Newsforge notes that Mandrake Linux PCs finally went on sale at Walmart.com over the weekend. Prices range from $391 for a 900MHz Duron machine to $648 for a 2GHz Pentium 4 with CD-RW.

The machines are Microtel, which is also supplying Walmart with 'naked' PCs ("Perfect if you already have a licensed copy of Windows," says Walmart chirpily, undoing years of Redmond propaganda) and Lindows machines. The nearest spec naked PC to the 2GHz Mandrake one costs $599, so Mandrakesoft must be making some money out of the deal, while a similar Lindows machine is, er, $599.

Draw your own conclusions about that one, friends, but it'll be interesting to see how the respective offerings do at Walmart, or indeed if preinstalled Linux from a major consumer outlet will hit the spot. US customers can browse the range here, while would-be UK customers will be unsurprised to learn that there's not a lot going on at Walmart subsidiary Asda.co.uk. ®