| Wal-Mart to offer low-cost Linux PC? |
Jul. 20, 2007
 Wal-Mart will sell a sub-$300 "back-to-school" PC this fall pre-loaded with Microsoft Windows Vista and OpenOffice.org productivity software. The Everex GC3502 PC, is based on a 1.7GHz Via C7-D processor, and will be available later this year preloaded with Ubuntu Linux.
(Click for larger view of Everex GC3502)
Everex announced yesterday that Wal-Mart will carry its GC3502 PC. Today, an unidentified reliable source close to the company revealed that Everex is readying a version preloaded with Ubuntu Linux. It remains unclear whether Wal-Mart will distribute the Linux version, however.
The GC3502 is based on Via's "carbon free" C7-D processor clocked at 1.7GHz. It comes with 1GB of DDR2 533MHz SDRAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a DVD/CD-RW drive. I/O includes 10/100 LAN, VGA, six (6) USB ports, a modem, and headphone/microphone jacks.
The Everex system also appears to include a RealTek "high-definition" audio chip, which is supported in Linux by a binary Alsa module. Thus, users wishing to port Linux to the GC3502 themselves could be looking at a late night or two of kernel module and/or kernel compiling.
On the software side, both Linux and Windows versions of the GC3502 will apparently come with OpenOffice.org 2.2 productivity software. Eugene Chang, product manager, stated, "Our main focus was to build a no-compromise, back-to-school PC with all the software applications a typical student would require, without resorting to bundling frivolous trial versions or increasing prices 30 percent."
John McCreesh, marketing project lead for OpenOffice.org, stated, "OpenOffice.org gives [Everex] customers everything they need in office software - with no extra costs, no strings attached."
Availability
The GC3502 will be available at Wal-Mart this fall, Everex said. The system has an MSRP of $300, with a keyboard, mouse, and stereo speakers.
Wal-Mart currently offers Everex's GC3500 system, based on a slightly slower C7-D processor, for $350 with a 17-inch LCD monitor.
--Henry Kingman
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