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Shameless plug: wish me good luck - I'm going to open an ecommerce for Linux- & BSD- preinstalled laptop & desktop computers in Italy (because that's where I li

Shameless plug: wish me good luck - I'm going to open an ecommerce for Linux- & BSD- preinstalled laptop & desktop computers in Italy (because that's where I live). Mind you, it's a small business, initially limited to reselling OEM-preinstalled systems already available in the wholesale market, but if it works, I'm planning to launch my own models, too. Any suggestions?

pawelkomarnicki 10y ago
Don't do it.
- thepiwo 10y ago
  I'd say he should try, but with out to high expectations or financial investments. Linux offers could work for people just wanting a working computer with less risk of viruses. People that don't care for their machine running Linux. Most other people interested are tech savvy and will compare other offerings as well or selfbuild.
- aruggirello 10y ago
  Please elaborate. Are there specific reasons you think I might not have considered yet?
thepiwo 10y ago
Do you already have a Name/Website? Will you only offer Desktop and Server PCs?
- aruggirello 10y ago
  Not yet, but I'm working on that. Server market is tough, I won't do that, at least initially. I'm oriented towards hardware that may be suitable for developers/DevOps: laptop, desktop. Edit: to clarify, desktop might range from dirt cheap commodity hw to high profile workstations. So no blades, rack-mounted stuff etc. (I don't know what fits your definition of server).
nachtigall 10y ago
Look at what your competitors did and why they failed. There's been two or three businesses like this in Germany in the 2000s - and I think they were not too successful (cannot remember their names). Mostly, because preinstalled with Windows and then installing yourself is still cheaper than buying from a small, single trader.
- aruggirello 10y ago
  I know it's a tough market, but if other small electronics & pc shops can manage to survive it, perhaps I can make it too. I believe those missed the point about Linux. They thought the rage was all about saving the costs of Windows licenses, and they could not survive the aggressive licensing program of the late Windows XP/Vista period, when Microsoft practically gave away licenses almost for free. I don't believe it's about costs. IMHO it's more about freedom.
csdreamer7 10y ago
Resell System76 (or Dell) laptops and offer add on tech support or training (in Italian). I have a feeling reselling and offering add on services will be more profitable and easier (and would better server Linux adoption in Italy). One person was complaining about custom duties and warranty issues in Europe. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13364334 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13364334 As I wrote in another comment System76 does little things such as flash custom firmware and bios to make the computer more Linux friendly.
- aruggirello 10y ago
  They're surely among those that I'm going to contact. Just a curiosity: I have read about some laptop robustness and touchpad / build quality issues here on HN - I just don't remember the thread. Though honestly, I have read similar things about MBP (or was it MBA) too... Did you buy from them? What's your experience?
  - csdreamer7 10y ago
    > Did you buy from them? What's your experience? Yes, twice, very good. Check my other comments for more info. Long story short, the Lemur is an excellent little laptop that replaced two large pieces of crap from HP and Dell. AMD cut support for the graphics a month or so after I bought it, and it always ran very hot. The Dell's usb ports shorted out. I have never had that happen before. The only problem I have had is with Intel. Intel does not get mature launch support in their drivers until well after launch. My Ivy Bridge Lemur would freeze once in a while after resuming. I do not think it was fixed until Ubuntu 13.04 (It came with 12.04). I had to put Manjaro on my Skylake Lemur to get Mesa 13 to get all the issues fixed. Skylake has been out more than a year, and Mesa 13 came out recently. Skylake has not been as bad as Sandy Bridge, but still a problem. > some laptop robustness and touchpad / build quality issues Do not have issues with the touchpad. Compared to the HP and the Dell I bought the Lemurs handle heat very well, build quality seems very good. The Skylake and later Lemur's have a very sleek, modern look. The Ivy Bridge Lemur has a boxer look that you can see with other laptop models. I do not know what you mean by 'laptop robustness'. I knocked the Ivy Bridge Lemur onto the floor and it survived. The power plug was off centered because it fell on it's power input, but it was like $20 USD to fix. The shipping cost me more. My advice to you would be to always request the latest Ubuntu.

pawelkomarnicki 10y ago

Don't do it.

thepiwo 10y ago
I'd say he should try, but with out to high expectations or financial investments. Linux offers could work for people just wanting a working computer with less risk of viruses. People that don't care for their machine running Linux. Most other people interested are tech savvy and will compare other offerings as well or selfbuild.
aruggirello 10y ago
Please elaborate. Are there specific reasons you think I might not have considered yet?

thepiwo 10y ago

Do you already have a Name/Website? Will you only offer Desktop and Server PCs?

aruggirello 10y ago
Not yet, but I'm working on that. Server market is tough, I won't do that, at least initially. I'm oriented towards hardware that may be suitable for developers/DevOps: laptop, desktop. Edit: to clarify, desktop might range from dirt cheap commodity hw to high profile workstations. So no blades, rack-mounted stuff etc. (I don't know what fits your definition of server).

nachtigall 10y ago

Look at what your competitors did and why they failed. There's been two or three businesses like this in Germany in the 2000s - and I think they were not too successful (cannot remember their names). Mostly, because preinstalled with Windows and then installing yourself is still cheaper than buying from a small, single trader.

aruggirello 10y ago
I know it's a tough market, but if other small electronics & pc shops can manage to survive it, perhaps I can make it too. I believe those missed the point about Linux. They thought the rage was all about saving the costs of Windows licenses, and they could not survive the aggressive licensing program of the late Windows XP/Vista period, when Microsoft practically gave away licenses almost for free. I don't believe it's about costs. IMHO it's more about freedom.

csdreamer7 10y ago

Resell System76 (or Dell) laptops and offer add on tech support or training (in Italian). I have a feeling reselling and offering add on services will be more profitable and easier (and would better server Linux adoption in Italy). One person was complaining about custom duties and warranty issues in Europe. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13364334 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13364334 As I wrote in another comment System76 does little things such as flash custom firmware and bios to make the computer more Linux friendly.

aruggirello 10y ago
They're surely among those that I'm going to contact. Just a curiosity: I have read about some laptop robustness and touchpad / build quality issues here on HN - I just don't remember the thread. Though honestly, I have read similar things about MBP (or was it MBA) too... Did you buy from them? What's your experience?
- csdreamer7 10y ago
  > Did you buy from them? What's your experience? Yes, twice, very good. Check my other comments for more info. Long story short, the Lemur is an excellent little laptop that replaced two large pieces of crap from HP and Dell. AMD cut support for the graphics a month or so after I bought it, and it always ran very hot. The Dell's usb ports shorted out. I have never had that happen before. The only problem I have had is with Intel. Intel does not get mature launch support in their drivers until well after launch. My Ivy Bridge Lemur would freeze once in a while after resuming. I do not think it was fixed until Ubuntu 13.04 (It came with 12.04). I had to put Manjaro on my Skylake Lemur to get Mesa 13 to get all the issues fixed. Skylake has been out more than a year, and Mesa 13 came out recently. Skylake has not been as bad as Sandy Bridge, but still a problem. > some laptop robustness and touchpad / build quality issues Do not have issues with the touchpad. Compared to the HP and the Dell I bought the Lemurs handle heat very well, build quality seems very good. The Skylake and later Lemur's have a very sleek, modern look. The Ivy Bridge Lemur has a boxer look that you can see with other laptop models. I do not know what you mean by 'laptop robustness'. I knocked the Ivy Bridge Lemur onto the floor and it survived. The power plug was off centered because it fell on it's power input, but it was like $20 USD to fix. The shipping cost me more. My advice to you would be to always request the latest Ubuntu.