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Filed under:
Software and Technology by
Hari
Posted on Sun, Jun 5, 2005 at 16:36 IST (last updated: Wed, Jul 16, 2008 @ 21:07 IST)
Shopping for computer hardware and peripherals can be a pretty daunting task for most computer users because of the sheer choice of products and the wide range of prices. And this process can be especially daunting for users of Linux. Let me assure you, however, that researching a product before you buy it can pay rich dividends. I can speak from personal experience.
Google can be your best friend when researching for hardware compatibility. I urge everybody who uses Linux to do their homework before purchasing a piece of hardware. And that brings me to the main point of this article: why do hardware manufacturers continue ignoring the Linux end of the market and why they continue to respond so poorly to repeated appeals from the Linux community to provide better support and 100% compatibility with their products?
And believe me, there is no reason why hardware manufacturers cannot provide Linux drivers. Their excuses are pretty lame and dismal. When drivers for Microsoft® Windows® are provided, why should Linux be given shabby, stepmotherly treatment? And yet you have those people who have the audacity to complain that Linux doesn't support their hardware! What nonsense! What utter rubbish! While the best brains of the Linux community are doing their best to get those miserable pieces of hardware to work under Linux by long hours of toil, effort and reverse-engineering, you have people screaming that Linux doesn't work! Ridiculous.
Whatever the reasons for certain hardware manufacturers to turn a blind eye to Linux (and I won't go into that debate here), it is the duty of every Linux user (from newbie to guru) to demand their rights before shelling out the cash. It can be incredibly frustrating to ask your local store dealer/supplier about the technical issues relating to compatibility with Linux (most of them will simply blink and stare at you when you mention the word "Linux"), but there is such a thing called the world wide web. Use it to your best advantage and do extensive research before buying a product. Companies that refuse to support Linux or even allow other independent developers to create drivers for their products can suffer by losing your support. Who cares whether they're the biggest company on the planet? Let self-interest rule your decisions regarding purchasing their products.
Finally, I would like to ask you to sign The Linux Printer Driver Petition targetted at printer manufacturers who continue ignoring Linux. I found the link when I was browsing LinuxQuestions.org today. It won't take a minute of your time so I urge you to read it and sign it.
Please do put your signature on that petition for whatever it's worth. At the very least it will make sure that the voice of the lone individual will not get lost in the wilderness.
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