Even though the big hoopla was supposed to be Dell’s new Ubuntu offerings, the Linux sleeper hits of 2008 were Everex’s gOS “green” PC and ASUS’s Eee PC mini-laptop—$200 and $400, respectively.
I’m amazed that these two models seem to be doing well. After all, the cheap Linspire-loaded PCs Wal-Mart used to sell made no visible impact on the market and the ASUS laptops are $200 more than they were marketed to be (not to mention there are many reviews online complaining about the small keyboard and lack of screen space). And, yet, we have news that Wal-Mart sold out of 10,000 Everex PCs within two weeks and ASUS announcing that an Eee PC is sold every 6 seconds.
This is what I see as the future of desktop or laptop Linux. It isn’t going to compete directly with Windows or Mac. Windows has already cornered the market on enterprise computing and general home use, and Mac has already cornered the market on design and video. Where can desktop/laptop Linux go? It can support low-priced, low-spec’ed hardware; rely on and encourage people to use web applications, as faster and faster internet connections become more commonplace; and focus on portability.
If Dell was making a sincere effort to promote its Ubuntu offerings (notice how the Everex website says Everex recommends Free and Open Source Software while even Dell’s Ubuntu pages keep reminding you Dell recommends Windows Vista® Home Premium and asking Not sure Open Source is for You?), it did a pretty lousy job. The first thing I would have done if I were Dell is make sure that Ubuntu models are as hard as possible to compare to Windows models. I would use totally dissimilar specifications. As it turned out, Dell took existing Windows models, changed a video card to a different brand, and left the price virtually the same, leaving a lot of Ubuntu users wondering, “Why wouldn’t I just get a Vista PC and install Ubuntu myself on it?” Apple recognizes the value of creating dissimilar specs. That way, when Windows or Linux users complain about Macs being expensive, the debate can never be settled, because you can never get the Windows PCs to match exactly with the Mac PCs. So even though the cheapest Mac laptop is over $1000, Apple can get away with that, because it is not the same as the $599 Windows laptop or even the $1000 Windows laptop.
If preinstalled Linux is to be successful, it has to be marketed as offering something that Windows PCs do not already offer. The gOS Everex PC is only $200 (very few Windows PCs, if any, are that cheap), it is “green” (whatever that means, but it sounds good), and it is marketed as easy to use. They don’t make you wonder if open source if for you. They tell you straight away that they recommend open source! The Eee PC offers a computer too small to be a laptop and too big to be a handheld, but it’s something different and it fills a niche for some people. We need more of these.
If I knew anything about assembling and selling computers, this is what I would sell: a 10″-screen laptop with a modified version of Ubuntu (maybe gOS, maybe something else easy to use), 512 MB of RAM, 60 GB hard drive, as many “open” components as possible (Intel, not Nvidia) for less than $500 ($400 or $450). Nothing fancy, though. A DVD-ROM drive with a CD burner. No webcam. No high-end video card. I don’t know if that’s possible, but I think it would be a big hit, even just for price alone. Most Linux users (not me, but others) like to assemble their own desktops, so preassembled and compatible Linux laptops would be more appealing than preassembled Linux desktops.
We’ll see how the market pans out. I’ve heard rumors of Everex working on a $300 gOS laptop. Maybe that’s what might make an even bigger splash. I know I’d think seriously about getting one.
Ironicaly, what you’re suggesting would be quite expensive due to market factors. A standard size like 16 in. would be much cheaper than a small, not as mass produced size like 10. While big corporations can afford to manufacture it like they are for Eee PC, it’d be quite unpractical to order as a retailer.
Even trying to build a bare-bones laptop as a retailer is quite expensive – you’re looking ~ 400 USD for the case and motherboard alone. Granted, this usually includes the video, audio, wireless card and modem, but you still have to add HDD, RAM and processor.
Unlike PC’s, the home-built laptop isn’t really all that feasible yet due to the availablility of retail parts at reasonable cost.
Problem is, those that are making Linux preloaded and cheap are not making the hardware side very good. That might be what is weighing down Linux preloaded PCs. I wish Dell would start advertising Linux. That way, Linux would be more appreciated.
But not like those IBM commercials, please. Those were odd and uninformative.
Yeah, I have received a couple Dell pamphlets in the mail, and they never mention Ubuntu machines….
I just bought one of the gPCs to use as a file server, because I also didn’t feel like assembling a computer. Bought it from zareason.com, not Wal-Mart, as I generally won’t shop there.
I’m pretty happy with it so far. I’m having some challenges getting the server stuff set up, but that’s just my Linux ignorance not the computer. It’s not screaming fast, but it doesn’t need to be.
Havoc Pennington has some similar thoughts:
http://log.ometer.com/2007-11.html#21
Yes, as people become more and more reliant on web-based applications, it will be easier to switch them over to Linux, because they’ll basically need only a web browser.