Wal-Mart debuts $498 Linux laptop

By Dinesh C. Sharma
Posted on ZDNet News: Dec 20, 2004 5:14:00 PM

Walmart.com and Linspire on Monday unveiled a Linux-based laptop priced at $498.

The computer, dubbed Balance, comes loaded with the Linspire operating system and the OpenOffice.org office suite, the companies said.

The companies said Balance is the lowest-priced laptop currently available with an operating system and an office suite. It features a VIA C3 1-GHz processor, 128MB RAM, a 30GB hard drive, a CD-ROM drive and a 14.1-inch liquid crystal display. The software includes a built-in firewall to protect users from viruses, spam and pop-ups.

The laptop launch comes as part of Wal-Mart's efforts to market low-priced consumer electronics. The retailer has sold other inexpensive PCs and notebooks, some of which come without operating systems.

The Balance laptop is available at Wal-Mart's Web site.

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Dell Refurb VS New Balance: sorry, but Dell does not make well built machines new, who truts one that had to be returned?

A lot of these off brand people use the same parts found in higher end machines. Buy new, get the warranty that goes with new; and if it just so happens to run a different OS, hey all the better!... (Read the rest); Posted by: jimhood82 Posted on: 10/15/05 You are currently: a Guest | Log in | Terms of Use

Too Cool voska | 12/20/04

Now Microsoft is TOAST! Jeff Spicoli | 12/20/04

Interesting... rapson | 12/20/04

Hey.. Jeff Spicoli | 12/20/04

Re: Hey.. PottHead | 12/20/04

I'm with you there Carl... Laff | 12/22/04

Hmmm. vdraken | 12/20/04

Haha. Yeah right. Linux_Developer | 12/20/04

Yawn ... George Jay | 12/20/04

If anyone has the ability affect change in consumer bjbrock | 12/20/04

It's not Wal-Mart rpmyers1 | 12/20/04

Re: If anyone has the ability affect change in consumer richdave | 12/29/04

Interesting.. d_jedi | 12/20/04

Power SC-man | 12/20/04

Big Deal, Microsoft is not toast Delmont | 12/20/04

Do they sell Laptops? voska | 12/20/04

Yes, the sell refurb laptops too Delmont | 12/20/04

Thanx for the Info voska | 12/20/04

Don't overlook eBay IT_User | 12/20/04

Dell Refurb VS New Balance jimhood82 | 10/15/05

At this price is it worth it to pay another $200 or $300 for Windows? George Mitchell | 12/20/04

If you're an S&M stool pusher! Jeff Spicoli | 12/20/04

Re: At this price is it worth it to pay another $200 or $300 for Windows? PottHead | 12/20/04

It works for me ... George Mitchell | 12/20/04

Well now jsjag1 | 12/20/04

Linux on my Dell SC-man | 12/20/04

Me neither Michael Kelly | 12/20/04

Huh? Nice Pott Fudhead Squawkbox | 12/20/04

Seems PottHeads been smoking the real good stuff? Laff | 12/22/04

Linux upgrades suck NotMSUser | 12/21/04

If I were to go with this system... mbraincell@... | 12/20/04

Life has its costs ... George Mitchell | 12/20/04

useful work SC-man | 12/20/04

I'll save you a bundle seosamh_z | 12/20/04

Excellent point... AmusedAtItAll | 12/20/04

If you want to buy a Windows box... John L. Ries | 12/20/04

Great Deal... To bad you dont see them in the stores LazLong | 12/20/04

Give me a break... Christopher McLendon | 12/20/04

At $300 less and especially because it comes without MS. LazLong | 12/20/04

more software with Linux mbraincell@... | 12/20/04

Ever hear of... Kamikaze_Ohka | 12/20/04

The free ones won't cut it for home users IT Scion | 12/20/04

phone call? SC-man | 12/20/04

Yes their are thousands.... & all you have do is look. LazLong | 12/20/04

And if you just have to windows software Squawkbox | 12/20/04

Wrong forum to ask that question. AmusedAtItAll | 12/20/04

Unfortunately we're talking about Wal-Mart here IT Scion | 12/20/04

In away I sort of agree with you, but consider 2 things. LazLong | 12/20/04

whooops...And... LazLong | 12/20/04

It makes the public aware amicus_curious | 12/20/04

...of a Inexpensive alternative..... LazLong | 12/20/04

Let's see here... amicus_curious | 12/20/04

I would agree with you that the hw specs are better on that model LazLong | 12/20/04

Afraid? amicus_curious | 12/21/04

Walmart has had.... IT Scion | 12/20/04

Agreed... LazLong | 12/20/04

also IT Scion | 12/20/04

it dose not list them but I believe these are rebranded ECS's LazLong | 12/20/04

I found that too IT Scion | 12/20/04

On the other hand... Kamikaze_Ohka | 12/20/04

And back at you seosamh_z | 12/20/04

Is this a Soviet plot? amicus_curious | 12/20/04

Depends what you want it for voska | 12/21/04

If I were to go with this system... mbraincell@... | 12/20/04

I am not that sure man_at_work | 12/20/04

Who provides tech support? Wal-Mart? No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/20/04

Probably IT Scion | 12/20/04

So who, pray tell, offers tech support for Windows George Mitchell | 12/20/04

Just not true IT Scion | 12/20/04

Sounds like BS to me. AmusedAtItAll | 12/20/04

Actually IT Scion | 12/21/04

almost forgot IT Scion | 12/20/04

Stop listening to others... No_Ax_to_Grind | 12/20/04

...and make up your own mind John L. Ries | 12/20/04

No_Ax Has No Personal Experience itanalyst | 12/21/04

Not really.. Patrick Jones | 12/21/04

If You Spent As Much Time Actually Looking Into Something itanalyst | 12/21/04

Who cares jsjag1 | 12/20/04

That does happen to cars, well at least some cars voska | 12/20/04

Hugo jsjag1 | 12/20/04

Look for stuff that's more than 2 decades old voska | 12/22/04

oh another point voska | 12/22/04

Not to Nick Pits..... But this month it would be 9 years LazLong | 12/22/04

Hence the reason I said months voska | 12/22/04

Aftermarket IT Scion | 12/20/04

Is it not obvious...Linspire ...& Walmat to an extent LazLong | 12/20/04

I'd think the same person they always call voska | 12/21/04

What to do with that other $300.00 LinuxHippie | 12/20/04

Outsource? Michael Kelly | 12/20/04

Who provides tech support? Wal-Mart? AmusedAtItAll | 12/20/04

who provide support for ms laptops at walmart JasonL31 | 12/21/04

Yeah, kinda: It's the little bouncing smiley face. John E Wahd | 12/21/04

Isn't Linux dead jsjag1 | 12/20/04

I'll have to say... John L. Ries | 12/20/04

Was it a Notebook? LazLong | 12/20/04

Nope... John L. Ries | 12/20/04

As much as I love the idea of a cheap Linux laptop... Michael Kelly | 12/20/04

True, I would rather pay $200 more and get a bigger screen . . . DonnieBoy | 12/20/04

Seems like a good deal Spoon Jabber | 12/21/04

Entry level folks Squawkbox | 12/20/04

Let's Look At The Cost If It Were A Windows Laptop itanalyst | 12/20/04

Re: Let's Look At The Cost If It Were A Windows Laptop PottHead | 12/21/04

Good Point, But.... itanalyst | 12/21/04

Re: Good Point, But.... PottHead | 12/21/04

I Totally Agree With You itanalyst | 12/21/04

Not 75 bucks IT Scion | 12/21/04

A Better Laptop Hardware Wise, BUT itanalyst | 12/21/04

Vily, your dream come true mlindl | 12/20/04

Why Don't All You Microsuck Lovers Shut Up And Try It First itanalyst | 12/21/04

Yeah, that'll convince them rapson | 12/21/04

Very well said...and IT Scion | 12/21/04

I assume... rapson | 12/21/04

hehehe..you are correct (nt) IT Scion | 12/21/04

MS-Works and Open Office are not comparable voska | 12/21/04

wow, looks nice JasonL31 | 12/21/04

They are selling IT Scion | 12/21/04

Hey too many people even here in the United State Laff | 12/22/04

Can I Format and Install Windows 2000/XP on it? kchahal | 12/21/04

For fifty bucks more IT Scion | 12/21/04

What a really silly question... trolling huh LazLong | 12/21/04

Linux saves money? Not in this case. hickum | 12/21/04

What a piece of junk DonPMitchell@... | 12/22/04

Perhaps this it true for you...but that does not mean Laff | 12/22/04

WM v MS Windows v Linspire No you miss the point Hillbilly_z | 12/22/04

Not such as great deal. bugmenotznet | 12/22/04

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Wal-Mart debuts $498 Linux laptop

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