System Builders and Linux
 

I run a small computer repair and retail shop. We, of course, do custom built PCs. I am wondering if any of you fellow system builders out there have attempted to offer Linux based PCs to your customers. If so, how well has it gone over? I have considered offering them but I am wary of possible tech support nightmares. Do you have any tips that you felt made it a success (or failure)?

Thanks in advance.

I havent built any linux systems for anyone else but I have built 3 for myself but I can see how it could be a tech support nightmare. I envision people not wanting to use it just because they will not want to try something different and if they want to install any programs they`re gonna call up and ask how. But you never know, some people might find it refreshing to use something different and not mind learning how to do things for themselves. I have thought about building a Linux system for a friend and relative but was afraid of getting called every 2 minutes with, How do I <fill in the blank> And I dont know all that much myself anyway. Overall I think it would be difficult unless everything was setup in advance and the user did not have to do anything other than use it.

I've done a few linux builds, and it's really not that much different that building for windows users. Those users who are going to call about this and that for linux are the same users who would call and ask how to do easy stuff ( for us ) when they get a windows box. :)
Linux is getting to the point ( if not already there ) where the average user can get going without too much trouble at all.
If you are really worried about the windows look and feel, you could go with something like xandros or linspire.

Or XPde http://www.xpde.com/ ;)

I don't often build machines for my business. Most of the folks I work with are happy with a decent used machine, which we can snag from a place like retrobox.com for a few dollars, for example: a 650 Mhz HP Vectra for about $80. Most of the machines from there are decent business-class machines, and Linux support for them is usually superb. A well-tailored Linux installation will blow any Microsoft Windows install out of the water as far as performance goes. It's a simple way to hook somone up with a decent machine that will last them a while.

As for building a system from scratch, no-one could afford my prices ;o)

There is one problem with linux and it seems like begging for a lawsuit...
The random screen saver includes webcollage which goes out onto the web and downloads various images which are usually some sort of porn.
I don't download porn and I think more than a few parents would be upset to see that webcollage on a machine which the kids are using.
Also, when you sell computers with linux on them, some businesses would not be pleased with that feature at all.
At the very least, I think that feature should be disabled by default. :(
Until then, I remove them as root user
rm /usr/share/control-center/screensavers/webcollage.xml xflame.xml demon.xml

and

rm /usr/share/applnk/System/ScreenSavers/webcollage.desktop xflame.desktop demon.desktop

Thats interesting, What is wrong with xflame.xml and demon.xml ?

What is the purpose of XPDE? if yuou want a Windows Os you use a windows OS...using a linux OS and chaning into Windows XP defeats the purpose of using linux at least for the average user who could care less about how MS does business. It just baffles me I mean I udnerstand you are tryign to go for ease of use here but heck Windows and Linux are pretty much equal in terms of stability (except to a few fanboys who will indoubtly be posting about hwo when they last used Winodws it always crashed) i guess it could be seen as more secure.......but most users won't even care for that either.

XpDE never works, its so unstable its unbelievable. Maybe thats the purpose ;-)

Boffy