Walmart.com ditches the OS in new PCs

Look again, Derek. These systems are, as best I can tell, only
available online.

"Derek A. Neighbors" wrote:
> >>Seems like a waste of time/money on wal-mart's and microtel's part to me.
> >>When was the last time you or I or any "tech-savy" customer bought a
> >>
> Well I would say not often, BUT I think the key point here, was WHEN did
> Walmart offer this customer something were interested in. :) I know
> that Walmart has ALWAYS been great to me in respect to returning
> merchandise and being competitive on price, if they offerred computer
> equipment I was interested in I would surely give them a chance.
>
> >>computer or computer part at wallmart? The average consumer is not going
> >>to buy an OS-less PC and install something on top. They expect a
> >>working solution when they buy a PC, so who is wal-mart going to sell
> >>this to?
> >>
> Im not so sure. There are A LOT of people in 'small town' america that
> dont have a 'frys' electronics. So Walmart offering this is great for
> them. Now you could say yeah but they can order stuff off net and have
> it shipped... Well I consider myself 'technical', but I still like to
> see something I'm spending more than a 100 bucks on especially when
> there is a 15% restocking fee and the hassle of having to ship to return.
>
> I think you are correct the 'average' consumer might not buy this and
> still want a Dell or Gateway (hold my hand PC), but I think you under
> estimate the mildly technical crowd that hasnt had access to the
> computer stores you are used to living in one of the biggest cities in
> the united states.
>
> >4 weeks ago they would've sold one to my grandma. Her old box will be
> >running Linux. If it would've saved her $200 ( 1/3 to 1/4 the cost ) her new
> >one would too. This allows me to not need to be in the hardware maintenance
> >business.
> >
> In briefly checking, I think these computers end up being like 50 - 75
> dollars more than if you bought them from the cheapest deals at Fry's
> and built your self. While for my own doings I would save the 50 bucks,
> if Im doing something for a friend or relative, I wouldnt mind asking
> them to get the preassembled job to save me a headache and time.
>
> -Derek