[SlashRaid]

I came across this article on CNET the other day. Walmart.com is to sell it's (own brand PC?), Microtel, minus the OS. The retailer says it's an attempt to cover growing requests for PCs with different OSs.

Pricing ranges from 踯.00 for 1GHz Duron and Celeron models to 逄.74 for a 2GHz P4 replete with 256MB of SDRAM. Might be the way to go for some, I just don't see the regular Walmart Joe buying into this.

Also on: The Register

[edit - added Reg link]

(Edited by SlashRaid at 8:58 am on Feb. 25, 2002)

[Vetritus03]

caught a show on TechTV today that mentioned this.  apparently the Wal-mart joe is more interested in using his old copy of Win98 from his older machine on his new OS-less PC than spending another hundred bucks to get one with an OS installed.  not too bad an idea if you just need a cheap upgrade.  M$ has, shall we say, strongly discouraged PC makers from selling OS-less machines for this reason.  makes sense as a wal-mart shopper would prolly rather spend money on kathy lee's sweat-shop produced clothing than a wholesome american product like Windows...

(and i know kathy lee's line was K-mart only, but it's all i could pull out my bum on the spot.)

[SlashRaid]

Well it will open the door for more pirated software.... Ahh, who cares about that??? Just be sure you keep your documentation when moving the OS from one machine to the other. If this PC minus the OS works for Wally World... Microsoft will be sure to make a move to get more cash some way..... I can see Burly Bob down at the trialer park getting a cease and desist from M$.... They want proof I own my OS ma'.... What's an OS.... I'm still get'n a black screen w/ C:/ blink'n away! :smile:

(Edited by SlashRaid at 8:25 am on Feb. 26, 2002)

[Vetritus03]

LOL

hope they make it clear that loading a third party OS is considered "customization" of the PC and not covered by the warranty.

[SlashRaid]

Quote

Quote: from Vetritus03 on 2:26 pm on Feb. 26, 2002
LOL

hope they make it clear that loading a third party OS is considered "customization" of the PC and not covered by the warranty.

Yes, but that's if there is a Microsoft OS preinstalled. I think Apples cover that ground in their warranty. If no OS is present, I doubt it would be in the warranty, then again you never know..... :smile:

Could you image the customer service line. They would have to understand how Microsoft products work with their PC, all the flavors of Linux, some Unix.... Then the odd ball OS that is sure to pop up every once in awhile. What a nightmare. How do you think that will be handled? Push it of on the OS maker/community behind the product?

[Vetritus03]

prolly the way Gateway handled it... if they put a differing Version of Windows or... Linux, they'd support the hardware fully.  OS/Software is the customer's issue.  hardware compatibility on certain OSs is not the fault of the vendor... if they put Win3.11 on the darn thing and expect all the stuff the work they're out of their flippin' mind!

[SlashRaid]

Two years ago, I put Linux on my old dell laptop. I had a few questions, so I called dell CS up. They helped me out no problem. #### the machine was 4 years out of warranty. I was impressed.