Steev Klimaszewski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> posted [EMAIL PROTECTED], excerpted below, on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:54:35 -0500:
> Duncan wrote: >> Beso <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> posted: >> >>> you're wrong! the bcm4310 is supported and currently working fine with >>> bcm43xx. you just have to [snip a whole series of steps, some of them >>> "scary" steps] >> >> OK, this is a bit of a rant, but anyway... >> >> I'm a pretty die-hard Linux supporter [but] the above is /certainly/ >> one reason Linux doesn't have a greater share than it does. >> >> "Just" have to do, yeah, right. And for most people, they "just" have >> to do a similarly daunting series of steps to honestly say they've >> climbed Mt. Everest. > This is Gentoo... not your "average Joe's" Linux distro... Agreed. See below. >> [W]hen one has to [get] software from multiple sites, [excise] a >> firmware blob [and configure] by hand the system to use it, there's no >> way I can see that fitting the description "supported and working >> fine". Rather, it seems to me a more accurate claim would be that it >> "can be made to work, provided one jumps thru a series of possibly >> scary hoops." > You're right, we do have to run through hoops, because sadly, we can't > just distribute the firmware blob, which isn't *our* fault, however it > is a limitation that is fairly easily worked around. FWIW, the rant wasn't triggered by Gentoo or even the hoops one has to jump thru, but based on an article I had been reading, pointing out this stereotypical Linux geek reply (Oh, it's "just" this and that and the other thing, which might as well be climbing Mt. Everest for all the OP can make of it) and how it really does scare a lot of folks off -- much more than honestly telling them it's a bit difficult, but here's the steps and you'll be OK if you follow them. So all I'm saying is be realistic. If it's a major pain in the rear, lots of hassle, but simple enough if one follows the step by step instructions in order, say so. Don't make it out to be a walk in the park when it's not. That's all. -- Duncan - List replies preferred. No HTML msgs. "Every nonfree program has a lord, a master -- and if you use the program, he is your master." Richard Stallman -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list
