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Hardware Manufacturers that Actively Support Linux?
wirefarm asks: "I know there is are lot of well-supported pieces of hardware for Linux, but I was wondering, which vendors really go out of their way for the community?
While tracking down drivers for a wireless PCMCIA card today, I found that the vendor boasted of having Linux support, but it was seemed that they were actually touting drivers that were community-developed, rather than written with any help of the company. So my question is this: Which companies really stand out when it comes to providing specs and developing drivers?"
This happened to me during an ADSL support call. They switched their DNSs and I wanted to know the new ones.
"..I'm running on Linux..."
"O.K. Go to Start... Settings... Control Panel..."
"No. I'm not running Windows, I use Linux".
"On a Mac?"
"I just need to know the DNS numbers."
"O.K. What's the problem again?"
"My connection has been working fine. I ping IP addresses but can't resolve domain names. I think you guys switched your DNSs IPs."
"......"
"Do you have some numbers beside something that says 'DNS' or 'Domain Name Server'"
"....... Oh yes."
"Can I have them."
...
-... ---
Idiocy didn't create winmodems, bean-counters at major companies did.
Marketing guy to Engineer: "So let me get this straight. If you guys make a huge, processor intensive driver that takes over the function of the dsp chip on current modems, then we can cut our costs by 4/5ths?"
Engineer: "Yes, but it'll suck and the drivers will only work on windows because that's all our programmers know."
Marketing guy: "Doesn't matter. Everyone uses windows anyway.We can market it as a win-modem for a lower cost!"
Marketing guy to bean counter: "We can make new modems for 4/5th the price of current modems with these new drivers! We can either slash prices on the new stuff or increase our profit margin to ridiculous new heights!"
Bean counter: "Excellent! Tell the CEO right away!"
And thus it began...
Some assembly required