Cable Forum - View Single Post - Linux users help me: I'm tempted to the Dark Side

Stuart · 20-05-2005, 12:22

I think certain posts in this thread illustrate the problem with Linux and Hardware.

With Windows (and to a lesser extent, Mac OS), you can plug any hardware in, and even if the OS can not automatically install drivers for you, it's often a just a case of bunging in a CD to get the hardware working.

It seems a little bit more complicated than that in Linux. Remember that to become a mainstream OS, Linux has to be simple to use. This includes installing hardware. To use an example based on the posts above, if Joe decides to buy a wireless network card, he or she won't want to be bothered running (& configuring) NDIS wrappers. He or she would want the OS to install it automatically.

Note, this isn't an attack on Linux, as I personally agree with phillipjfry, you should use what you are most comfortable with and what suits your needs.

20-05-2005, 12:22	#19
Stuart - Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Somewhere Services: Virgin for TV and Internet, BT for phone Posts: 26,546	Re: Linux users help me: I'm tempted to the Dark Side I think certain posts in this thread illustrate the problem with Linux and Hardware. With Windows (and to a lesser extent, Mac OS), you can plug any hardware in, and even if the OS can not automatically install drivers for you, it's often a just a case of bunging in a CD to get the hardware working. It seems a little bit more complicated than that in Linux. Remember that to become a mainstream OS, Linux has to be simple to use. This includes installing hardware. To use an example based on the posts above, if Joe decides to buy a wireless network card, he or she won't want to be bothered running (& configuring) NDIS wrappers. He or she would want the OS to install it automatically. Note, this isn't an attack on Linux, as I personally agree with phillipjfry, you should use what you are most comfortable with and what suits your needs.