More on Toronto's Linux-only Computer Store 145
bluethundr writes "The Register today is running a story about what we first thought (but thought incorrectly as it turns out) to be the world's first Linux-only computer store. Who knew that they were also running a Linux-powered car wash in the back? Heh."
Wonders (Score:1, Insightful)
Michael's Portfolio? (Score:2, Insightful)
Anyone who read about this last time it was on slashdot [slashdot.org]
Can it only be a dupe if the "editor" doesn't know its a dupe?
Does anyone else suspect michael may have some kind of financial interest in this store, because he posted the last story on it (and even included a link to it!) yet this new story includes no new information.
a linux only computer store... (Score:3, Insightful)
Hmmmm sounds like bloody heaven to me....
Re:Free carwash? (Score:5, Insightful)
This is funny, but I think it really should have been modded Insightful.
Just a thought . . .
pet grooming pays (Score:5, Insightful)
Toss in work, kids, etc and that 30+ bucks to groom your dog doesn't seem like a big deal.
Simply put, the economics of the situation tend to work out.
I would be pretty skeptical about investing in Linux retail. What are they making money off of? Pure hardware sales? The margins on hardware aren't too hot. I'm sure labor is pretty good, but the buyers probably already know how to do most things and paying seventy bucks an hour for someone to remount your CD-ROM or whatever is pretty excessive.
Not to mention he's not only competing with the local electronics stores full of wintel machines, but web-based businesses with much less overhead. (is he selling on the web also?)
Good luck and all, but there's more money to be made in dog grooming, if you want to be technical about it. At the end of the day the "idiot" business is the one which can't pay the bills.
This does tug at my nostalgia strings as I remember the local computer stores I dragged my parents to in the late 80s. None of which are still in business. Even then I found that it was cheaper to order stuff through the macwarehouse or the computershopper magazine than the brick and morter stores. I must have been around 10 years old, most adults already know how to scour for deals and its a lot easier with the web.
I'm assuming he doesnt have that much overhead and the carwash subsidizes the actual store. It looks like he bought a carwash and thought it would be fun to build a Linux store on the property. So that space was already going to waste and the Linux store is really just a hobby business built on top of his real business.
Another positive aspect is that people can just walk in and play with Linux to see what its like. I'm sure many people are curious, but not curious enough to partition their drive or get a second machine. Kinda how the Apple store is full of people who will never own Apples.
Heh! (Score:2, Insightful)
So we transferred hosting to a personal friend's two-bit, barely-break-even-if-we're-lucky-but-who-gives-a-
This may sound like just another apocryphal *nix fanboy story, but it's true.
Re:World's first? (Score:3, Insightful)
Linux however, lacks the obvious charm and commonality of a dog and doesn't necessarily appeal to women. Ironic how a geek and Linux seem perfect for one another.
Re:Free carwash? (Score:3, Insightful)
This is funny, but I think it really should have been modded Insightful.
Actually, we need a new mod: Brilliant.
-FB
Re:We're not all Linux freaks... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:microsoft (Score:2, Insightful)