Bored, with a large latte and an empty feed list, I decided to see what sort of linux tat ― don’t suck air like you’re made, most of it is tat ― one can find forsale on eBay .
For the purview (ooh, fancy word for a typo-prone blogger) of this post I’m focusing on Linux merchandise, both official and unofficial.
I’m not talking about second-hand laptops loaded with Linux Mint (you can’t move for ’em) nor those cannyfolk who flogpre-made CDs of popular Linux distros (a service those of us with data caps sometimes rely on).
I’m also going to skip over the endless array ofgeneric ill-fitting phone cases from China that list‘ubuntu’ in their ‘supported’ devices list. Likewise for laptop sleeves, decals and USB drives.
Generic TatWe’ll kick off by rushing past thegalaxy ofmerchandise aimed at the … let’s say ‘less-than-discerning Linux shoper’.
Few Linux users would actually want to own some of this generic crap. (Though if a generic cheap plastickeyring with the words “Linux” scrawled on it incomic sansis your bag you’re going to love eBay!).
The more switched ontraders at thismarket stall of knock-off craphave cottoned on to that fact thatanything with apenguin on it can bepitched at Linux users.
I despise with a passion theglossy “themed” penguins you can find littering up other Linux blogs. I can’t tell you why I hate them, I just do. If I was going to buy somethingpenguin-themed for a Linux user it’d have to resemble the actual Tux mascot.
Thankfully there are sellers who know that generic penguin clipart =/= Linux, and so stock a range ofTux mascot-toting socks, ties, and t-shirts.
StickersDo find yourself waking up at night fearing you’ve missed your chance at owning a laptop sticker of the pre-2010 Ubuntu logo?
No one does, but eBay sellers have a mountain of the blasted things thatthey just can’t shift.
Like the tux issue above there are plenty of laptop and keyboard stickers bearing the official logos of many a Linux distribution ― and even ones designed for dual-booters to promotetheir dual-OS loyalties.
Raspberry PiThe Raspberry Pi has sired an entire ecosystem of resellers, component sellers, case makers, and the like. And eBay is a natural outletfor selling the fruits ofa cottage industry. Whether you’re looking for a Raspberry Pi board, a sensor or module, or an entire pre-fab kit with touchscreen and speakers ― you can find it.
There’s also thriving sectof folk whosell SD cards for the Raspberry Pi pre-loaded with all manner of Linux distos ― from Ubuntu MATE to Kodi.
Ubuntu PhonesAt the time of writing this there is just one second-hand Ubuntu Phone going for a song, a white Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition. Now, usually in these auctions theseller has to get creative about why they’ve decided to ditch their Ubuntu device. This seller is honest:
“I don’t think that the operating system can make an Ubuntu phone someone’s only phone. I managed fine for a while, then installed Android on my first Ubuntu phone. Like I say, it’s a great phone, but I don’t want to carry three phones (I have a work phone too).”
Regardless the auction is doing well with 27 bids and 6 hours to go. By the time you read this the auction will have completed.
BooksNaturally there are a wealth of Linux-related books to find, both new and used. Be careful of buying something out-dated though, as many second-hand book resellers list with little knowledge of subject matter.
Ubuntu LaptopsThere are a lot of awfully looking blocks of plastic being sold for next to nothing and have Ubuntu. I’m not interested in those so much as the devices that came pre-loaded with Ubuntu.
I didn’t come across asingleThinkPenguin, Entroware or ZaReason laptop for sale in my searching, nor even a Dell XPS Developer Edition. This might be a sign that these OEMs make awesome equipment people want to keep. Or may also mean they have really great customer service and refund policies!