----- Original Message ----
From: Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:18:19 PM
Subject: Re: [LINUX_Newbies] Re: The fun continues....
On Tue, Feb 19, 2008 at 05:47:46PM -0600, Robert C Wittig wrote:
> kazman1914 wrote:
> > Hi Brian,
> >
> > Thanks for the suggestion. However, I wouldn't want to take such a
> > drastic measure with my laptop. Maybe with my desktop, but even then
> > I'd be reluctant to fork over the funds for a new sound card for the
> > *possibility* of getting a software program that's supposed to be free
> > to work. Fortunately, compatibility with my desktop sound card hasn't
> > been an issue, yet.
> >
> > ~Sean
> >
>
> With a little research, one can find out which cards work with which
> distros before one makes a purchase. (doesn't apply to laptops,
> though, as the video is on the mainboard).
Sometimes. How often do you search for a particular model to find that
no one gives the exact make of card (video or whatever) or if they do,
when you actually buy the machine, it's something different. But I'm
not bitter, nope, not me. :)
Often, the only way to really be sure is to go to a place that is
selling it, open up the Windows Device Manager and see what it says.
Then, (thank you Staples, it was very nice of you) perhaps they'll
connect you to the Internet to do a quick check on how compatible this
stuff will be with Linux. Often the won't, and you'll have to write
down the information and check it out at home.
Some places (it often depends upon the salesperson) might let you boot a
live CD and see what works. Even that isn't always the best positive
(or negative) indication-- for instance, had I done that with my Acer
laptop, I would have come to the conclusion that sound, wireless and
webcam don't work even though all were relatively easy to get working.
As Robert says, and I so ungraciously snipped, most of these people are
working for free because they believe in it and because it's fun for
them. Others, such as people employed by say, RedHat or Ubuntu, are
getting paid to do it, but far fewer than are getting paid by MS. Also,
if someone makes some new hardware and writes a driver, they plan to
give or sell it to MS, since most machines run Windows.
--
Scott Robbins
PGP keyID EB3467D6
( 1B48 077D 66F6 9DB0 FDC2 A409 FA54 EB34 67D6 )
gpg --keyserver pgp.mit.edu --recv-keys EB3467D6
Xander: I still don't know why we had to come here to look up
information on a killer snot monster.
Giles: Because it's a killer snot monster from outer space. ...I
did not say that.
Actually there is an open offer from developers willing to work for free to
write open source drivers, but manufacturers are reluctant to release specs to
the open source community for fear that they will be unwittingly used by
competitors to steal their secrets.
This is a sad state of affairs and it will only be remedied as the demand
increases from people who have tired of the Microsoft/ OEM endless upgrade
cycle and are prepared to consider open source OSes. Manufacturers don't like
being jerked around by Microsoft either, but they have no alternative until
people open their eyes and make the switch. Vista is perhaps the straw that
broke the camel's back.
Another one is a little delight called the EEE PC which is manufactured by ASUS
and runs on Linux (Xandros). It is being snapped up at such a rate that they
can't produce enough and ASUS is launching a whole line based on this
experience including a 42 inch TV with built in Linux! People who never heard
of Linux are using it and raving about it.
Everex, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, and several other manufacturers now sell PCs with
Linux as well.
So if you can't get Linux to work on your hardware and want to buy a new PC
consider getting one that is made to work with Linux. This is why Windows has
looked so good.
Imagine how bad Windows would be if manufacturers did not tune their equipment
to work specifically with Windows. So if you are tempted to discount Linux
because certain pieces of hardware don't work in Linux, just remember what
opposition Linux faces and what strides it is making.
Scott, this is a reply to your message, but it is also an open response to
people with hardware problems.
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