Wal-Mart debuts $498 Linux laptop

Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world is offering an ultra-cheap laptop powered by Linux: The Balance 14.1″ Notebook Computer.

And cheap it is. At $498, you will get the lowest-end laptop PC:
VIA C3 Processor, 128MB RAM, 30GB Hard Drive, CD-ROM Drive, 14.1″ LCD Screen. To save about $100, Wal-Mart is installing Linux rather than Windows.

It’s not great for sure, but that’s enough to handle most productivity softwares, web browsing and email. You can find a cheap Wifi adapter to have a wireless network access.

It remains to be seen if the customers are going to embrace Linux or not.

Read…