Well Janina, He did not name the sound card that was causing him the problems, but he did say that indeed that the device that was causing the problem was a sound card. How can you then say that he did not mention the device. He went on to say that "paid tech support" was not able to resolve the problem. Almost everyone on this list has had problems getting sound started at some point in their Linux experience. (That is if they want to be honest about it.) Mr. Langa also writes that he tried to use the alsa drivers as a solution to the problem which also didn't work. I think that point that he is making, and I think that it is a good one, if you brag that you are ready for the major-leagues, then you better perform like a major-league-player. After all, Mr. Langa writes, "Once again, a nine-year-old copy of Windows could do what a brand-new, commercial distribution of Linux could not. A Common Problem If you check the discussion boards for many of the distributions of Linux, you'll see that sound support is an extremely common problem, even when the sound system is listed as supported hardware. And in fairness, let me state loud and clear that only one of the Linux distributions I tried specifically claimed compatibility with the sound system in question; the others gave the usual vague assertions of broad compatibility, but didn't specify this exact sound system. I'm not claiming "false advertising" or any such thing. Many Linux fans will jump on that and say something to the effect of "What do you expect? If you use unlisted hardware, it's not Linux's fault if it doesn't work." But remember, even Windows 95--nine-year old software, reviled in the Linux community as junk code--handled the exact same sound system perfectly. So did Win98, WinMe, Win2000, Win XP Home and Win XP Pro. In this case, reflexively blaming the hardware is simply a dodge. If Linux is a truly superior operating system, shouldn't it be able to do what a nine-year-old copy of Windows can do? Why is it still struggling with a problem that Microsoft solved roughly a decade ago?" In the full article, the distributions that Mr. Langa test are listed. Some of which are, in my opinion, hybrid versions of Linux that have been created for the windows community, you know the group that wants everything given to them with as little effort as posible. To which Mr. Langa is saying that Linux is not for them. Read the full article at http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=1 8901660 before you claim that this is junk. Steve Dawes Phone: (403) 268-5527 Email: SDawes at calgary.ca NOTICE:: This communication is intended ONLY for the use of the person or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient named above or a person responsible for delivering messages or communications to the intended recipient, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that any use, distribution, or copying of this communication or any of the information contained in it is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and then destroy or delete this communication, or return it to us by mail if requested by us. The City of Calgary thanks you for your attention and cooperation.
