The only time we moved any computers at all was when someone managed to steal a laptop.

I'd hate to feed the stereotype, but our average customer was more interested in the $5 movie bin and infant clothing than in a Linux.

What stereotype? In the infrequent event I go to Walmart it is to buy baby goods or discount items. No shame there, that's what they sell. (I prefer Target, but I won't get into that.) If I were going to buy a computer, I would put a little more thought into it. Somebody who is comfortable using Linux at all may be inclined to put together a high end box themselves from parts ordered online. A typical non-hobbyist end user is more likely to want something running Windows. I don't think there is much of an American market for low-end Linux PCs. There might be one in other countries. I'm not sure.

I mean what's the point in prodding the room temperature IQ dead heads who work in Wal*Mart what the difference between Linux and Windows PCs are? The staff is generally indifferent, ignorant, hung over and stupid. And there's a huge language barrier between the illegals who make up the customer base and the feebs who work there. The problem, like the problem with so many other Wal*Mart items is that availability is spotty. This week, next week, who knows, it might be back ordered or gone and back again.

If by poor sales they mean generally sold out in one day, yeah they sucked. What happened is they all sold out then they were all brought back for a return because they were 'broken', e.g. weren't Windows.

The average computer user is TERRIFIED of anything that doesn't have a Windows Operating System, thanks to Gates & Company and the US Government allowing that monopoly.

Add this factor to the basic WalMart shopper, who is not necessarily technically inclined, and they would never purchase any device they didn't know how to use.

The staff is generally indifferent, ignorant, hung over and stupid. And there's a huge language barrier between the illegals who make up the customer base and the feebs who work there.

Good point, if only white-citizen-taxpayers worked and shopped at WalMart, those Linux PCs would be flying off the shelves.

I would like to think that you could make your point (or whatever) without including your racist bullshit.

If Wal Mart expected its employees to know anything about computers, they wouldn't be paying them those fabulous salaries, would they?

Well your Lillylivership, I entreat, ney, I implore you to come down here where, oh 90% of the customers in the Walmart have limited command of English and the staff such as it is, can't even be bothered to swipe the barcodes correctly let alone price check something, which is what happened to me only yesterday.

And for the record, if most of your customers speak only Spanish, it's probably a reasonable idea to post all your signs in Spanish, and have Spanish speaking help, which they don't

So chalk one up for fuzzy-wuzzy wooly headed morons like you.

That never stopped them from celling digital cameras and flat screen TV's did it?

Last time I checked, the only thing Wal Mart ever claimed to have expertise in was keeping prices low. Just because they sell stuff doesn't mean you have to shop there, you know.

"celling" is actually spelled with an "s."

(Sorry, folks, I just had to add another swat at the hive.)

Explain why you shop there?

Do you provide English lessons, asshole?

No, the average American doesn't receive free computer training in the Linux environment from their employer. Lots of people don't want to really learn about computers, they just want to use them with as little expenditure of intellectual capital as possible.

And as much improved as Linux desktops are over even just a year or 2 ago, they are still a far cry from Windows and OS X in terms of usability and overall experience. GUI development just costs too much for open source to catch up to monetized software at this point.

I clicked the link to check out these computers, and the site said, "Not available online." Instead there's a link to upgrade to a slightly more expensive computer - still looks like the same brand, just more expensive.

Somebody forgot to tell that to the folks over at Asus. They've been making and selling an ultraportable laptop (2 pounds) starting at around $300 bucks that is preloaded with a Linux O/S. My impression of their sales numbers is that they are being bought as fast as they can be produced. It's known as the eeePC, and it's solid state harddrive preceded that of the Airmac. Right out of the box it'll do what 99% of customers need. Default mode is fairly bulletproof and it boots from off in about 20 seconds.

I did a full review on Epinions.com (under my username)

We will likely see them in Walmart soon enough. Asus has lowered the pricebar so much on these laptops it won't be long before they're hanging by the checkout counter in hardshell shrinkrap packages for $49.

As an aside, the full version of Microsoft Windows XP will set you back $200 all by itself.

Enjoy.

Linux is unfortunately WORSE. My friend and I discuss Linux regularly and the consensus seems to be that Linux flavors are still too engineer driven rather than marketer driven. So, we get the inscrutable and intermittent directions and manuals, the obscure command line fixes, the non-working drivers, the bizarre lapses in feature sets, the jerry rigging required to get the install going.

Certainly with all these companies having jumped on board to develop complete Linux flavors that they can then service, you would think at least one of those companies would be driven by the next Steve Jobs.

My theory, Microsoft flooded each of these companies with engineers whose sole role is to thwart further Linux development efforts and maintain Windows as the sole Intel desktop.

Nevermind Microsoft, Google is likely about to clean their clocks in three to five years with a complete and free, and easy to install and work with, desktop replacement.