PC’s running a Google focused version of Linux have been dropped from sale in Wal-Mart stores.
The Everex gPC launched in October with a $199 price tag and an operating system that put Google front and center. The gOS Linux Distribution offered direct links into Google services such as Gmail and Google Docs, as well as links to Wikipedia and Facebook. We asked in November whether gOS is the direction computers were heading, where the Operating System is nothing more than a conduit to the cloud, with minimal local applications.
According to a Wal-Mart spokesman quoted on AP, “This really wasn’t what our customers were looking for.” The gPC will still be available via Wal-mart.com, with Everex spinning the decision as “significantly more effective” than selling the gPC in stores.
Some will argue that the failure of gPC’s to take off bides poorly for both Linux distros and cloud focused offerings. The decision really just shows that low-spec cheap junk with a Google focused operating system is no more appealing to consumers than low-spec cheap junk with Windows, even when the price of the Linux option is significantly less. The sales success of the Asus EeePC (with its focus on the cloud) demonstrates that buyers are willing to purchase a Linux powered cloud focused PC when the computer it comes with provides decent or innovative tech and is low priced.
That’s easy. Walmart shoppers are not techies that’s why.
To distribute in Wall-Mart, Google should consider getting into what they don’t really want to get into: global advertising campaigns and a more direct customer service.
The plural of “PC” does not require an apostrophe…
simple. as #1 said.
it’s highly, or looks highly, technical - and not friendly.
specially for a Walmart audience - forget about it.
they’re better off sticking to their $299 pc systems sales every quarter or so.
@2 gOS is not affilated to Google… it is a very simple linux distro that used web apps instead of desktop utilities
http://www.thinkgos.com/
I ordered one the night they went on sale from Walmart.com.
It arrived with much fanfare just to be plugged in and have the power supply blow up…
I’d be curious what the overall in-store sales numbers were for the gOS and how they compare to the (mostly online) sales numbers of the EEE. Are they really that different? If the EEE were available in stores, would it be flying off the shelves and considered a success, or would Walmart be just as disappointed. (Considering Wal-Mart isn’t even stocking the EEE, I have to imagine they don’t think they’re missing out on much.)
Don’t get me wrong, I really want an EEE and would never buy a gOS, but the vast, vast majority of consumers haven’t heard of either one (and couldn’t care less about what they’re missing). The tech-geek echo chamber tends to overinflate the importance of some products and sites (see: Pageflakes).
interest
Walmart & linux???
might as well tried to sell them at marthastewart.com and they’d have had the same kind of “success”.
Forbes also ran this story; they noted that the entire stock did sell out in the 600 stores that carried the systems. To me that would indicate a successful run, but given Walmart’s business model, they probably were hoping the systems would sell out faster?
GOOG - Market Cap 129.62B
WMT - Market Cap 195.63B
Maybe - they should have just skipped the middle man and worked together. It seems like Google tested the waters and Walmart said, nice try, please try again.
Also looking up Market Caps I found that Everex’s heart was apparently never in it:
http://www.everex.com/corporat...../legal.htm
“Everex recommends Windows Vista Home Premium”
I went searching through the legal statement for that sentence. Took me a minute to realize that it’s at the top of every page…
http://www.everex.com/products/products.htm
It’s just Ubunto with a green background and google short cuts. I built one for my gardner so he’s stop asking me to fix his XP box full of Viruses and now I might have to start paying him instead :-/ oh no wait… he has an XP laptop his kid use
Linux/Google PC at Walmart story: THE FUTURE!
Linux/Google PC leaves Walmart story: OMG FAILURE!
Yay journalism!
Give it time. Maybe this was not the best set up to succeed, but it will in the end.
Google, keep it on!…
The Gos was sold out at all the Walmarts around us?
For $200 it was a pretty good deal
I believe if this model was $249 and included Windows they would still be availble for purchase at Walmart.
“Some will argue that the failure of gPC’s to take off bides poorly for both Linux distros and cloud focused offerings”
Is this why the 90% of the articles I hear about the EeePC have to do with installing Windows XP?
fyi, slashdot is reporting this story and saying that the gPCs are constantly sold out. different spin, so who’s more accurate?
YAFFOG - Yet Another Failure FOr Google
Note to Duncan- gOS and Everex are two distinct companies, one does software the other does hardware. Your post confuses readers, i.e. the gOS logo, followed by the Everex business profile.
For clarification….a lot of people are still assuming that Google produced gOS. They did not. As commenter #2 noted, they are not affiliated in any way. The “g” in gOS stands for good. That’s all. And they happen to have links to Google’s online apps in the dock. It’s simply Ubuntu with a nice animated dock (AWN?) and a different background/theme.
Again…gOS != Google. gOS.
That is all.
I think you guys are missing the point of the article. gOS is not meant to put all you tech heads in awe and adoration, but rather is aimed toward the blue collar workers who use a computer to simply do day to day functions such as email and online access.
At the price, gOS is a hell of a deal. If everyone is so concerned about the functionality that extends beyond everyday usage, go buy a damn mac for 10x more.
I never thought WalMart customers would be a great target market for this PC… but I guess some people must have liked it if they sold out so fast…
I just don’t think the masses are ready for this. Google is ahead of the crowd. When I tell people I completely exist on the web, nobody gets it. Even tech people sometimes.
I don’t use local apps…..if I can help.
Plus I am heavily moving my business into the cloud. But most IT guys don’t get it all.
So if the leaders aren’t following the masses definitely aren’t ready.