Wal-Mart Sells $199 Linux Computer

Linux, the free operating system that's a perpetual underdog in the desktop market, will get another chance this holiday season at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The chain was taking orders online Wednesday for a computer called the 'Green gPC' that is made by Everex of Taiwan, costs $199, and runs Linux. It will be available in about 600 stores, as well as online.

A comparable Everex PC that comes with Windows Vista Home Basic and more memory costs $99 more, or $298, partly because the manufacturer has to pay Microsoft Corp. for a software license. Both computers come with keyboard, mouse, and speakers, but no monitor.

Open-source Linux is in widespread use in server computers, particularly servers that host Web sites, but it hasn't yet made much of a dent in the desktop market.

Wal-Mart started selling Linux computers at its online store in 2002, at prices as low as $199. Computers from several manufacturers were available for several years, but no longer.

The variant of Linux on the gPC is called gOS and is derived from the popular Ubuntu variant. It's heavily oriented toward Google's Web sites and online applications, such as YouTube, Gmail and the company's word processing program, all of which can be used only when the computer is connected to a broadband line.

Even though the gPC comes with a dialup modem, gOS doesn't support it. So most users are likely to get online through other means.

Google's push into desktop applications is relatively new, and gOS, the Los Angeles-based startup behind the software, sees it as crucial in overcoming consumers' reluctance to leave the familiar Windows environment.

"We feel the timing is right for open source because of that," said gOS founder David Liu. The company has fewer than 10 people on it staff but gets help from volunteers in the Linux community.

Whether value-minded shoppers who would be enticed by a $199 PC will also be interested in making the jump to Linux remains to be seen. The operating system isn't known for ease of use and mainly attracts the tech-savvy.

The gPC has a low-end processor from VIA Technologies, 512 MB of internal memory, an 80GB hard drive, and a combination DVD drive and CD burner.

Everex says the processor is very energy efficient, meriting the 'Green' part of the name.