I would like to talk about Hardware Support in Ubuntu.
The big problem for Ubuntu adoption is hardware support. The problem is hardware support in Linux in general but,as Ubuntu
is becoming THE Linux Distro that awakes all Windows users from the Matric$ , let's focus on Ubuntu:
Hardware manufacturers are reluctant to go open source or even to provide binary Linux drivers with their hardware, we know that, and it seems like it's not going to change any time soon if _we_ don't do anything...
To "solve" this issue, I've thought about some sort of "Ubuntu Hardware Certification Program", that Hardware Manufacturers can subscribe to. Certified Hardware Manufacturers would have Ubuntu supported products to offer to the end-user. This may involve colloboration between Canonical/Ubuntu devs and the Hardware Manufacturers, or not. For the end users, this could be materialized in an official website listing all manufacturers enrolled in the program along with the supported hardware (Desktops, Laptops, Periphals, etc). I know there is already a wiki entry for Hardware Support, but honestly end user are not looking at this page when buying new hardware (some even don't know that Ubuntu exists...). I am talking about Officialy Supported hardware, not only "reported to work by someone".
More, with this program, the existence of Ubuntu Linux can be spread more easily: stickers with "Ubuntu Certified Hardware" could be put on product boxes, or certification status could be indicated on the Hardware Manufacturers websites. We can even think of PCs preloaded with Ubuntu.
The Hardware Manufacturers' interest for this program is obvious, as Linux is growing in the public place through Ubuntu, they might want to participate to the Certification Program if they want to keep/rise their market shares (related to popularity, expertise (on Linux drivers)...).
The interest for consumers / Ubuntu users is also obvious, as with this Certification Program, they would be _sure_ that the hardware they are going to buy is offcially supported in Ubuntu, and works out of the box.
And last, the interest for Canonical and Ubuntu developers in general is that this Certification Program makes things go faster for Ubuntu development and widespread adoption...
"La boucle est bouclée !!" (Everybody is happy !!)
I am no Linux Market expert and hopefully never will be, and I may be missing some points here but I just wanted to share this idea with you guys (if anyone reads this ML...)
Now you guys tell me why this is not possible !?!?!?
Cheers,
Mathieu
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