[Lincs] Retail Centre

[John Boulton]

On Tue, 2008-11-11 at 13:31 +0000, 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??
> 
> 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.

Linux is a growing o/s and Dell I think offer a pre-loaded system - how
that's going I've no idea. I am unaware of anything specialised locally.

Linux is still not at the home user stage and the home user will rarely
want to fiddle and I can see your point. If you could get enough people
to accept something different then yes. The advantage is that you can
fix the problems for them. But can you put up with their frustrations?
And can you popularise it enough locally to you to sustain a business?

> 
> 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...

First of all here my heart felt feelings I have been in that situation,
redundant. Could only think of one thing to say at the time "buggrit"
and much worse than that. I tried Linux and several distro's before I
ended up with Ubuntu, but only then so I could create a rapid
deployment. Before last year I ran OpenSuse, and before that RedHat. In
the beginning if there had been a specialist shop I'd probably have used
it!   

> 
> 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 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.

Pro-Linux, yes, but I for one still have a Windoze PC for test, for home
media for music recording - though I work all day on business Linux
machines. I'd see your best aim to go for building business machines to
be honest. Every machine I have used in that context has necessarily
been a bespoke build ("my babies", I call them)- usually mixed network
machines. However to answer your question I think the High Street will
need Linux oriented shops - eventually - and you may just be the first
and genuine good luck.

> 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??

You said it! Download it off the web, try it and either get hooked (I
did, and saw a use for it in what I do), or throw it in the bin - tired,
and frustrated, and just go back to Mr. Gates. Most people that end up
with Linux are computerorically inclined and happy to fiddle to get
things working for themselves and come out of it with a greater
understanding and experience. With popularity growing, there may be room
now for a specialist Linux home user outlet but it's risky. Again best
of luck, Iain if you choose to go down that road.

For me I'd choose to go for the business machines and community first -
by all means if you can afford a shop-front, do it, but it's not going
to be easy to crack straight in with Joe Public and Linux.

> 
> thanks for your input
> 
> iain
> 
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