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Linux's Achilles Heel Apparently Revealed

Posted by simoniker on from the or-not dept.

ahab_2001 writes "In Information Week's latest 'Langa Letter', Fred Langa points to something that he calls Linux's 'Achilles' heel': 'New Linux distros still fail a task that Windows 95 -- yes, 95! -- easily handles, namely working with mainstream sound cards.' After lamenting his difficulties in getting a particular sound card to work with nine Linux distros, he concludes that his experience 'empirically shows that, despite its many good points, Linux still has some huge, gaping holes--holes that Windows plugged almost a decade ago.' (Oddball note: Information Week prefaced the e-mail alert pointing to this article by saying 'Occasionally, we have news or analysis of such importance that it warrants a special alert to you.' Hmm...)"

4 of 1,469 comments (clear)

  1. Never had need for one... by Rorschach1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I did set one up once, but all I got out of that was knowing how some weird dude pronounces 'leenucks', whatever that is.

  2. Critical! by blunte · · Score: 5, Funny

    I know that where I work, having a sound card is critical to operation of the company.

    I cannot imagine how someone can function without hearing that Ding! each time a new email arrives. I'd be lost, ever wondering, "do I have another Symantec AV warning about an attempted incoming virus message?"

    Linux is doomed if it can't even Ding! when email arrives.

    --
    .sigs are for post^Hers.
  3. Re:WARNING! by don_carnage · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's good -- put that on the box: "WARNING: Some sound cards suck and are not supported by Linux. Please select a sound card that doesn't suck before purchasing this distribution of Linux. Thank you."

    --
    Wooden armaments to battle your imaginary foes!
  4. They're Getting Desperate by Euphonious+Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Used to be the pundits said Linux could never go mainstream because there were no office apps, or was too hard to install, or because you couldn't get phone support.

    Now it can't go mainstream because one pundit has trouble with one easily-replaced $10 sound card. Next, they'll say it can't go mainstream because the borders on the "Cancel" buttons are not quite the right shade, or because you can't install MS security patches.