Problems getting Linux into homes.

[Peter Smith]

Guy:  I applaud your efforts.  I don't think anyone could have put it 
more plainly or said it more succinctly.

Peter

Guy Fraser wrote:

> Robin Laing wrote:
>
>> As a Linux user, I have had issues with different hardware and 
>> software in Linux.
>>
>> Here is a pro-windows article based on problems of installing Linux 
>> and sound card issues.
>>
>>   Langa Letter: Linux's Achilles' Heel.
>> <http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18901660> 
>>
>>
>> I will admit that I had no problems installing FC 1 on my new 
>> computer and it recognizing the sound card.  I haven't been able to 
>> get ALSA working yet though. :(
>>
>> As the issues with Video cards and hardware not being supported by 
>> manufacturers or allowing their "closed source" drivers from being 
>> distributed with Linux will be a stumbling block for Linux in the home.
>
>
> Whether the author {Fred Langa} can be called an expert is probably 
> not at question here, he is aparently a technical writer. He 
> completely failed to mention what hardware was being used, that was 
> brand new and yet supported by a 1995 version of windows 1995. As many 
> people recall the version of Windows 95 that came out in late 1995 was 
> terrible, and not likely the version of Windows 95 he claims to have 
> tried.
>
> He has a point though, and that is Linux has poor support from 
> hardware vendors. It is a sad fact that most drivers for linux have 
> been reverse engineered in order to get any functionality, because the 
> vendors fear Microsoft may not provide them with the code required to 
> optomize their drivers for current windows versions, and thus not be 
> able to compete with other vendors.
>
> Rather than get the 'back story' as he claimed he was doing, he merely 
> tried different Linux distros and windows versions with a single peice 
> of equipment. He then determined the soundcard would not work under 
> any of the Linux distro versions he tested. He also discovered that 
> the sound card did work with the Windows versions he tested. If he 
> called hardware manufacturer to determine whether they supported 
> anything other than windows, he likely would have found that their was 
> a real 'back story'. Who knows, maybe he did check and after getting 
> the truth he contacted Microsoft to get their story, and discovered 
> that if he were to tell the truth about why Linux didn't support his 
> 'new' sound card, he would not get published.
>
> In any case Fred decided to write that Linux was not a capable desktop 
> operating system because it lacks good driver support.
>
> Fred didn't tell any lies that I could see. He failed to do what he 
> set out to do and that was get the 'back story'. In order to have done 
> what he claimed to be doing he would have had to discover the reason 
> why the linux distros were not capable of acheiving what he was 
> attempting to do with them. Had he gotten the 'back story' he would 
> have discovered that the drivers were not available on linux not 
> because linux was not up to the task, but because the vendors do not 
> want to hurt their prospects with Windows users.
>
> Just one time, I would like to see somebody get the real story and 
> tell it without bias or fear of reprisal.
>
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