• Lobby

  • Ideal Computer Store

generally a person who wants Linux can set it up himself :P its not a big deal , although an option is nice :)
My mother is borderline computer illiterate, and she loves the hell out of Ubuntu. I really do think that Linux is underrated when it comes to it's marketability to the masses... Linux, as you know, is now becoming a viable mainstream option. So hey, why not have a computer with a live demo of Ubuntu running at the store? Why not have it on the internet cafe computers? It's exotic, it's fast, and it looks good, it's piss easy to use (even a retard can find his way around the latest Ubuntu, and it's free... people may just take a liking to it. Though it's probably more suited towards laptops than anything.
xterm wrote
rahmu wroteIt's all in the marketing and selling techniques. Most people don't have an idea about Linux and open source. My dream store would promote them (without stopping their Windows business for that matter)
Perhaps because linux does not fit the profile of a normal end user which coincidentally occupies the majority of the market place?

I'm all for diversity, but as a retailer i wouldn't care about those "1" or "2" customers that might possibly be interested in an OS'less or pre-installed linux machines.
Most people ae interested in multemedia, browsing the internet and editing documents. Many linux distros do that, in an easier way than windows sometimes.

The difficulty of linux comes from installing it yourself, and sometimes taking time to find those nasty drivers. If the retailer would take the time to set it up correctly (they're already doing this for windows right?) they could offer a very viable alternative. Google's Chrome OS will be done this way, but what about other distros? don't they deserve a chance?

Gamers, professional graphists and video editors and the likes aren't linux targets, but what about your regular facebook addict? He only needs Firefox and a multemedia suite. Linux provides this, and if set up correctly is extremly easy to use. It even provides Skype and other mainstream programs.

At least, if you dont want to do this, provide proper Windows license refund upon request, just like said in Microsoft's EULA.

And hey, this is my ideal store, it may not be the most profitable store (convincing people to turn to linux is difficult, even geeks are reluctant) but I'm allowed to dream right.

PS a very good sales pitch is that Linux open source nature allows the retailer to provide customized PCs tailored specifically to each need.
great idea
I agree with gn90, lan parties and tournaments.. that would be awesome