[Plplot-devel] Interesting Linux stuff going on at WalMart

[Alan W. I. <ir...@be...>]

WalMart has been willing to thumb their nose at MS and sell computers
without the MS OS for some time, and now they have made a deal with Lindows
to pre-install Linux.  (See http://lwn.net/Articles/2658/ and
http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/1366951). Note, these models
are apparently only available from their webstore and not their bricks and
mortar stores.

Ordinarily, I don't have much time for WalMart, but I believe it is
extremely significant that such a large chain as this is preinstalling Linux
on a variety (8 different models, IIRC) of their computers.  I suspect Linux
market share is going to skyrocket as the result of this deal because one of
the huge bottlenecks for Linux adoption has been the difficulty in getting
*large* vendors to preinstall it. Of course, the likes of Pogo have been
around for some time to preinstall Linux for you, but they just don't have
the marketing clout of a WalMart.  Anyhow, it is quite a sign that Linux is
on the edge of becoming mainstream for the home market, and this deal must
have MS gritting their teeth in fear and anger.

I know nothing about Lindows except that they staved off a suit by MS on
their name.  Some better-known distribution such as elx or lycoris may have
been a better choice for WalMart.  Nevertheless, the point is these
preinstalled PC's must be Linux compatible so you should be able to easily
install another distribution if you so choose.  Or you should be able to buy
the WalMart OS-less model and install Linux if it is identical to the
hardware on the Linux pre-installed model.

Alan

email: ir...@be...
phone: 250-727-2902	FAX: 250-721-7715
snail-mail:
Dr. Alan W. Irwin
Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055,
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, V8W 3P6
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