On Saturday 25 October 2003 11:40 am, Anne Wilson wrote:
> I never saw Tom's original post, nor Derek's reply to it. More
> posts that went missing <sigh>.
>
> When we get's Derek's update on his hardware, in a format that
> matches the rest of the list, I'll add it - assuming that I get
> it. Please would one of you check a few hours later to see if it
> has been added.
>
> Anne
Let me add some caution here. First the problem seems to be
software (kernel patch, from kernel.org) that can adversely affect
cheap substandard corner cutting hardware. The trend appears that
this is happening mostly on ready made systems. Those OEMs are
infamous for arm twisting vendors into providing 'special edition'
OEM ONLY hardware built to accommodate their specs, again usually
always corner cutting, substandard and proprietary. Often made to
work in their system thru 'special' firmware and drivers, and thus
not upgradeable or fixable. Often hardware that's OEM ONLY Spec
will not take (or it has no effect) a firmware flash the vendor
releases later to fix bugs.
Mandrake is responsibly an aggressively trackin what's going on.
BUT, it'd be irresponsible an premature to start just collecting
model numbers to blacklist, till it can be sorted out whether OEM
ONLY spec hardware/firmware (ready mades) is the real problem. LG's
only input to Mandrake so far is "According to LG Electronics,
their ODD (Optical Disc Drive) products do not support Linux nor do
they test with Linux." IMO, it's cheap junk win-hardware that's
the problem.
I checked one of the most often reported problem LG drives at
Mwave, a very reputable and popular online hardware vendor. The
drive was $17.90 http://direct.mwave.com/mwave/doc/a11810.html
Note: " OS Compatibility : Windows 2000/98/95/
Dell probly buys this drive, at their even lesser spec, in lots of
10,000's from LG for under $4 a unit.
Actually I suspect Mandrake has done a favor to users who get
their drives fried. It's about the only way that many users will
wake up to the fact that there's a lot of cheap junk hardware out
there, specially in ready mades. An not suitable for use with a
real OS that doesn't tolerate sloppy win-hardware too well. BUT,
that's just my MNSHO
Since Linus himself accepts or rejects kernel patches, I suppose
those with fried drives can write him to issue a $4 credit for
their destroyed drive. Or thank him for pointin it out.
--
Tom Brinkman Corpus Christi, Texas
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft?
Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
