Hi,
Firstly, thanks all, for the comments about the site (I really appreciate it) and also about the suggestions on making bmc4310 work. I am sorry, I wasn't too clear about that bit, I should have said haven't got it working in my setup yet -- which means with WAP-PSK support. Right now, I am using the broadcom's (proprietory with binary blob) wl module[1] which works only in open networks (I have not tried WEP). Even using the windows driver with ndiswrapper works with just open and WEP enabled networks, not with WAP-PSK ...anyways, like I said, native upstream kernel support will come in a couple of months[2].
Anyways, about jtd's comments:
Plenty of resources are already available on the net. However these are mostly about hardware available in the US and Europe. Hardware available here are substantially different and for shorter durations. So it is a constant battle to keep finding out the best fit for linux.
Exactly ! ...and that's the reason why I set up tuxcompatible.com. Most of the times, the hardware available locally would use same or similar chipsets, but they would be branded by different companies (sometimes chinese, taiwanese or korean) and this leads to confusion. The resources available on the net usually just discuss compatibility and/or performance. There is no (or at least no 'well known') linux centric *marketplace* online -- this is what I hope to achieve with tuxcompatible.com (or even encourage professional web-developers/companies to consider as an viable bussiness).
Further given the very random and one time requirements of desktop users, their unwillingness to understand the soup they are in and reluctance to change, supporting individual newbie desktops is a major pain.
Well, I totally agree with the unwillingness to understand compatibility issues ! My dad or Uncle (who are not just linux but /computer/ newbies) should not have to worry about the level of linux support a device has when purchasing it. It should *just work* ....of course this is far from ideal right now. The next best thing to do, IMHO, was to at least give then one place where they can go to purchase their hardware. That's what tuxcompatible.com hopes to achieve (or ever encourage ...blah blah ..)
Hardware compat is a minor issue. File formats and user apathy are the main problems.
Oh, that's is a different problem altogether. Users apathetic to change should best not venture to linux until they are ready, else it just screws up the experience for them.
regards - steve -- Want hardware that Just Works on your linux box ? Try: www.tuxcompatible.com
[1] http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php [2] http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43?action=show&redirect=en%2F...
On Wed 12/11/08 11:54 AM , jtd jtd@mtnl.net.in sent:
On Tuesday 11 November 2008 16:46, Steve wrote:
Anyways, long story short, I got frustrated with the fact that I
have to do this> 'research' every time I need some new hardware, so, I thought of> setting this up:
Plenty of resources are already available on the net. However these are mostly about hardware available in the US and Europe. Hardware available here are substantially different and for shorter durations. So it is a constant battle to keep finding out the best fit for linux. Further given the very random and one time requirements of desktop users, their unwillingness to understand the soup they are in and reluctance to change, supporting individual newbie desktops is a major pain. Hardware compat is a minor issue. File formats and user apathy are the main problems.
-- Rgds JTD -- http://mm.glug-bom.org/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
Steve wrote:
JTD wrote:
Further given the very random and one time requirements of desktop users, their unwillingness to understand the soup they are in and reluctance to change, supporting individual newbie desktops is a major pain.
Well, I totally agree with the unwillingness to understand compatibility issues ! My dad or Uncle (who are not just linux but /computer/ newbies) should not have to worry about the level of linux support a device has when purchasing it. It should *just work* ....of course this is far from ideal right now. The next best thing to do, IMHO, was to at least give then one place where they can go to purchase their hardware. That's what tuxcompatible.com hopes to achieve (or ever encourage ...blah blah ..)
Purchasing GNU/Linux compatible hardware is the job of the FOSS service provider and not the end user or customer. That involves identifying compatible hardware and studying user experiences. The difference between Windows and GNU/Linux in the desktop and small office segment is that Windows and its compatible software can be sold as a product where as GNU/Linux has to be marketed as a complete solution. One of the reasons is what JTD and you have mentioned below. It is a change of working environment. The problem gets compounded more with lack of fully packaged and supported FOSS *equivalents* for commercial closed software in fields like accounting, graphics, drafting and 3D. The corporates who can afford their own programmers will benefit the most from FOSS as it is highly customizable. At the lower level, people (users and service providers) simply want the software to work without much jugglery.
Hardware compat is a minor issue. File formats and user apathy are the main problems.
Oh, that's is a different problem altogether. Users apathetic to change should best not venture to linux until they are ready, else it just screws up the experience for them.
On Wednesday 12 November 2008 21:43, Rony wrote:
Steve wrote:
JTD wrote:
Further given the very random and one time requirements of desktop users, their unwillingness to understand the soup they are in and reluctance to change, supporting individual newbie desktops is a major pain.
Well, I totally agree with the unwillingness to understand compatibility issues ! My dad or Uncle (who are not just linux but /computer/ newbies) should not have to worry about the level of linux support a device has when purchasing it. It should *just work* ....of course this is far from ideal right now. The next best thing to do, IMHO, was to at least give then one place where they can go to purchase their hardware. That's what tuxcompatible.com hopes to achieve (or ever encourage ...blah blah ..)
Purchasing GNU/Linux compatible hardware is the job of the FOSS service provider and not the end user or customer.
A non service provider should not be doing this type of a job, least of all a new enduser.
That involves identifying compatible hardware and studying user experiences. The difference between Windows and GNU/Linux in the desktop and small office segment is that Windows and its compatible software can be sold as a product where as GNU/Linux has to be marketed as a complete solution. One of the reasons is what JTD and you have mentioned below. It is a change of working environment. The problem gets compounded more with lack of fully packaged and supported FOSS *equivalents* for commercial closed software in fields like accounting, graphics, drafting and 3D. The corporates who can afford their own programmers will benefit the most from FOSS as it is highly customizable.
Not neccessary to have employees, a suitable service provider is good enough - provided of course that the organisation is focused on the benefits they intend to derive.
At the lower level, people (users and service providers) simply want the software to work without much jugglery.
And money. The pirated cd is so at hand. I have had many single user installations screwed up by the teenaged kid installing doze so that he can play some game or the other. So if the end user does not value his data like the family jewels just drop the linux talk.
-
jtd -
Rony -
Steve