This is hot news according to some Web sites that Linspire is going to sell Linux systems at Wal-Mart. SURPRISE! Linspire has been doing this since about 2003. In fact if you check the partners page on the Linspire Web site here, you will see that Linspire boxes can be purchased from some of the largest retailers available in the US.

The other BIG SURPRISE is that the Linspire Linux laptops will be selling for about $400. WOW! What a deal! Of course what isn’t mentioned is that Circuit City ran a sale in select stores offering Acer laptops for $399.00 after a $250 off instant rebate. I’m not sure exactly which stores were offering this, but I got a call from my bother-in-law who was visiting family in Texas. He was at a Circuit City store in Plano, TX., and was buying the $399 special Acer for his grandson. The sales clerk was trying to sell him some upgrades and he wanted my advice.

When you compare computer systems, whether they be Linux or Windows based systems, we are all aware that for $399 you are getting a computer that is not going to have the latest and greatest hardware. In fact, I was reluctant to comment as to whether the purchase of this particular Acer was a good deal or not. Why? Because I knew the financial situation and granddad was trying to help his grandson and, after buying a case plus taxes, would cost him $500 out the door. $500 that he and his wife could have used since they are retired.

The main reason I wrote about this was that when Vista first came out, there were plenty of comments about the cost of Vista. Also, since Vista was expensive, the days of the el cheapo computers were over. Contrary to this popular opinion, this has not been the case. Yes, these $399 specials are not feature-rich, but they are running Vista Basic. Even Home Depot has an el cheapo Toshiba laptop for $349 after rebates. Of course I like the $250 instant off a lot better than trying to collect on a $200 mail-in rebate.

Comments welcome.

[tags]linux, microsoft, vista, linspire, computers, laptop, desktop[/tags]