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This is a really tough market. Most people who want to run Ubuntu are still quite tech savvy at the moment (though it is shifting), meaning they're willing to b

This is a really tough market. Most people who want to run Ubuntu are still quite tech savvy at the moment (though it is shifting), meaning they're willing to build their own machine. Those who are cost conscious and tech savvy will ultimately have more motivation to build their own machine, since they'll be able to "tweak the knobs" to choose their own trade-offs. Complete wild ass guess, but you might have better luck selling a top-of-the-line Ubuntu machine on well-tested hardware. That last part, the well-tested bit, that's a really attractive value-add. In the prior scenario you're asking me to give you control. In the latter, you're saving me risk and a big hassle.

neltnerb 13y ago
Yeah, I think this is about right. Your target demographic is the intersection of: - People who like Ubuntu. - People who can't install it themselves. I think this intersection is pretty small at the moment... trying to simultaneously create a significant market and also create the product is going to be super hard. Sorry... I've been looking for a cheap replacement for my current Ubuntu desktop, but this is not very attractive at that price point. It either needs to be much nicer, or much cheaper and I don't see that happening without backing from a big company like Google.
- xur17 13y ago
  Last time I upgraded my desktop, I ended up building it myself, not for cost savings, but so I could pick out components that worked well with Linux. A prebuilt machine like @benjamincburns mentioned that has been well-tested would be an interesting idea, especially if it was closer to middle of the road spec wise.
  - shanpc 13y ago
    Absolutely. If Google Linux (based on Debian or Ubuntu) had come out by this time, I'm confident there would have been no need for us to do this. :p Also agreed about the target market: you're right in that the crowd wanting low-cost Ubuntu machines are likely to build it themselves. As for a high-end Ubuntu machine: well, we don't think there is a need for us to do this. System76 and other vendors already do a good job with the high-end Ubuntu market.
    - neltnerb 13y ago
      Maybe it would be helpful to clarify what you see as the use cases. I find it difficult to see a situation where I would want to use this. While I'm probably not the target demographic, what would this be a good option for? School computer? Seems to me that a portable is preferable. Office computer? Maybe - but not many offices use linux. Libraries? This seems like a reasonable market to pursue. Government Offices? Also might be reasonable. Big cost saver if the applications necessary are pre-vetted. Maybe it would be worth talking to some local libraries or similar to see if they'd be willing to be a test bed for the machines. Get Steam on there, and you could use them for video games as well, which is something libraries are now becoming open to in the interest of community building and getting kids in the building.

neltnerb 13y ago

Yeah, I think this is about right. Your target demographic is the intersection of: - People who like Ubuntu. - People who can't install it themselves. I think this intersection is pretty small at the moment... trying to simultaneously create a significant market and also create the product is going to be super hard. Sorry... I've been looking for a cheap replacement for my current Ubuntu desktop, but this is not very attractive at that price point. It either needs to be much nicer, or much cheaper and I don't see that happening without backing from a big company like Google.

xur17 13y ago
Last time I upgraded my desktop, I ended up building it myself, not for cost savings, but so I could pick out components that worked well with Linux. A prebuilt machine like @benjamincburns mentioned that has been well-tested would be an interesting idea, especially if it was closer to middle of the road spec wise.
- shanpc 13y ago
  Absolutely. If Google Linux (based on Debian or Ubuntu) had come out by this time, I'm confident there would have been no need for us to do this. :p Also agreed about the target market: you're right in that the crowd wanting low-cost Ubuntu machines are likely to build it themselves. As for a high-end Ubuntu machine: well, we don't think there is a need for us to do this. System76 and other vendors already do a good job with the high-end Ubuntu market.
  - neltnerb 13y ago
    Maybe it would be helpful to clarify what you see as the use cases. I find it difficult to see a situation where I would want to use this. While I'm probably not the target demographic, what would this be a good option for? School computer? Seems to me that a portable is preferable. Office computer? Maybe - but not many offices use linux. Libraries? This seems like a reasonable market to pursue. Government Offices? Also might be reasonable. Big cost saver if the applications necessary are pre-vetted. Maybe it would be worth talking to some local libraries or similar to see if they'd be willing to be a test bed for the machines. Get Steam on there, and you could use them for video games as well, which is something libraries are now becoming open to in the interest of community building and getting kids in the building.