricy too. although the 400mhz frontside bus is a little depressing to see on such a budget box... c'mon apple, at least i can have more ram...



    Intel Celeron 1.0GHz processor

    128MB 133MHz SDRAM Memory, supports up to 512MB 256 Kbytes integrated Level 2 cache

    40GB Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive / 5400RPM (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)

    52x CD-ROM

    3.5" Floppy Disk Drive

    Up to 8MB shared video memory

    AC'97 Soft Audio, Integrated

    PCI 56K Modem

    Micro ATX Tower Case (7.06" W x 14.7" D x 13.8" H)

    Total drive bays: External, two 5.25", two 3.5"; Internal, one 3.5"

    Available drive bays: External, one 5.25", one 3.5"; Internal, one 3.5"

    Available Slots: 2 PCI

    1 High-speed serial port

    1 Parallel port

    2 USB ports

    1 Game port

    104 Key Keyboard

    2 Button Mouse w/wheel

    Audio Port (Line-in, Line-out, Mic-in)

    14-Watt (RMS) Stereo Speakers

    1 Year warranty, return to Microtel

    Operating System - NOT INCLUDED

    $399



    AMD Athlon 1.4 GHz processor

    266MHz Frontside Bus

    256MB 133MHz SDRAM Memory, supports up to 1GB

    40GB Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive / 5400RPM (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)

    52X CDROM

    3.5" Floppy Drive

    Integrated S3 Savage4 3D graphics

    Up to 32 MB shared video memory

    Supports 2x, 4x AGP graphic add-in cards

    ADI AC97 soft audio, integrated

    PCI 56K Modem

    250 Watt ATX Mid Tower Case (8" W x 17" D x 17" H)

    Total drive bays: External, four 5.25", two 3.5"; Internal, two 3.5"

    Available drive bays: External, three 5.25", one 3.5"; Internal, two 3.5"

    Available Slots: 2 PCI, 1 ISA

    2 Serial Ports

    1 Parallel Port

    2 USB Ports

    1 Game Port

    104 Key Keyboard

    2 button mouse w/wheel

    Audio Port (Line-in, Line-out, Mic-in)

    14 Watt (RMS) Stereo Speakers

    1 Year warranty, return to Microtel

    Operating System - NOT INCLUDED

    $499



    Intel Pentium 4 processor 1.6GHz

    400MHz frontside bus

    128MB 133MHz SDRAM Memory, up to 1GB

    20GB Ultra ATA-100 Hard Drive / 5400RPM (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)

    52X CD-ROM

    3.5" Floppy Disk Drive

    10/100 LAN, Integrated

    PCI 56K Modem

    Up to 64MB video accelerator, integrated

    AC'97 Soft Audio, Integrated

    Micro ATX Tower Case (7.06" W x 14.7" D x 13.8" H)

    Total drive bays: External, two 5.25", two 3.5"; Internal, one 3.5"

    Available drive bays: External, one 5.25", one 3.5"; Internal, one 3.5"

    Available Slots: 3 PCI, 1 AGP

    1 High-speed serial port

    1 Parallel port

    2 USB ports

    1 Game port

    104 Key Keyboard

    2 Button Mouse w/wheel

    Audio Port (Line-in, Line-out, Mic-in)

    14 Watt (RMS) Stereo Speakers

    1 Year warranty, return to Microtel

    Operating System - NOT INCLUDED

    $499
  • Reply 5 of 31
    How many inbreds will buy one and return it saying they are broken? :cool:
  • Reply 6 of 31
    cosmonutcosmonut Posts: 4,872member
    Ah, the corporate "Anti-Microsoft Outlash" has begun!



    Take that, Bill. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 7 of 31
    [quote]Originally posted by Horned_Frog:

    <strong>How many inbreds will buy one and return it saying they are broken?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    My thoughts exactly
  • Reply 8 of 31
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    I guess Walmart can't do like the small mom and pop system builders a install a freshly pirated copy of Windows on your machine when you buy it.



    We might be able to use the success of this venture as an indicator of how widespread piracacy really is. That, or how many linux geeks are out there. I think if they shipped the things with free distros of linux/a linux office suite and internet/messaging client, a lot of people wouldn't need windows at all.



    Somehow I don't think this will suceed.
  • Reply 9 of 31
    sebseb Posts: 676member
    Ok, so a person (possibly inbred) goes to WalMart and picks out a PC that looks like groverat's, but doesn't have groverat's OS.



    So, the person walks over to the software shelf to pick up an OS. He knows a lot about computers and knows an OS is just a BIOS without the BI (because he's probably a computer genius).



    Now, what options does mr. smartguy have before him? Well, there's MS Windows 2000. Looks good, but 2000 was 2 years ago and that can't be that good. There's MS Windows Me (maybe)...eh, it's not the millenium anymore though, so that's probably old too. Well, here's that new MS Windows XP. I think that's the newest. Looks more colorful. Does neat things.



    Mr. smartguy walks down the isle a way, doing a double check, and sees another little box. Oh, hey, here's something called Linux (here's where the genius part kicks in). Smartguy heard about this. Wouldn't mind trying something new. But wait. Where are all the games? Is there Internet Explorer on Linux? Can I use my old steering wheel setup w/Linux (mr. smartguy realizes he's not that smart)? Hmm...better not get that. This XP looks pretty good. Nice butterfly.



    So, what does this really mean?



    Probably not a damn thing.



    Oh, and the name kills me. Microtel. Hmm... sounds familiar. Micro, micro...hmmmm.. tel, tel,...nope can't place it.



    [ 02-22-2002: Message edited by: seb ]</p>
  • Reply 10 of 31
    Microsoft wont allow computers to be sold that way.
  • Reply 11 of 31
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    They expect people to pay retail prices for Windows XP, I guess.



    Stupid move for WalMart. Good for the rest of us.
  • Reply 12 of 31
    serranoserrano Posts: 1,806member
    [quote]Originally posted by Scott H.:

    <strong>Microsoft wont allow computers to be sold that way.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    ehehe, so you do have a sense of humor
  • Reply 13 of 31
    [quote]Originally posted by Scott H.:

    <strong>Microsoft wont allow computers to be sold that way.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    What's MS gunna do to walmart?? PC's are probbaly just a tiny fraction of walmart's business.
  • Reply 14 of 31
    I think its nice. granted, I kinda have my eye on a Tyan dual athlon setup, but if I was gonna buy a computer from wallmart, I'd insist on windows not being installed on it and not being charged for it.



    It's a choice. Choice is good, even if 90% of the people who buy it go with windows. It also maybe makes people aware that there are other OSes out there.
  • Reply 15 of 31
    cosmonutcosmonut Posts: 4,872member
    Microsoft won't/can't do a damn thing to Walmart thanks to the watchful eye of the U.S. Gubment.
  • Reply 16 of 31
    Well, no offense, but the DOJ have been pretty pathetic thus far. It's more the fact that Wal-Mart is far too big to push around, and they aren't an IT co,

    so what can M$ do, exactly?



    Nada.
  • Reply 17 of 31
    [quote]Originally posted by seb:

    <strong>So, what does this really mean?



    Probably not a damn thing.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    It means, when you upgrade to a new computer, you aren't forced to buy a second Windows license for it. Just because you aren't going to install Linux on it, does not mean you're a pirate. Here, try this:



    Let's say, in 1999, you bought an HP Somethinorother. It came with Windows 98 on it. Now it's 2002 and you're ready to get a new computer. Suppose you don't want XP (you're not ready to upgrade yet, or whatever). Why shouldn't you be able to buy a "blank" PC and install your legal copy of 98 on it?



    This scenario isn't far-fetched. I know somebody that needs a new PC at work, but absolutely does not want to ugrade to XP. She should be able to load up the 98 that came with her old PC.



    The only question is: what happens to the old PC? Legally, if you're putting your old OS on your new PC, you must erase the old one. If you sell the PC with the OS on it, you're a pirate. However, if you give or sell it to somebody "blank" you're fine. There are lots of people and instituions (libraries, schools) that wipe PCs and install their own systems which they have purchased licenses for (site licenses or whatever).
  • Reply 18 of 31
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    Spotbug, Nobody's really mentioned that alternative, but you're absolutely right.



    [ 02-23-2002: Message edited by: Matsu ]</p>
  • Reply 19 of 31
    [quote]Originally posted by spotbug:

    <strong>

    Why shouldn't you be able to buy a "blank" PC and install your legal copy of 98 on it?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Because I consider Windows 98 a virus. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 20 of 31
    groveratgroverat Posts: 10,872member
    lUsers in my department are getting brand new Dells and wiping the XP installation and installing Win98, shocked when the WinNT authentication software doesn't work (along with not having XP's features).



    Why do they uninstall XP? F.U.D. from morons who don't know anything.

    "Microsoft with install yuor data files on teh intarweb!"



    I had to beat an IT guy over the head with links (and a demonstration) to convince him that XP's authentication procedure didn't involve a credit card #.







    XP is fine, move on with your lives.
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