[Lincs] Retail Centre

[Chris Lingard]

Iain Baker wrote:
> hey all...
> just a quick check - does anybody know a good retailer in lincolnshire
> for Linux? someone that sells hardware that is guaranteed Linux
> Compatible, sells software for Linux, sells computers with Linux
> pre-installed, sells Linux Distro's, or at least recognises Linux as
> existing, and understands what it is??

Linc IT here in Gainsborough are OK, though I always buy computers that 
are empty, and do my own install.  They do have a Linux system in the 
shop, and have got things for me.

> this may be an even more stupid question... but if you don't, do you
> think there should be one... can you see an advantage.
> 
> I am going to be unemployed in about 18 months - and i was thinking
> that Linux Friendly Computing Shops aren't existent, and should be...
> lets face it, sometimes you like to go into a shop and speak to
> someone, and buy a product without having to trail the net trying to
> find it, download it, burn it, find out it downloaded wrongly and cry
> in the corner...
> 
> as such i was considering starting a Computer shop that did all the
> things listed in my opening paragraph... selling Linux games, FOSS
> software (with money from the sale of products going back into the
> projects to keep them free and keep them healthy), and selling Linux
> compatible hardware, and building Linux Boxes...

I am not sure that you would make any money, at least, enough tp keep a 
shop running;  I have always bought hardware, either a brand new machine 
to my spec, or in discrete lumps, like a scanner or printer.

But Linux is growing fast, you would need to offer support, then you 
could sell server boxes to businesses.

> i realise as members of a LUG you are all pro Linux... but i am also
> aware there are a lot of different skill levels, so i thought it would
> be interesting to see if it was a service that more than just me would
> like to see on the highstreet.
> 
> Do the new linux users think it would make it easier to grow within
> the user comunity to have such a place... do the novice users think it
> would be beneficial for 'lazy moments' where you just want to buy
> something and know it will work without the research... and to experts
> think it would be useful for 'lazy moments' and as a place to point
> 'converts'... or do you all think its a waste of time when you can
> just download everything you need of the web??
> 
> thanks for your input
> 
> iain
> 
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