Linux on Laptops Manufacturer Report Card

Werner Heuser writes "At MobiliX there is a survey of app. 100 laptop manufacturers and their Linux status available now. It contains a list of manufacturers, which are the most popular with Linux users. And some criticism about misleading manufacturer announcements for Linux support. The survey finishes with hints to laptop certifications, independent vendors and how to get rid of the "Microsoft Tax". And finally there is a A-Z list of almost 100 manufacturers and their Linux status. Besides Linux also other UniXes are mentioned and some hints about laptops with other CPUs than from Intel are included."

Comments

bad news for Linux?

[tps12]

This sounds like a great resource for the community. I had the luck of inheriting a Toshiba Pentium laptop from a friend that worked perfectly under Linux 2.2. Sound, video, everything. Once I recompiled my kernel it even had functioning APM, if you didn't mind having to rmmod and insmod the sound drivers after waking it up. However, I understand that it is often a good deal more difficult to get Linux to run on laptops.

However, this website also could actually be bad for Linux users. There are a number of issues.

First, it suggests (however accurately) that getting Linux running on laptops is not a simple "plug and play" matter. This scares away potential new Linux users. Linux makes a lot of headway in colleges, but not among the huge number of students who own laptops. This site just makes them want to play it safe and stick with Windows.

Furthermore, I'm very frightened regarding the techniques for avoiding the "Micro$oft tax." Yes, I hate it as much as the next slashbot Linux geek, and that's why I try to build my own boxen whenever possible. But if you avoid the Windows license fee, then you are violating the contract among you, M$, and the laptop manufacturer. We need to fight the common media portrayal of Linux users as evil pirates and hackers, and publishing instructions for subverting the law is step in the wrong direction.

Finally, the effort being put into getting Linux to run on laptops comes at the expense of other worthy goals and projects. Linux makes the most impact (and shows the most growth potential) on low-end servers and "salvage" PCs (Pentium or 486 firewalls and the like that would otherwise be trashed). We should be fixing the installers for these niches, rather than chasing the evasive laptop market.

I will definitely bookmark the Linux on Laptops page. But I'm afraid it may end up hurting us more than it helps.