Linux-related storefront?

[Jeff Mings]

Hi Joel,

    Generally, I get stuff from CompUSA, Byteware,  Personal Touch 
Computers, or even Office Depot locally, and from many different 
mail-order places.
    Obivously, if prices were lower for comparable stuff, I'd go to the 
Linux store.  The only thing I can think of that I would be likely to 
buy from a Linux store is hard-to-find certified Linux-compatible stuff. 
 For example, winmodems are inferior to real modems, but the hardware is 
really cheap- often $15 or so.  The Linmodem project supports some of 
the hundreds of different winmodems, but finding the right setup strings 
and making sure a given winmodem will actually work is VERY tedious or 
impossible.  If the Linux store sold a winmodem along with the correct 
Linmodem drivers for slightly more (say $30 or so), I'd probably get 
one.  Otherwise, I can get stuff like nVidia cards for Windoze machines 
and just grab the Linux drivers from their site.


Good luck,
-Jeff


joel wrote:

>Hey, folks,
>
>I'm examining the possibility of opening up a small store to support and 
>promote Linux and Free Software locally. I'm interested in your opinions as 
>to the feasibility of this concept, and your ideas about products and/or 
>services you might be interested in having available in town. 
>
>Do you think the Linux/Free Software community on Oahu is large enough to 
>support a small storefront? (this would probably require gross sales of at 
>least $4,000-5,000/month)
>
>Would you, personally, visit a local Linux store? (or do you do all of your 
>shopping on-line, have no interest in Linux related stuff, etc.?)
>
>What types of things might you be interested in seeing?
>
>boxed distributions?
>Linux-related books, magazines, or videos?
>commercial Linux software? (Loki games, etc.)
>t-shirts, hats, mugs, mouse-pads, frisbees, Tux dolls, or other such stuff?
>Linux compatible hardware (with installation instructions... or maybe 
>installed in the store)?
>related toys & stuff? (like Lego Mindstorm sets, IBM's Linux watches, or 
>Linux PDAs...)
>something else?
>
>--Joel
>jijoel at lava.net
>
>btw, please feel free to respond to my personal e-mail address if you're 
>feeling shy about posting to the group. I'm very curious about the 
>possibility of this.
>
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