Wal-Mart to Offer Components for DIY Computers 434
FearTheFrail writes "Reuters reports that Wal-Mart is preparing to put "build your own computer counters" in 1200 of its 3200 stores, with plans to do so in at least 1400 by the end of the year. Maybe this will bring on an influx of new hardware enthusiasts, along with plenty of horror stories about attempted computer assembly. Do you think this will have an effect on the OEM parts market? And what about the operating systems to be offered? Will Wal-Mart shoppers migrate to Linux in order to save a hundred bucks or more, or will they even have the chance?"
Not worried about not getting windows (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Oh no (Score:2, Insightful)
I don't get it (Score:4, Insightful)
Why wouldn't Wal-Mart customers "have a chance" to install Linux? Do they connect to a different internet than everyone else? Are they banned from entering computer and book stores?
Or are you asking if Wal-Mart will be carrying boxed RedHat distros?
It's never been about consumers having a CHANCE to install Linux, it's been about them having the CHOICE to, and like it or not, most consumers CHOOSE not to.
-l
Not quite "build your own" (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Not worried about not getting windows (Score:3, Insightful)
I'd definitely buy from them (Score:2, Insightful)
In fact, I MUCH prefer this model where you can semi-customize your own PC from a range of well-defined options. Beats the hell out of CompUSA or Best Buy where you have to take whatever configuration they have have on the shelf.
I'd bet they get exclusive distribution rights to some major brand like Gateway and then sell them at 30% below everyone else's computer.
Don't underestimate the power of WalMart to sell anything to the masses.
And I actually get to say... (Score:3, Insightful)
I know that lots of people are going to give theories about what nefarious motivations Wal-Mart might have for doing this. (and then a lot of people are going to fire back saying 'this is how the market works, pinko!)
But I see this as just trying to create a new market for something that people might want. It is weird that we don't have more computer parts stores: after all, it is easy to find mass-marketed auto parts stores, and working on a computer is a lot easier than working on a car. This is just giving people a chance to be able to practice some new technical skills themselves.
Its weird that this hasn't caught on before. When I was in Taiwan, two years ago, I visited the computer market in Tainan, and in most of the stores, including some major ones, they had about as much DIY stuff (that was labelled DIY), as they had pre-made stuff. I feel Americans should be at the front of the world in gear-headism.
Re:How odd... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I hope prices drop! (Score:1, Insightful)
It will reduce quality, but keep up the prices. A win-win situation for everyone*.
* Except for the poor sods known as customers.
Re:I don't get it (Score:3, Insightful)
I still don't get it: This article is about people buying DIY parts at Wal-Mart, not about you buying a laptop at Best Buy.
Then again, as someone already pointed out earlier in this same article's discussion tree, WalMart already sells systems with Linspire.
fabric departments... (Score:2, Insightful)
Many years ago, when I was growing up, lots of Wal-Mart-like department stores had extensive fabric departments...
Talk about total, brutal, revenge... (Score:5, Insightful)
I think we should all bow our heads in silent prayer for the poor fools working at the wal-mart returns and electronics desks. Then next time you start to think about how much you hate your job remember that there are people who would probably kill someone to be as free from stupidity as you are.
Re:I hope prices drop! (Score:4, Insightful)
Just because someone shops at WalMart, doesn't mean they're poor.
For some disposable items, such as baby formula & diapers, the WalMart brand is every bit as good as name brand items, costing nearly twice as much.
Re:Not worried about not getting windows (Score:5, Insightful)
But I would seriously expect the products at Wal-mart and the small business guy not to compare well. Big-box stores like Wal-mart, Home Depot, etc, are known for playing games with margins. For example if your looking at items like garden products, there is a product for Wal-mart and one for everyone else -- don't believe me, go into your local nursery and look at the Scott's lawn fertilizer, and then go to Wal-mart. The products will compare differently on ingredients, volume, percentages and prices. But they packaging will look nearly exactly the same, except for the declarations which will be different. For real kicks, ask the nurseryman what the difference is between what Wal-mart has and the nursery. So if Wal-mart can take something that is really expensive out or reduce it, then Wal-mart can lower the price and kill competition on margin. When I was working at as a Garden Center manager I wouldn't even compete with Wal-mart on anything they sold. The products would look exactly the same, but when you looks at the specs, they are very different. But Joe Sixpack doesn't know the difference and half the time care. So why would I carry something that will be twice as expensive as Wal-mart if the customer doesn't care enough to find out why I was more expensive? Wal-mart pushed me to carry high to elite-end (i.e. golf course grade) grade products and it allowed me to make the company a lot of money.
What I found was that Wal-mart carrying the low end products brought me more business. People would stop there, and then come and see me. I attended a workshop that says that Wal-mart and other big box stores will actually increase business in the long run if the small business can survive the first three years. After the first three years, business will bounce back. But the key is that the small businesses need to provide an expert that people can talk to.
I could see the same thing happening in computer parts. Some joe who wants to do computers, stops at Wal-mart and figures out the guy behind the counter couldn't care less. Since they already have the thought about doing computers, they go to the shop that knows what they are doing. If the shop doesn't have the elitist attitude and is willing to help the guy learn a small business could make a lot of money of Wal-mart's idea.
Re:Not worried about not getting windows (Score:3, Insightful)
-ethernet card
-sound card (unless you're keen on recording, like me)
-memory readers
-bluetooth cards
These things are easily commodity (cheaper but not lower quality if shipped/manufactured in bulk):
-memory
-CPU fans
-power supplies
-cases
And CPUs are generally each their own little niche market, so people will get them at Walmart at the same quality as anywhere else. But it could be *slightly* cheaper because Walmart's shipping model is about the best there is.
I'm sure that there are others that people can think of, but these are the reasons I'd go to Wal-mart for my parts. I think they'd have stuff that I'd like in those categories because they fit into those categories. I should also mention that fans and power supplies wear out on their own. It'd be nice to be able to pick up new ones there.
For those of us who live in the rural hinterlands. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:And I actually get to say... (Score:5, Insightful)
Not at all... The sort of people who have the skills neeeded to build their own computers (when I say "skills", while we might consider throwing together a PC from known-compatible parts as nearly trivial, keep in mind that most people conflate memory with HDDs and while their video cards might come with 512MB, they don't understand that they can't upgrade their monitor to 1GB) also have the skills to get the best price for the best parts online.
Why don't you see more parts stores? Because they can't compete. Sure, you have the occasional semi-literate person who will buy a cable or two, but actually building a system? No.
As for Walmart's "great" prices... True story. A few months back I desperately needed a new HDD ASAP for a project at work. Even overnighting it wouldn't suffice, so I went to WallyWorld, figuring they'd have something that would work.
Well, at the risk of a mixed-metaphorical-double-entendre, size didn't matter, but I didn't expect to raped so hard regardless.
I ended up paying $90 for a 60GB Seagate (ATA133, mind you, not some high-end SCSI deal). Seriously. At the time, I could have bought the same thing online for half the price, or gotten a 200GB for the same price.
So... Geeks will keep shopping for parts online (for the majority of us not lucky enough to have a Fry's in-state), and sheep will keep buying preconfigured Dells. This new "trend" merely gives a new option to the sheep who have learned not to fear the sun rising every morning. But as they say... "Even if you win the Special Olympics, you're still a retard".
Walmart sux (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:How odd... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Bad Math (Score:2, Insightful)
What the hell are you talking about?
Re:Meanwhile at Slashbot Central (Score:5, Insightful)
Instead of being dismissive of this Walmart thing, I'm interested in how they're going to do it. (Not that I like or shop at Walmart. I pretty much despise them.)
Anyone from the Bay Area remember Domino Computers? I forget exactly what their model was, but it was a build-your-own-computer. They provided the parts, the tools, the facilities and the advice. I think they offered classes/seminars, but I don't remember if those were free, or if you paid a fee.
Home Depot and Lowes sell diy materials, tools, and instruction books. They also offer free seminars on a variety of diy topics. Don't see why Walmart couldn't follow this example.
Another thing Walmart could do is use color coded packaging. This Red CPUs and Red RAM work with Red MBs. Green CPUs and Green RAM work with the Green MB. Oh, look the packaging on this PSU is Red and Blue. It works with the Red MB and the Blue MB, but not the Green. And look, this HD is in a purple package. It only works with the Purple MB and other Purple parts. So, the uneducated user need never know that his computer's HD is SATA; he only knows it's part of the Purple group. He doesn't need to know that his MB has an AGP slot, only that Yellow video cards work with Yello MBs.
I could also see Walmart being able to tailor you linux install based on what parts you buy. They scan all your parts, and their Distro distro system picks the right ISO for you and spits out a CD.
Re:How odd... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Now my 2AM component shopping is even easier! (Score:3, Insightful)
I think you have a great point about instant gratification though. Were I looking at options in a Wal-Mart, I'd be unable to compare option's online pricing, and the "tug" to just go ahead and get that 240G drive instead of the 120G would be pretty strong.
Being in a small town, if my Dell dies after-hours, I'd be sorely tempted to give Wal-Mart a try. And one of the things holding me back from buying from them to upgrade my son's computer is that none of them come with enough memory and all the linux HCC checking I'd expect to have to do.
All in all, I welcome choice. Given Wal-Mart's penetration and distribution expertise, I'd be hard pressed to find a downside here. While Gateway and Dell may *currently* profit more from their business and enterprise dealings, their online customization was a major factor in building both their reputation and their critical mass, IIRC. All those machines weren't customized by geeks only, so folks (not directly to parent) give the average American adult a little more credit, k?
Another factor preventing my buying a pre-boxed offering at a Wal-Mart is that most if not all come with a printer and monitor. These devices are useless to me. I don't actually need even the keyboard nor mouse (I'm no threat to donkeys, but I doubt either of our two optical Logitechs will need replacement in the near future).
One last big consideration. Pack Rat that I am, I really really really need to dump some old gear. It's time. . So, on-site recycling would go a huge distance towards influencing me to purchase at a Wal-Mart.
Sam, you listenin' ??? You got the chops, ole dude, just haunt your son or something, k?
ps- the Logitechs? Both purchased at --you guessed it-- Wal-Mart. Go figure...
Re:cheapening quality vs morechoice is better (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Meanwhile at Slashbot Central (Score:3, Insightful)
As far as the DIY counter goes, I would guess that they would station geeks there to do it for you, similar to what CompUSA does. Probably need a nice sign behind the counter to give the walk-in customer some idea of what to ask for. Sounds to me like each customer, if they buy, would take at least 30 minutes to process, and then the machine could be picked up "the next day" at a certain time. Might have a back room with less-presentable geeks, but with talents, putting the boxes together, and getting them working.
Really does not sound anything like what Walmart does best, that is, put the stuff out there, and let the customer self-checkout, and exit the store, no sales clerks needed. Just stockers. And of course, lots of anti-shoplifting staff stationed in the ceiling.
The other idea would be to handle this like the satellite storefronts at the front of the building, like the Banks, Baby Photographers, Pharmacists, etc. that work more like mall stores, rather than like the main Walmart store area. So, they just put the "computer store" under the same roof, but it really is not "walmart" any more than the Bank or Eye Doctor there is.
Walmart would still offer boxed desktops and laptops in traditional walmart shelf areas, in the Electronics area.
Sure, the "computer store" would do linux installs, but with the Windows OEM setup, those would not be any cheaper.
Microsoft does discourage that, or so I hear. Since Vista is many months away, XP is what everyone will want/get, and dual booting an option, maybe.
With a livecd linux, they would get "dual booting" instantly, and a super-secure linux system at that.
Re:I hope prices drop! (Score:2, Insightful)
That is true in a few very highly competitive markets, but for the most part, companies sell their products for the HIGHEST amount possible. This means the price point where raising the price loses them money due to lost sales. Name brand recognition plays a huge factor in a lot of people's willingness to purchase. A lot of people will gladly pay $75 for a shirt with a cool logo on it, but will never purchase the identical shirt for $25 w/o the logo. Of course, clothing in an extreme example of this particular phenomenon, but it exists in a watered down version in a lot of different product markets.
Re:Oh no (Score:3, Insightful)
So...go out and get a REAL job. Jobs like this are for the HS and college kid crowd.
If you've over 30 and still wear a 'name tag', you've made some SERIOUS vocational errors along the way...
Unions (Score:3, Insightful)