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Michael's Minute: The First Domino Falls in Toronto,
Canada
> You'll know desktop Linux has broken the Microsoft
> monopoly when you walk into your local computer
> store and see a Linux aisle crammed full of desktop
> and laptop computers ready for your shopping cart.
> That's our vision at Lindows. Today there are about
> 1,000 stores in North America, many in Mexico, that
> stock at least one pre-installed desktop Linux
> computer. It's not easy getting retailers to carry
> Linux computers. They naturally have questions about
> how they can train their sales people, whether
> consumers will buy them, and how solid is the
> support. In addition, Microsoft uses their massive
> economic power to discourage retailers from selling
> competing products. For example CompUSA, the largest
> retailer of Microsoft Office, gets hundreds of
> millions of dollars in marketing subsidies from
> Microsoft. CompUSA knows that stocking Linux
> computers will make Microsoft very unhappy and that
> could translate into fewer marketing dollars to
> them, which would dramatically affect their
> profitability. This leaves an opportunity for
> smaller vendors to fill the demand for Linux
> computers.
>
> Mark and David Silverman are two brothers who are
> doing a thriving online business selling computers
> called sub300.com. (In their native Canadian
> dollars, it's sub500.com but they do a large
> percentage of their business to Americans and so
> they name their store in U.S. dollars as well.) They
> have remarkably low prices and one reason is because
> they've chosen not to sell any Microsoft products
> but instead focus on Linspire. I recently bought
> several desktops and a laptop computer from them for
> my friends and family. They're one of the 350+
> builders who have signed up online which gives them
> digital access to software they can use to test and
> ship Linspire pre-configured computers. It's
> cost-effective, immediate and there are no audit
> demands or long term contracts which they would be
> required to enter into with Microsoft.
>
> Recently, the Silverman brothers have decided to
> open the first Linux-only retail store in
> The first Linux-only Retail Store
> Toronto, Canada. Sub500 will open its doors at 2930
> Dufferin Street Saturday, June 26th, 2004 to serve
> the Ontario area demand for Linux products. They'll
> be stocking desktop computers from $299 to $979cdn
> and laptop models available from $1,111 to
> $1,444cdn. Shoppers can walk in, try the computers,
> speak with passionate knowledgeable Linux people and
> go home with an affordable computer. They will also
> have a complete line of Linspire software products
> on display. There have been other retailers to carry
> a Linux computer or two, but none that I know of
> have dedicated their entire inventory to Linux
> software and computers.
>
>
> I believe the Sub500 Linux store may have much
> greater impact than simply satisfying demand in
> Toronto for Linux. Every tech trend starts at the
> grass roots level and moves up the eco-system like a
> row of dominos tumbling over. The first PCs weren't
> owned by big business, but by hobbyists. The first
> Linux servers snuck in the back door of ISPs and
> were installed by geeks. New technologies are rarely
> championed by big corporations first, but follow a
> natural progression. They start with early adopters,
> then move to home and small business, then to
> medium-size businesses and finally to large
> enterprises and government institutions. It would be
> terrific if CompUSA starts selling Linux computers,
> but they likely won't start doing that until
> competitive pressures compel them to. This will
> happen when other retailers start taking their
> business and begin satisfying customer demand for
> Linux computers. I believe it will start with
> independant retailers like Sub500, then move to the
> regional chains, then the nationwide chains, then to
> mass retailers. At Lindows, we hope the sound you
> just heard was the first domino toppled over in
> Toronto, Canada.
>
>
> -- Michael
>
> Please visit support.linspire.com to answers
> questions you may have about Linspire.
>
> About Linspire
> Linspire is an affordable Linux-based operating
> system, designed specifically for desktop and laptop
> computers in homes, schools and businesses. Linspire
> uses proprietary CNR technology that allows the
> installation, updating and management of hundreds of
> software programs usually with just one click. The
> Linspire operating system is also offered in Spanish
> (linspire.com/espanol) and Japanese
> (
www.linspire.com/livedoor). Those who are
> interested in becoming authorized resellers of
> Linspire should visit
www.linspire.com/reseller, or
>
www.linspire.com/builder if interested in selling
> computers pre-loaded with Linspire.
> We are located at 9333 Genesee Ave, 3rd floor, San
> Diego, CA, 92121
> Linspire is a trademark. Copyright © 2004. All
> rights reserved.
>
> mm120
>
>
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