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Old 05-04-2002, 04:50 PM   #1
trickykid
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Walmart Rules... or at least Microtel Computer Systems does !


I might not agree on their labor practices, but check out Walmart and Microtel Computer Systems response to the article about their OS'less PC's they sell at Walmart, in which the modems packaged with the PC's weren't Linux compatible.

http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/05...40.shtml?tid=7
 
Old 05-05-2002, 03:27 AM   #2
Mara
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Quite fast response. But why it happened?
 
Old 05-05-2002, 05:19 PM   #3
taz.devil
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I have to agree with the author of the article on all points. This was and if true, IS a great step forward for the open source community. It's about time someone thought of this, and if the modem is the only goof, oh well. They plan to fix it and that's awesome. Every co. or manufact. goofs here and there.
 
Old 05-06-2002, 04:47 PM   #4
CragStar
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You do have to wonder how no-one noticed that it was a winmodem - my guess is that they knew and went through with the comps anyway.

Apart from that it is great response for a large company - does this just prove that supermarkets will do anything for customer service? I don't know....

Does anyone know a price for the machine?

Also, supposing (just for a sec - and only a sec! ) that I wanted to install windows on the machines. Would my current windows 'licensed' disks allow me to install? I am thinking yes if you take it off the original computer?

I know that I can install it anyway, just does the windows EULA say I can or not.

Last edited by CragStar; 05-06-2002 at 04:51 PM.
 
Old 05-06-2002, 04:55 PM   #5
trickykid
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Quote:
Originally posted by CragStar
Does anyone know a price for the machine?
I think the one they tested was $399 bucks.
 
Old 05-07-2002, 08:12 AM   #6
Thymox
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OK, were these machines specifically aimed at Linux users?
<compelete cynicism>
My bet is that they weren't. If they were, someone at Walmart/Microtel would have noticed the whole Winmodem goof prior to it going on sale. Now, I'm completely cynical about the practices of Supermarkets, so I'm more inclined to believe that they were selling these machines at those that didn't want the latest Windows bundled, and are therefore more likely to buy Windows off the shelf, and thus make the company more money.
</complete cynicism>
 
Old 05-09-2002, 10:07 AM   #7
neo77777
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Sometimes it is pitty that major department stores are not paying attention on components of the products sold, and most of the time it is ignored that there are OS's beside windows. But I am glad that the issue was addressed and hopefully resolved.
 
Old 05-09-2002, 12:10 PM   #8
taz.devil
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Honestly, i'd have to think that they had Linux in mind when they decided to sell these systems. What would be the point of putting out an OSless system if Windows was the only intended OS? The fact that they seem to have jumped on the modem to fix it so quickly is another reason I think it was just a mistake. If they were so quick in making sure it was Linux compatible, why would anyone think that they hadn't thought of it beforehand?
 
Old 05-09-2002, 03:58 PM   #9
CragStar
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It was suggested that selling computers without OEM versions of windows pre-installed would bolster the sales of the OS bought from shops shelves. That could have been why they went ahead with a winmodem in the first place. But that's me being cynical
 
Old 05-10-2002, 12:13 AM   #10
neo77777
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Quote:
It was suggested that selling computers without OEM versions of windows pre-installed would bolster the sales of the OS bought from shops shelves. That could have been why they went ahead with a winmodem in the first place. But that's me being cynical
I think it is a good point, another thing is there are so many fooled around here who would go and buy this PC, add the monitor for a $150 and Windows XP for $200, and they would think it is a bargain.
 
Old 05-14-2002, 09:49 PM   #11
SilentStrike
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Or just add $150 for the monitor, and pirate XP, which is probably just as likely.
 
Old 05-15-2002, 05:53 AM   #12
Thymox
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SilentStrike, how could you say such a thing? Surely computer consumers are good, law-abiding citizens that wouldn't dream of doing such a thing
 
  


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