Articles
Blogs
Kits
ForumsMany different websites have reported that notebooks which were bought and were equipped with a Linux operating system were returned at least four times than a notebook with a Windows operating system.
“They don’t want to spend time to learn it, so they bring it back to the store. The return rate is at least four times higher for Linux netbooks than Windows XP netbooks,” said Andy Tung who is the MSI Director of U.S. Sales.
Some blogs pointed out that Tung’s figures may be based on earlier MSI notebooks, not on Linux-based netbooks.
Source: DesktopLinux
I don’t think Linux as a whole (not individual distributions) is ready for the mass public quite yet. Besides, I don’t know a whole lot of tech savvy people that buy their computers from a physical store–that’s just asking to overpay in my experience–not to mention that I can’t find all the specs I’m looking for half the time.
I would be interested in knowing how many were returned, if any, from online purchases.
Not to mention the fact that it’s still pretty rare to find a Linux OS on a laptop. At least pre-installed. Personally, I have to get one with Windows due to the preset configurations of the company and the features I want. So naturally, once I get it, I’m going to install Linux over it. Even though they do offer Linux, just in a lower spec of features.
It is funny how we can gloss over the details and see only a Linux return rate. Maybe the Linux notebooks were cheaper and folks were looking for a bargain on a MS notebook. Much like the news that eeePC notebook buyers were removing Linux to install XP. The noise of a few returns insinuates there is a broad Linux quality problem rather than a computer buyer choosing poorly or differently.
Today’s Linux is as easy to use as any MS or Mac. And a pre-installed Linux usually means that all the problems associated with do-it-yourself installs have been satisfied. Maybe when the PC world is equalized between MS, Mac and Linux the “Linux not ready yet” mantra will go away.
So far Linux has proved it’s not fodder for Sharper Image nor for Wal-Mart. I guess the Linux computer will never be an appliance or a typewriter. And I guess people will have to resign to actually looking at what they are buying and be forced to choose. The tech savvy don’t have this problem.
What’s cool is that there are “white box” laptops that can be pieced together like desktops. For the same price as a mid-priced laptop, you can build a laptop with better specs, then install Linux on it. Same bucks, a little green energy, more bang.