Hardware Support on Freenix (editorial)

Shaleh has written an excellent editorial on hardware support under the the free *nix OSs, and discusses what we can do to increase support, and promoting open specs. Highly recommended reading The following is an editorial by Slashdot reader Shaleh

Recently while on an irc channel a person asked if the latest and greatest video card was supported in XFree. The answer was no, and a few of us stated that freenix's greatest problem was a lack of hardware support.

Freenix users -- this is a problem. We are not in a war of us against them. No battles will be waged. Rather we as a community are striving to open the flow of knowledge -- not contain it. Towards this end, we must give support to those companies who give back to the freenix community. Most of us live in a free trade economy. This means a market driven by demand. As long as a market exists, a company will step in and fill the need. The users' needs must be made apparent so that hardware vendors will see this need and stop supporting only one operating system. Vendors that open specs or give hardware to programmers (and thus to all freenix users) need thanks and support for doing so. On the other hand, those companies who make things like winmodems need to be boycotted. We must not give support to those who do not give back to the freenix community. There must be an enticement to draw companies into supporting other OS's. Face it, companies exist to make money. Besides, most of us already know that we pay for and prefer quality. Yes one may have to spend a little more for this support. But consider the alternative, not using the hardware you want to. Freenix is about choice and knowledge, not monetary cost. Why should you be able to choose your own OS and then not choose your hardware?

Now, what do the hardware companies stand to gain? That is very simple. Market share. Not everyone uses the same OS. Some people have different needs or desires, which influences their OS choice. By only supporting one OS, vendors are limiting themselves. Some may point out that alternative OS's like freenix are a smaller share of the total market. This is both true and false. In businesses the growing trend is away from traditional UNIX workstations and towards freenix and other OS's. However this shift is being slowed by the fact that hardware support is not as common in these OS's, do to the hardware companies' actions. If these companies would open up their hardware, it is likely that they would see a growth in these markets. Also as stated above, while the product may be produced cheaper if the OS controls more of the hardware, it is also less robust. Many of us are aware of how poorly winmodems performed in and out of the environment they were designed for. Many of us also know that vendors who supported winmodems were avoided by more savvy shoppers. If a company sells bad wares, there will be repercussions.

What do you as a user stand to gain from vendors supporting alternative OS's? First and foremost you retain your right to choose one vendor over another, as well as new hardware over old parts. One of the current problems in the freenix community is that the ultra new hardware is often supported much later than it is under other OS's. This is because the vendor does not aid in supporting new hardware to all OS's. What else? How about speed and dependability. Hardware that does not rely on an OS tends to be faster. This is common sense -- hardware can do things faster than software. And if there is a problem with a particular piece, it can be diagnosed regardless of the OS one has installed.

So, how do we help this movement? There needs to be a place where companies who actively support freenix hardware are given credit. In the same light there must also exist a place that lists those who close off their hardware or make their products for only one OS. When you buy an item that is supported in your OS because of the company's openness -- thank them. Let them know you are pleased, that you will buy more of their products, and that you will tell your friends and employers to buy their products. Remember these vendors are in it for the money. If there is no money, there is no business. On this line of reasoning, if you find that a piece of hardware you want to use is not supported in your OS - call the vendor. Tell them you would like their support. Let them know that there are others like you who also want to use their products but can not because there is a lack of support. If a business is not aware of the need, they can not remedy it.

By helping businesses, we are helping ourselves. So next time you find yourself looking at products X and Y, look and see who helps out the freenix community. Buy the one which does, tell them thanks, buy your next upgrade from them, and then tell your boss. Take the time to know the facts. Prices may change, since the computer market remains in constant flux. While some magazine may say that Y is better, one must decide, "better for whom?" The vendor, the magazine, that OS you do not use, or for you?? Be an informed consumer and remember that you are not alone in your struggle. Rather, you are a member of a community that grows with each new user, a community that exists to promote learning and growth through cooperation and openness with one another.