There was much tech media hullabaloo when Wal-Mart decided to discontinue its test of the Everex Linux-based PC. And every report I read was wrong.
Again I’d like to commend the buyers at Wal-Mart for Check Out Blog. How many other retailers are trying to be transparent? In this case, Computer Buyer Ryan Halford posted straight away about the program and its results.
First, this was a test. If you’re a retail vendor of any sort and you don’t understand what this means, you’ve not done your homework. Retailers are constantly testing product to find out if it fits their customer needs and demographics. It’s a good idea.
Second, doesn’t Wal-Mart deserve some credit for even testing a Linux-based PC? How many other computer resellers have done so? And don’t they deserve even more credit for finding a way to offer a PC to consumers for only $199? How much did your PC cost?
Third, the product just didn’t sell quite well enough. Maybe Wal-Mart is tough to do business with, but in the end it was the product itself that failed. Happens every day, at every retailer.
And Ryan tells us that the sku (product) did OK at walmart.com…it’s still available there. The product didn’t “fail” necessarily, it just didn’t pass the test: You didn’t buy it.
