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Everything Linux, also known as elx.com.au, is an Australian Linux and general IT e-commerce retailer. It was first opened in 1999 by Anthony Rumble, and is currently located in the Sydney suburb of Silverwater. The store is the largest and most well known of its type in Australia.
The store began selling Linux distributions (distros) and related books and merchandise (such as plush toys, T-shirts and badges). Because most Linux distros are available for download for free, the business model of selling free software may appear unsustainable - however, the store has sustained itself by marketing to customers who:
* Don't have broadband, or large enough quotas to download Linux ISOs
* Prefer the official appearance of pressed CDs
* Do not have the technical knowledge or hardware to download and burn CDs or DVDs
* Prefer the inclusion of manuals and official support (in some instances)
* Want to try several different distros and would rather receive a large number of CDs overnight instead of wait for a week to download them all
* Want to purchase one of ELX's custom compilations (such as their SuperAnt compilation of small Linux distributions)
Since then, they have began selling other related items such as General IT books, obscure titles and general fiction and non-fiction. hardware (both consumer hardware and rack-mountable servers that are supported by Linux) tools, consumables, networking accessories and novelty electronics. They also offer service contracts - a much more profitable area than selling freely downloadable software.
Due to the company's product range expansion, Everything Linux also operates BusyBits, named to appeal to non-Linux users who may be put off by the name. It sells many of the same products as Everything Linux, apart from the Linux-specific items.
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