> I have been thinking about vendors with this kind of attitude. I think
> that we (as Linux users and developers) should start a registry of
> companies that will not support Linux. My first candidate would be
This would be a rather negative, and counter-productive way of dealing
with this issue in my view. If you're going to go to the trouble to make
lists, make lists of people who support Linux and watch it grow.
For myself, I make a point of thanking every hardware manufacturer and
software producer that provides me with Linux-related product or
information. I've sent email to several companies asking when their
products will be available in Linux format, telling them that as a
registered owner of their software I really miss not being able to use it
now that I'm using Linux. In short, let these people know there's a
market; snarling at those who haven't seen it won't get you very far.
> when you tell them you are using Linux. Next would be my DSL vendor,
> PacBell. They do pretty much the same thing.
I'm not sure what a DSL vendor can do to support Linux. Everything
necessary to connect to a DSL server is available within Linux already.
That said, my DSL service does have Linux versions of rp-pppoe software
that's downloadable from their site.
> Anyway, we should remember who these folks are so that when the tide
> turns and Linux dominates the world, we (the Linux community) provide no
> help or support at all, in getting Linux running on or with their
> hardware.
Now there's a positive view that will surely ensure Linux propogation :-(
> We should be quite public about the fact that if a hardware vendor
> refuses to support Linux now, it will be shunned and boycotted when the
> time comes that they do want to support Linux. Let them gamble on not
Somehow world domination is a long way off with that attitude. You sure
you don't work for Microsoft?
You talk as thought Linux support is a piece of cake for all these
companies. In many cases it would require considerable expenditures and
the returns would be marginal at best right now. As the economics of
this changes, so will the attitudes, as they have already with many
companies that are providing Linux support but that did not do so one or
two years ago. Should be stop buying from those companies too?
Cheers --- Larry
