It's safe to hate Wal-Mart again

Back in November I bragged on Wal-mart for carrying Everex's TC2502 gPC, the first mass-market under $200 desktop computer. The low-cost PC featured gOS, a custom distribution of Ubuntu Linux. At the time, reports circulated that the new computer had completely sold out at the 630 Wal-Marts that offered the product.

Now this from Wal-Mart:

Computers that run the Linux operating system instead of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows didn't attract enough attention from Wal-Mart customers, and the chain has stopped selling them in stores, a spokeswoman said Monday.

"This really wasn't what our customers were looking for," said Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien.

But later in the same article:

Wal-Mart sold out the in-store gPC inventory but decided not to restock, O'Brien said. The company does not reveal sales figures for individual items.

So is Bill Gates a Wal-Mart shareholder or what?

The only good news gleamed from this article is that Walmart.com carries the newer version of the low-price PC. Though currently Walmart.com claims this computer is NOT FOR SALE ONLINE!

Low Cost Linux Wal-Mart PC Sells Out

Since I usually trash Wal-Mart, I feel I should point out when they actually do something good.

Roughly one week ago, Wal-Mart introduced Everex's TC2502 gPC, the first mass-market under $200 desktop computer. The low-cost PC features gOS, a custom distribution of Ubuntu Linux. The specs for those that care: 1.5 Ghz VIA C7 CPU embedded in a Mini-ITX motherboard, 512MB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive.

From accounts, the new computer has completely sold out at the 630 Wal-Marts that offered the product. It is still available from the online Linux retailer ZaReason.

The feedback at the Wal-Mart site has been overwhelming positive. And the initial reviews of the Google-centric gOS have been very good.

There is even talk of Everex releasing sub-$300 gOS notebooks next year. Never thought I'd say this but *GULP* "Go Wal-Mart!"