Wal-Mart Giving Up on Linux Too Soon
After around 5 months of stocking the gPC in stores, Wal-Mart has decided to stop stocking Linux-based computers in their stores, although they will continue to sell them on their website, according to the AP. Although I can see how a decision like this would be made, if you ask me, they jumped out too early and did not really give Linux a fair chance.
The Linux-based computer Wal-Mart experimented with was the gPC. Although the gPC was one of the first Linux computers to receive a lot of attention, it was not, by far, the best received. Many negative reviews were written and, although the price was low, the hardware was somewhat lacking in many people’s opinion. While based on this I can see choosing to stop selling the gPC in stores, I think it is too soon for Wal-Mart to give up on Linux. Look at how well the Eee PC is already doing, and Asus’s CEO just said they could sell 300,000 to 400,000 per month if battery shortages were resolved.
While Wal-Marts decision is somewhat justified in that not all Linux-based PCs have done well at all, giving up on Linux before even trying to sell what is almost certainly the most popular Linux computer, the Eee PC, seems like giving up on something good without trying it.
March 11th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Perhaps they backed out due to pressure and/or bribery from Microsoft.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Seems like a lot of these linux pc’s that are hitting the stores are using some kind of ad-hoc distro that nobody has ever heard of. gOS? Why not stick something established on it, like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Suse?
Seems like a lot of these little made-for-the-product distros also focus on being a platform for web 2.0, rather than leveraging the functionality of Linux.
Bottom line: this is a failure of a product, not a platform. It’s like someone going bust selling Yugos and claiming that compact cars are a failure.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
They will still be selling them on their website!
March 11th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
As curious as this might seem Wal-Mart does not enjoy the luxury of space. Wal-Mart has become very sensitive to ROSF (Return On Square Foot). If a product, any product, is not moving then it is dropped from the shelves. W-M has found that it cannot afford to ‘warehouse’ merchandise on the sales floor.
It is entirely possible that we will see a “new” merchandising paradigm appear … Wal-Mart as the local fulfillment center. You place your order on-line and with in few hours to a couple of days your order is ready to pick up… at you local neighborhood store.
March 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Now, I can only speak as an observer, reading about the sale of these pc’s on-line, but I got the impression that these units sold out and there was a problem of lack of stock, even Everex stated that they sold all the stock.
I find it a very strange way of doing business when an Item of stock sells out completely is dropped, it would be interesting if Wal-Mart could give a reason to justify this bizarr action.
March 11th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Robert -
Alan - I agree. It does seem strange. Also, your bottom line is exactly what I am thinking.
Todd - Yes, I said that in the article. “although they will continue to sell them on their website”
James - They did sell out, so I agree it is strange. Perhaps what William said explains it, but it still does not explain why they gave up on Linux before trying the Eee PC.
March 15th, 2008 at 10:03 am
it would be nice to get some comments from WM as to why they dropped it from their shelves.
From the horses mouth.