$159 or $269 for lowend Linspire powered machine at Fry’s |
According to a PC Magazine review Fry’s has a $159 computer installed with Linspire (Linux) or plans to stock one. The cheapest I could find online was GQ 3151 AMD GEODE NX1750 for $269 whixh might not be the same machine, although it carries the same GQ brand.
PC Magazine has given a general thumbs up to this $159 Linspire computer sold by Fry’s Electronics. Adding memory is the way to get this computer running snappier. Experience life without the Microsoft tax.
Maybe this is how I’ll finally get a running desktop version of Linux again. I’d be willing to drop $159 for a desktop Linux machine without monitor, 40GB hard drive and 128MB RAM (though I’d probably upgrade the RAM right away) but no on the $269 price. We have a couple older machines around here but attempts to get them running (well) with Linux haven’t gone very well. Admittedly I haven’t invested that much time in the process.
Several attempts to get Ubuntu installed weren’t that successful (hardware driver problems), although I did get the live version CD running with not all hardware working. I don’t to take an entire day running down drivers and patches just to get the OS working. Linspire wasn’t much better on my laptop. Got Red Hat and SuSE both running without problems but abandoned both rather quickly.
If I can step out of the tech geek role for a minute and talk about the average Joe. Average Joe wants to buy something take it home, plug it in, turn it on and start computing. Linux doesn’t have that experience yet. Somebody needs to do like they’ve done with the Mac and take care of this process. I’m not sure Linspire qualifies. SuSE was my favorite of the bunch as far as ease of installation, but I haven’t tried the new 10.x version. Also would like to give Knoppix a try.
What Linux variants have you tried on your desktop? What hardware did you have trouble with and what were the quick and easy solutions?
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I’m quickly becoming a fan of live linux cd’s. The amount of software packed on those is more than enough for my needs. The only hardware issues I’m running into are with wireless usb’s (netgear). No solution yet.
Comment by shawn — March 10, 2006 @ 3:01 pm PST
I am still toying with the idea of setting up Linux in a Microsoft Virtual PC. Trying to decide what flavor to try. I’ve heard Debian might be good (and free), but Red Hat ans SuSE have the market share. I’ll let you know after I take the plunge.
Comment by Sterling Camden — March 10, 2006 @ 7:39 pm PST
shawn - Have a link to a good list of Linux Live CDs? I seem to recall seeing one somewhere not long ago.
Sterling - let me know how that Microsoft Virtual PC deal works out if you should try. The ISOs of the new Ubuntu 6.04 dapper drake are coming: http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/flight5
Comment by TDavid — March 11, 2006 @ 7:27 am PST
I haven’t messed with linux in a few years. Did a redhat install on an older machine and it ran slow as hell. But the one I thought was really good was Corel linux. I thought it had the potential to really take off. Boy was I wrong. hehe.
Comment by orangecrush — March 11, 2006 @ 11:15 pm PST
I agree that an operating system should be sold preinstalled.
I’m techier than the average Joe but I would group myself with them more than the LUG crowd. My own experience installing Linux, Ubuntu, was absolutely great. Loved it. Absolutely no problems. I stuck in the CD, hooked up the Ethernet card, fired up the install, and everything Just Worked. Printing works, external CD reader/writer works, Internet works, easy to use interface. One pretty old computer and one oldish computer.
http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffice/2006/03/i_love_ubuntu.html
It took about as long to install Ubuntu as it takes to hang around at Best Buy after buying a computer, and say “NO NO NO I don’t want the $300 service contract!!!!” before they let you buy the computer and get out the door. ;>
Comment by Solveig Haugland — March 13, 2006 @ 4:27 am PST
Various Good Linux Links
First and most importantly of all, here’s where to buy your very own stuffed Linux penguin.http://cart.cheapbytes.com/cgi-bin/cart/1000010003.html Linked to from herehttp://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/55888/index.html and herehttp://lr2.com/archives…
Trackback by OpenOffice.org Training, Tips, and Ideas — March 14, 2006 @ 8:23 am PST