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This is the first time I have been ashamed of an "MacDailyNews Take"

Some families are just trying to make ends meet. Wal-mart help.
That take was harsh and elitist.

Mar 11, 08 - 08:43 am Comment from: Macromancer

"Yeah. They were looking for Slim Jims, pro wrestling posters, 56x29 Faded Glory jeans, and beer helmets."

You forgot the Dale Jr memorabilia, camouflage jackets, and "Never Forget" bumper stickers.

Mar 11, 08 - 08:44 am Comment from: John Gee

that was funny. REAL funny.

I am not surprised and the "MacDailyNews Take" was spot on and not harsh at all. It was the truth, not many people go to walmart to buy a computer. They wait for the insanely cheap deals at best buy or staples or circuit city for that $300 laptop or desktop. Also for people trying to make ends meet... they can go to a library and use a computer or a coffee shop of some sort or the kids can just use a computer in school. Some will let you stay after to use the library or computers.

Mmmmm, MacDailyNews. I love Wal-Mart, and I don't shop for any of those things.

Mar 11, 08 - 08:47 am Comment from: Big Al

You can buy sox there for 35¢ a pair.

Just wear and toss.

What a country.

Mar 11, 08 - 08:51 am Comment from: TowerTone

I thought all their sales were to the poor....

Mar 11, 08 - 08:55 am Comment from: mike_in_helsinki

If you go to WalMart, all you see is a galaxy of fat people.

Mar 11, 08 - 08:57 am Comment from: smackman

I will agree with wow on the first post. Harsh and elitest yes. Damn funny....you bet!

Let's all try to keep a good sense of humor around here folks!

Mar 11, 08 - 08:59 am Comment from: cptnkirk

@BigAl
"You can buy sox there for 35¢ a pair.

Just wear and toss.

What a country."

I agree. But probably not the way you mean!

@ TowerTone

Are you an elitist, self-important arsehole?

Yup, I thought so! Sounds like it to me! Until you have the shopping budget of Donald Trump, you can STFU....

Mar 11, 08 - 09:00 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

wow...

Yes, I help my family by exploiting people in other countries who work for slave wages. That's the American Way!

MDN Take: Hilariously Accurate!

Mar 11, 08 - 09:04 am Comment from: CheekyGit

"Yeah. They were looking for Slim Jims, pro wrestling posters, 56x29 Faded Glory jeans, and beer helmets."

Don't forget the Garth Brooks CDs.

Mar 11, 08 - 09:04 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Wall-Mart... where ass-cracks, stretch pants, belly flaps and lunar-surface rumps are abundantly on view.

@ Mr. Reeee

Gee, you buy Apple products.... Are these made in First World countries paying union wages? Er, maybe not!

Years ago, Apple used to make most of their products here in the USA paying the factory workers a living wage.... and abiding by US environmental laws... not outsourcing to Chinese manufacturers paying Chinese wages and abiding by Chinese environmental laws (i.e. nonexistent)....

Gee, that makes you a HYPOCRITE!

Actually they sold out of gPCs in all 600 stores

Mar 11, 08 - 09:09 am Comment from: CheekyGit

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

http://walmartwatch.com/

http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/

Mar 11, 08 - 09:10 am Comment from: loganson

I and literally every I know shops at Wal-Mart. And my name ain't bubba.

Mar 11, 08 - 09:11 am Comment from: Jay-Z

You may think the MDN Take is horrible and elitist, but that doesn't change the fact that there's truth to it. Sure, yes, some families are just looking to make ends meet, but if I'm forced to go to the Wal-Mart by my parents' house (usually because it's the only place open late at night), a significant number of the people shopping there are ignorant rednecks. And those are the people MDN singled out.

Mar 11, 08 - 09:16 am Comment from: CheekyGit

"I and literally every I know shops at Wal-Mart. And my name ain't bubba."

Is it Jim Bob? Billy Ray? Cleatus?

Mar 11, 08 - 09:18 am Comment from: TowerTone

Hey, Ben
I'm actually lower middle class (in more ways than one...) and live in the heart of Wally Land. My comment was a shot at many peoples attitude toward the "stereotypical" Wal-Mart shopper, not the shoppers themselves.

Mar 11, 08 - 09:19 am Comment from: Mr. Peabody

The one thing ya'll are missin' is that, Wal-Fart didn't stop carryin Linux boxes 'cause they wasn't sellin' none, they stopped 'cause they was paid to by _________ (you fill in the blank - duh).

And about those $199 'Green gPC,' made by Everex of Taiwan, how do those work? Do they revert back to lushes green moss after two years, and then I just transplant them into my back yard and go buy another?

The salesmen from WallMart must be like those of the department stores here: completely ignorant of anything that is not of Windows!
How do you want them to give good consultings about any other OS?

Mar 11, 08 - 09:24 am Comment from: jjjj

I will never set foot in Wal-Mart.

"Faded Glory" Jeans - what a great name that is the perfect embodiment of what Wal-Mart and the BushCo. Government ultimately stand for. Profits for us, working poor for you. This empire will find it's own way back to the ground. FAIL.

Mar 11, 08 - 09:24 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Ben Dover...
The difference between buying Apple products and crap from Wal-Mart? I have no choice.

Sure, I'd prefer if Apple products were 'Made in the USA', but they're not. In fact, there's really almost no such thing as 'Made in USA' anymore. Even crappy American cars, electronics and appliances are assembled from parts gathered from everywhere.

Virtually everything is being outsourced to China and elsewhere. The people working in computer factories certainly have a higher skill level and compensation than people who assemble toys or package injected plastic junk.

I've been working on a project in China and have some familiarity with the factory workers' skill levels.

You do us no favor with your take, quite the contrary.

Why don't you go down to the store again and find the man, woman, or child you feel got here by some way different than you.

And then, spend the rest of your living days counting your blessings, you arrogant, condescending excuse for a human.

Mar 11, 08 - 09:30 am Comment from: spaceMan

I think the following site says it all about Wal Mart

http://www.hel-mart.com/

Mar 11, 08 - 09:32 am Comment from: Buster

Geez people take a chill pill. Rapidly judging comments before understanding their meaning in the grand scheme of things and trying to belittle people by profanity is a little harsh (....ummmm right Ben Dover?).

Ironically Walmart exploits the hell out of the people that work for them in order to sell cheap crap even cheaper. That is why I buy my beer helmets, polyester pants, Hulk Hogan posters and Celine Dion CDs elsewhere.

Funny, I actually bought my PlayStation 3 at Wal-Mart. And I noticed that they sell the full line of Apple iPods there as well. So no MDN, it's not only hillbillies that shop there, not even close.

<< and "Never Forget" bumper stickers. >>

Apparently- we HAVE forgotten.

Macromancer, jjjj and the rest of you 3inch studs- could you please pass the Grey Poupon... or in your case- the Gay Mustard.

Walmart's existence is based solely on our government's desire to outsource all manufacturing so big business can dodge taxes.

Just my $0.02

Mar 11, 08 - 10:03 am Comment from: Spark

The hostility and vehement comments between Walmart haters and its defenders is second here only to what is seen when Bush/Cheney is mentioned. Their is truth in what the Walmart detractors say, but the hysteria is nuts. What I am wondering is how MDN is going to report the eventual news when Walmart begins stocking the Mac Mini in place of those loser Linux machines.

Mar 11, 08 - 10:09 am Comment from: Sixvodkas

@jjjj

Nice try, but it was Bill Clinton that signed NAFTA into law, making it far, far easier to send jobs outside the US and across our border.
Don't let the truth hit you on the way out.

Mar 11, 08 - 10:15 am Comment from: DLMeyer

This started as a comment about Linux sales being curtailed and rapidly dove into the mirk of elitism. While my opinion of those who shop at Wal-Mart is low - Mr Reeee said it best with the "ass-cracks" comment - I occasionally shop there and at similar places (looking totally out of place). Many of the people who shop there have made poor decisions their entire life and will continue to do so. Many others are just looking for a bargain, perhaps a rather specific bargain.
Linux is a bargain. But! It comes at a price. You need to be quite competent to benefit from it - more than a little computer literate. Thing is, if you have the needed skills, you are only in Wal-Mart looking for a specific bargain. Those others who have been making lousy choices their entire lives will stay in their comfort zone and buy the system that is so much easier - a Windows box. When it slows down due to being infested they will go out and buy another to replace it. It's easier.

Mar 11, 08 - 10:17 am Comment from: Thorin

I freakin' hate Walmart, but sometimes find myself forced to go there. Where else can you buy a fishing lure, frozen pizza, and a Realtree (TM) camoflauged condom at 3AM?

Mar 11, 08 - 10:17 am Comment from: DRM sucks

"And I noticed that they sell the full line of Apple iPods there as well. So no MDN, it's not only hillbillies that shop there, not even close."

While your point may be correct, the evidence you supply does not prove it.

Hey, MDN, don't be so tough on poor rednecks. They provide a big part of the listener base for a certain limp-dicked, drug addicted sex tourism-loving radio host you are fond of, and certainly could use a good, affordable computer for posting the latest racial humor to FreeRepublic.

Mar 11, 08 - 10:28 am Comment from: Jubei

Finally. Can we put this Linux is just as good as Mac OS X for most users to rest? Linux us great for the super geek squad, but lets get real folks, you can't tell the average consumer or office user to use Linux and say its better than OS X.

Mar 11, 08 - 10:31 am Comment from: Buster

@Sixvodkas....Just to make a correction here...it was George Bush that signed NAFTA, Clinton just helped its ratification. Moreover, please be more specific about the job loss border which happens to be Mexico and NOT Canada as per two incredibly stupid comments made by both Obama and Clinton. They both knew that and were posturing for the cameras. I hope Americans are not so stupid as to believe it especially as many of our manufacturing jobs went there. We were pretty pissed in Canada after hearing it. Besides, numerous studies have shown that the US had benefited much more than Canada by NAFTA (which was forced down our throats by Bush's bosom buddy Mulroney).

I live in a small town in the South. Wal-Mart has done more to raise the standard of living for folks in my area that any other thing. People around here can buy stuff at Wal-Mart that they could never afford otherwise.

If one doesn't want to shop Wal-Mart that's certainly understandable, but it is a real blessing to millions of people that can't afford better.

Think about it.

That was just ugly. It's not funny and I'm shocked and disappointed by the responses on here.

Wal-Mart has a good business plan because it is based on a near-infinite causality loop.

Wal-Mart forces suppliers to outsource jobs to China, thereby resulting in closings and layoffs in the US. This further depresses in the economy in the areas where Wal-Mart is located, thereby increasing the number of people unable to afford other stores and having to go to Wal-Mart. As their buying power decreases, Wal-Mart forces more suppliers to outsource more jobs, creating even more Wal-Mart customers.

But you know what, as objectionable as Wal-Mart might be, what fscking excuse does Apple have? Sure, Wal-Mart pushes suppliers to outsource jobs, but both Wal-Mart and the suppliers are selling at paper-thin margins. Apple, on the other hand, sells merchandise at huge margins but is still assembling all of its products with cheap Chinese labor. If any modern manufacturer should be able to assemble in America it is Apple--and, indeed, Apple did make products here in the US until not too long ago. Every time I see that "Designed in California" label or whatever on Apple's packaging I want to spit on it.

Everyone bitching about Wal-Mart and outsourced jobs needs to explain this to me--if you think Wal-Mart could profitably sell $2 plastic bowls having them made by American workers, please tell me why Apple can't sell a $3299 workstation at a good profit without having the thing made in China by people making 20 cents a day?

regarding: MacDailyNews Take: Yeah. They were looking for Slim Jims, pro wrestling posters, 56x29 Faded Glory jeans, and beer helmets.

MDN, maybe you should buy a new server from walmart, it couldn't hurt your web performance.

Perhaps some families try to save money to put kids through college, etc.

We don't all get rich selling adds of Obama on our sites you know. Keep cutting and pasting other's work, that's what we Don't pay you for after all!

Mar 11, 08 - 10:47 am Comment from: stormy

If something is less expensive at Walmart why not buy it from there? With gas costs going thru the roof cutting back in other areas is mandatory. Inflation is outpacing my paycheck so I have to make decisions that are the best for me.

Let the flaming begin....

I used to refer to Walmart as- "The land of unwed mothers".

But now I'm more PC and just think that but don't say it.

Seriously though, I shop at Walmart for some stuff, dog food, kitty litter, camping stuff.

Last year I thought they had some really cool xmas decorations- kind of 18th century gothic. I was shocked that they would have something so un-mainstream.

I have to wonder what distribution of Linux was on the machines. If they were installed with Ubuntu then they would have been relatively easy to use.

That said, this was doomed to fail. Ubuntu, the easiest linux distro, is still a work in progress and relatively unheard of. It needs to get more "mindshare" so that the average joe-six-pack actually knows wtf it is. And even then, it's not as easy to use as OS X and novice trying to install it on a new machine would be lost if there were some hardware dependacy issues.

It's hard for me to understand some of the comments on here. I live in Canada, near Toronto (Between Detroit and New York), and I have not seen a single Walmart "up here."
Might be too expensive for them to operate here because they would have to pay more taxes than in the states. Everyone just shops in Canadian Tire if they want cheap.

Mar 11, 08 - 11:07 am Comment from: shen

wow lot of bitching about the MDN take....

truth hurts sometimes don't it?

america made walmart. the land where "more, cheaper" rules, and quality is hardly a concern at all, has made a store in its own image. and then you get laid off because that stores kills cities and economies.

so no quality america, you made your cheap composite board bed, or rather you had it made by companies with no morals exploiting labor in other countries. now sleep in it.

instant karma is a bitch ain't it?

Mar 11, 08 - 11:09 am Comment from: maczac

While I do feel MDN's take is condescending, I am like many who would never set foot in a Wal-Mart. That chain is evil. It ruins communities, it is predatory, it abuses their employees who are often marginal workers and fear for their jobs. Hell even M$ is a better "citizen" than Wal-Mart.

Open your eyes people and do some studying. At least attempt to make an informed opinion, as opposed to one fed to you by marketers. If you conclude that Wal-Mart is okay, then by all means continue to shop there. My guess, is that many would choose not to.

Mar 11, 08 - 11:11 am Comment from: The Other Steve

56x29? That's cold!

Mar 11, 08 - 11:14 am Comment from: UltraVisitor

I tried Linux about five years ago, and thought it had real potential. All they had to do was fix up the UI a bit, make it easier to use, and they would have a Windows-killer. But five years later Linux still hasn't gotten their act together. Every distro is either ugly as hell or too hard to get simple things to work. I can only conclude that Linux developers simply don't get it.

Yes, it's great that you can customize everything, down to recompiling the kernal. But the user shouldn't have to; it should just work well enough as is without spending hours customizing.