Tim wrote:
On Thu, 2006-07-20 at 08:21 -0300, Ted Gervais wrote:
But, my concern here is that Linux has come a long way since we all first
started using it 10 years ago or earlier. But it still hasn't come far
enough ahead to act like Windows (for example) that when you install Linux
from scratch - it simply doesn't find all the peripherals such as scanners
that Windows finds so easily? I wonder why after all these years.
Ho hum... I have found Windows to be dire at finding hardware (e.g. you
have to figure out what the "unknown" device is, to work out which of
your install discs to insert to try and set up the device). Then you
had to hope that it'd install (I have many memories of install discs
asking me which out of several devices to install, none of which match
the device as described in the box). Even when installed, it's
inconsistent. I have found Linux to be much better for most peripherals
(*I* don't need to install software for my sound card, video card,
network card, printer, etc.).
I put it to you that you have one of *those* scanners. My scanner was
found quite nicely, it's even a rather crummy USB one with a different
brand name on it than it really is.
I will second this. I have a friend that cannot boot Windows XP with
her USB printer plugged in. At least she can now boot with the printer
drivers installed.
As long as you don't have the latest cutting edge hardware, I feel that
you can run Linux on anything. My last piece of hardware not working on
my Laptop was the SD card reader. That is now working with the latest
kernels (sdhci module). :) :)
The issue isn't Linux but the hardware manufacturers. They decide to
make the information to communicate public or not. They also decide to
create drivers or not.
If the information is public, someone can make a driver. If the
information is not public, then you are SOL and have to wait for someone
to reverse engineer the product.
Even when a manufacturer provides drivers for their hardware, there is
no insurance that it will work as expected. ATI is one example that
burned me. Their Linux driver did not support 3D when I purchased a
9600 card. It was not clearly indicated anywhere. After a month of
fighting to get it to work, I gave up and purchased an nVidia card. I
was up and running with 3D in minutes. :)
ATI also has had major problems with their Windows drivers. A sys-admin
I know has now set a policy that no computers can be purchased with ATI
video after major headaches with ATI drivers.
So the comment that it just works in Windows is crap as well. Epson
drives for a good friend has killed her computer more than once.
If you have a piece of hardware, talk to the manufacturers to follow the
standards or provide a driver.
--
Robin Laing
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