Download gOS, the operating system of Wal-Mart's $199 PC
This week Wal-Mart started selling a $199 PC with a Linux based operating system called gOS pre-loaded. A lot of websites mistakenly reported that the "g" stands for Gogole, because this stripped down operating system has direct links to a bunch of Google services like YouTube, Docs & Spreadsheets, and Blogger. But gOS is actually a stripped down "green" operating system based on Ubuntu.
And you don't need to buy a $199 PC to load it. You can download gOS right now. Unfortunately, the developer's site seems to be down at the moment, but you can find gOS on several Torrent trackers.
The ISO weighs in at 728 MB, making it a tight fit for a CD-R, but leaving plenty of room on a DVD-R. And like almost all Ubuntu-based operating systems, gOS comes as a LiveCD, meaning you can take it for a test drive without installing anything. Just boot your PC from the DVD. When you're done, shut down, pop the DVD out and reboot into Windows, Linux, or whatever you've been using up until now.
[via InsideGoogle]
And you don't need to buy a $199 PC to load it. You can download gOS right now. Unfortunately, the developer's site seems to be down at the moment, but you can find gOS on several Torrent trackers.
The ISO weighs in at 728 MB, making it a tight fit for a CD-R, but leaving plenty of room on a DVD-R. And like almost all Ubuntu-based operating systems, gOS comes as a LiveCD, meaning you can take it for a test drive without installing anything. Just boot your PC from the DVD. When you're done, shut down, pop the DVD out and reboot into Windows, Linux, or whatever you've been using up until now.
[via InsideGoogle]













Comments
19
Subscribe to commentsToddNov 2nd 2007 12:39PM
Rut-Ro Shaggy!
Who sells more PCs to the home user than anyone else on Earth? Wally World!
What operating system is Wally World selling? Ubuntu!
I think I just heard a chair hitting an office wall somewhere.....Hmmmm.
wrabbit888Nov 27th 2007 12:07PM
Don't see them as selling the operating system. What they are selling is the hardware. Big difference
westudiNov 2nd 2007 1:39PM
Unlikely, I think Microsoft's primary concern is still licensing to businesses and colleges. As a result, they will still retain a share of the every day computer user too.
TushNov 2nd 2007 1:39PM
Sweet! Just means that more customers leads to more linux development and hardware support
michaelNov 2nd 2007 5:13PM
Maybe, or I could just use an OS that's known to work - Windows.
@Tush : Dream on.
PeterNov 2nd 2007 6:29PM
Michael - If you're not a gamer or heavy into multimedia, a Linux box is perfectly adequate. Show someone the button for the browser, email and something to write notes on and that would cover most peoples computer usage.
james 42Nov 2nd 2007 7:32PM
Peter, don't both engaging michael (small m), he's just an MS troll.
CzenfanNov 2nd 2007 10:38PM
I have to ask -
Will most newer HP all-in-ones still work with Gos ?
And What about share drives and networking ?
brokndodgeJan 9th 2008 9:32PM
almost all hp printers are supported on linux... in fact, i have yet to find one that doesn't work right out of the box
michaelNov 3rd 2007 1:54AM
@Peter:
True, but since most things work with Windows systems, it's a much better thing to go with in my mind. And depending where you get it, you can pay a pretty low price, and still be legal.
@James 42 : MS Troll? Are you kidding? Far from that.
Either ways, it's better than being a Linux troll. If there are trolls.
marcNov 3rd 2007 9:14AM
In response to the comment that 'if you're not a Gamer or heavily into Multimedia linux is perfectly adequate' i'd like to say this, nope.
Linux can easily be 'broken' you have to carefully shut it down and restart it otherwise even Ubuntu can break. The drivers support is still miles behind Windows. The firewall and antvir software is confusing at best.
It can be a chore to even install video codecs. Most people that use Linux are very computer savvy and I think they forget that some people still get confused when installing apps on windows.
Furthermore, all the industry standard multimedia software is on windows, ok so theres Gimp but in reality its nowhere as powerfull or flexible as CS3, the same goes for HTML editors.
Furthermore, if linux 'breaks' who you going to call? I think ghostbusters would be just as likely to fix it as the average pc repair center, not everyone wants to trawl a forum and enter shell commands just so they can check their mail.
Besides, the average PC user would most likely run a wide variety of apps per household. Games, Video, Internet, Multimedia.
Don't get me wrong, I use Linux every day and wouldn't even consider using another product, but I use it as a server.
Anyway, i'm going to download this because I do actually like Linux and I like to see how it's going, I run it in VMware and use it a 'Local but Remote' server to test stuff on.
jimboDec 6th 2007 12:36PM
hey mark, how is the ubantu, or gos working for you, i want to try linux more and want comment s on which ones work and which ones are easiest to use. i am a technician but not a software tech, so i know some. please let me know how its working for you. again thanks.
JoeNov 3rd 2007 1:04PM
Wonder if we can run it from a thumb drive?
rebootsNov 3rd 2007 3:59PM
Anyone have an alt d/l location? I would like to put this on a couple of compaq nx9010's for fun.
Reboots DaMachina
Mele20Nov 4th 2007 7:42AM
Heck. I downloaded it using BitTorrent...took several hours. I just tried to burn the ISO to a CD. Nero gave me an error message. Said I had 707MB of space and needed 728MB. I only have a DVD reader not burner. Guess I wasted my time. I was curious about it so too bad. This is the first time I've wanted to burn something that I couldn't do on a CD burner. My computer is less than two years old and a high end gaming computer. I didn't think I would need DVD for anything more than reading. Oh well.
Brad LinderNov 4th 2007 7:44AM
Mele20:
You can try running the ISO in a virtual environment using virtual PC or VirtualBox. That's how I got the screenshot above.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx
http://www.virtualbox.org/
ParanoisedNov 4th 2007 1:56PM
@Mele20
A 723MB image could be easily over-burnt on a regular 700MB CD-R. You just need to turn on that option on Nero and you're good to go. Should let you burn upto 750MB using that method.
acce245Nov 21st 2007 10:53AM
Dudes, linux can play games. e-mail me and I will show you that I have installed C&C the last decade on my linux box (Ubuntu, just like the gOS).
RTNov 30th 2007 6:14AM
This has been interesting (delayed) reading... I'be played with linux for years, and it seems to be little known that it does more than the above rumors. Recently played the accelerated graphics "LinuXgamer", loved the old "KnoppixGames4.0" so much that I live in Knoppix world because of those previous rumors of how hard it is to set up a machine. An alternative to this would be LiveCD's (which are free to play with and don't need installing). I think too much hipe (even M.Dell) about the Ubuntu flavors, Suse, Red Hat, Mandrake, Slackware all will do most everything. Some people would be quite happy with any of these, my complaint is that they're not all on the same base system -boohoo&yippee - Bill doesn't have it all.