Wal-Mart Carries $200 Linux Desktops

Everex's gPC may stand a chance at pushing Linux mainstream with a low price, widespread availability, and Google-centric operating system.

When Dell introduced Ubuntu Linux as a preinstalled operating system for its computers back in May, industry analysts glowed with expectations of how Dell’s adoption of the platform would bring it to the mainstream. While we have seen Linux usage double in the past year (from miniscule to less miniscule), Dell’s preloaded Linux systems haven’t quite sent Linux through the roof. But there’s hope on the horizon for Linux as a mainstream OS.

Taiwanese manufacturer Everex has produced a Linux-based desktop dubbed the gPC, which will not only sell for the mass-market price of $199, it will do it through the holy grail of mass-market supply chains: Wal-Mart. It runs a tweaked version of Ubuntu 7.10, dubbed gOS, to leverage free Web 2.0 apps from Google and other companies in place of costly commercial variants.

Since it uses Via’s energy-efficient 1.5 GHz C7-D processor, Everex also pushes it as a green PC – although it remains a mystery as to whether the lowercase G in the name is an ode to “green” or “google.” Other hardware includes an 80GB hard drive, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, a DVD drive, and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet connection.

Wal-Mart already carries the gPC on WalMart.com for $199, and it will also be available in 600 Wal-Mart retail locations.