On 12/22/06, jtd jtd@mtnl.net.in wrote:
Speaking of network cards imagine my shock when i opened a dlink 520tx box today and found a printed copy of the GNU GPL with a product. My my how well the legal clu stick works. This is the same company which refused to disclose the sourcecode in it's adsl and wifi modems before getting plastered by Harold Welte.
I believe the best to counter this condescending behavior of the wireless card vendors (or any other Hardware manufacturer) to Microsoft is to vote with your money and encourage your friends and family to do the same. As tech experts (or the go-to tech guys), many people on this list have the power to influence to purchase of hardware products of their circle of friends and family. The effect is multiplied several-fold if you are purchasing for a corporate entity.
Also let the hardware vendor know why you are not buying an incompatible hardware part. Believe me it works. If enough people complain, the message does go through the vendors eventually to the manufacturers. No wonder Dlink and Samsung are complying (or even attracting) Linux users.
-- Vinayak