Funny thing is Peter, I have had the exact opposite experience recently using Ubuntu, plugged in printers, Canon scanners, HSPDA/GPRS modems. So far Ubuntu has done a 100% recognition job. Can you expand on which distribution of Linux and models of hardware you were trying out, and I will see what I can dig up?

In Ubuntu have an icon labeled Add/Remove, which I use to access all my software via Synaptic. This is pretty Windows-esque for me.

I would agree entirely though that the hardware manufacturer's of have to actually "support" the devices by making it as easy to install as it is for Windows/Mac.

The majority of Linux driver support is being done by members of the OSS community not the hardware companies. This is completely the opposite way Windows/Mac hardware is supported. It is a little catch 22 the hardware boys argue the Linux market is not big enough to warrant writing drivers for, the software boys argue until they do this will never change.

I think Ubuntu's/Redhats/Novells Developer Conferences efforts are in a lot of ways trying to address this in much the same way Microsoft and Apple have had developer conferences to addresses these issue, but again unless Hardware manufacturers actually stick a driver on a CD with an installer you can just pop in and run, this will be a continuous uphill battle.

I do remember when getting drivers for Windows 95 was like finding hens teeth,MS made a serious effort with XP and the Windows Hardware Qualification List (WHQL) so I think this can be very easily resolved for Linux. Does anyone know if an equivalent list exist for Linux?

Simon

Peter van Bussel wrote:
"Branding is one of the biggest challenges Linux faces." Well, my biggest problem is to install hardware and software...and as long as this is not working properly I can't use my Linux installation and thus can't promote it.

Just as an example: I've spend days trying to install a cannon scanner, a cannon printer and an HP printer. All three relatively common pieces of equipment. I failed myself and then had two times a linux users at my place to help. However, both of them also failed and it still doesn't work. Regarding installing software: with windows I, as an ordinary user, just click the .exe file and 99 times out of a 100 it works immediately. There is no hastle with missing, finding and installing packages and dependencies or the use of the terminal and it's commands. Now, from my own experience, I think to be able to promote Linux and have ordinary windows people to learn using it, the starting point will be to use the terms and language that these windows users understand and to package software and the installation of hardware in a "windows" manner. I know that a lot has been done already but there still seems to be a long way to go.

Peter

Wire James wrote on 10/11/2008 11:54:
On Mon, 2008-11-10 at 11:41 +0300, Simon Vass wrote:
I also think there is the power of branding going on here.
Spot on Vass. I agree with you on this. Branding is one of the biggest challenges Linux faces. I remember having to learn OS2 forcefully simply because it was an IBM thing and if you really wanted to retain a job or be noticed as IBM compliant, knowledge of it was paramount. When it comes to Linux, people expect the reverse.

Wire
People will spend time learning Windows and MAC OS X where as it's Linux they throw there hands in the air and give up. Admittedly this is probably because when they get stuck who do they ask? A friend, A neighbor and invariably the response is Whats Linux? You should have got a MAC or used Vista!



Simon






Mark Tinka wrote:
> On Monday 10 November 2008 16:07:11 joseph mpora wrote:
>
> >> So why would a new user adjust easier to a Mac than to
>> Linux?
>> >
> You surely do know how to start a war, Joseph...
>
> But, I think OS X is more intuitive, from a lay-user > perspective, than Linux is; and that's why I think users > would adopt faster to OS X if they decided to dump Windows, > than if they chose Linux.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mark.
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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