im thinking about starting my own buisness...
 

selling linux pc's to the general public.
I already have 1 buyer that said he is willing to wait untill kernel 2.6 comes out.

Do you think that linux is ready yet for the general public?

I think It is, as I am using redhat for this project/buisness of mine.
Although I personally run gentoo.

any thoughts or comments on what I should Include in this package?

any help would be greatly appreciated

Well, Walmart and many other places are already selling Linux PC's... I don't see why you couldn't...

Maybe consider writting a small manual to go with the pcs, so you dont have to keep explaining why they shouldnt log in as root or something? Just for those who're trying it for the first time? :)

yeah, I thought of wall mart, did some reaserch, and learned that 200$ doesnt get you much on the ways of pc's ;)

dont quit your day job, i predict a MAX of 100 pcs sold in a year. IMHO linux isn't ready for the mainstream computer newbs. Moreover clients would be pissed at YOUR company for giving them an OS that doesnt have support for "this or is hard to do "that" in or that you cant play "foobar" game, when in actuality, it is the own customers ignorance. But yanno, the customer is always right.

This is going to take a lot of money to start up, as do all small businesses. Along with a GOOD manual, you might want to have the option of including linux training courses from compUSA or circuitcity, etc. Just make sure buyers have the right amount the experience to handle the PC they;re buying, or enough willpower to take a course or read a book to learn how to.

[edit]

but then again, wtf are you listening to the 14 year old? ;)

;)

If you already sell PC's without an OS, then throwing one on there and enticing your customers probably won't be a big deal. However, if you are starting out, and don't already have a customer base (the sounds of it) you should try to get your name out and about first, get an idea of the amount of people you'll draw in. You can offer a PC, barebones for a decent price. The customers assume no OS, and will pleasantly be surprised to find one on there. Then it's up to them to decide to keep it, or throw something else on there. :)

Cool

thanks for the suggestions!
Im thinking that redhat is quite ready for the ease and use of a linux system.

rpms can be used with it to install applications, and the auto-update makes sure that everything is well...up to date :)

As for a manual, I didnt think of that! thats a great idea.
I also think im going to include the retail version of redhat because it comes with support and manuals included, plus a subscription to the auto updates.

any more suggestions are greatly appreciated :D

When Linux is as good a gaming platform as Windows is you can start to think about selling linux to the GP...

If I was you I would go for the small business instead...

//jonas

Put it like this. Any person into linux doesn't want a PC preloaded with a OS. He/She can download distro of choice on their own. So for that type of person its going to be just for the hardware. Can you offer hardware with a manufacturers warranty at a better price than companies on pricewatch?

The casual pc user that needs a computer for homework, email, taxes, office work...basically that wants to be on and off as soon as possible. Linux is not for them. Search this forum and look at the simple issues people have with linux. These are issues that would not happen with windows. Everyone starts a newbie i know, but don't forget the poeple in these forums decided to get linux and work at it.

If you really wanted to get into the pc business and make $$$, you are going to need a store that will repair and sell new computers of all types. Most of the money for pc shops come from repair costs. They make close to nothing on hardware. Im not talking about big stores like CDW that sell in bulk, but corner shops. They charge close to $75 to add a stick of ram and install the newest windows (aside from the OS cost) That is where your money is going to come from. Something like that takes no time and you can do 20+ of those jobs at the same time. You sell the computer dirt cheap and they come back for more parts and repairs. Again, someone into linux is going to do that job themselves. Getting into the pc business needs to be aimed at the windows customers.

I think it would be viable as a side business but don't quit your day job.

I think if you targetted absolutely green users it would be great. I think that many of the problems people have adjusting to linux is overcoming what they were used to in Windows.

What would be another thing to do is to (I think someone else alluded to this) is to type up a dead simple manual on how to do basic things, and add to it periodically. Type it up and make an online version.

But, as I say, don't quite your day job. It would probably be a tough market to crack.

-dave

Are you thinking of buying the components in bulk and putting together the computers yourself?

Actually, this may not be so bad an idea, even though other people are doing it already. Basically, you can be sure that you can get it to work with whatever hardware you put in the machine. The complete IT newbies will then adapt to using Linux. It is ideal for the home user in that it can browse, and do basic office tasks.

However, the problem comes about that quite a lot of home users have games that they might want to install. This clearly poses a problem.

In the end, what you are basically selling is a machine that is put together, with Linux thrown in on top. As people here have been saying, I would not advise you to quit your day job.

One thing you could do is when the people buy, ask them if they want Linux or Windows - give them a choice. Explain the pros and cons for them of each.

hth, and good luck if you proceed with this

There are some good points here but I see one obvious one you are missing. If this is to be a profitable business than why are you limiting your market B4 you even open the door?
Saying that you are only going to sell Linux machines is like opening a bar that only allows women. Windows has more than 80% of the market right now, you personally may not like it but the fact is other people do.
What do you care what OS they use as long as you can sell them a machine that makes them happy. Offering Linux is a good thing and more businesses should go that route but I doubt they will say "If you want Windows you will have to go down the street".

Can I invest money and or time
 

I have allmost the same idea. But I am not shure of the market
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...nux+only+store


I have a small store now. but I want a linux website.
I have 3 servers a firewall & $75,000.00 to start my store frunt.
My store has about $6000.00 worth of hardware.

a7n8x, a7266vm hardrives cases etc. I do not have any intel stuff all AMD.

U can email me enyawix@yahoo.com

wooheee, way to bring back an old topic :P