Would this draw your attention?

[Freston]

This may very well been done before, the idea is probably very old already.

Yet, I'm, wondering. Would a logo or statement of some kind help you decide which hardware to buy? For example, a builder of laptops puts a little sticker on the laptop: Linux capable

I think that would be a great idea. Very much hardware is already Linux capable, but it's difficult to distinguish sometimes. Not all of us know exactly which chipset or which graphics card. And! Many electro store employees have no clue whatsoever when you ask them about it.

What do you think? Is it a good idea? Do you think it's feasible? And most important: Would it help you decide which hardware to buy?

[techieMoe]

Epic Games/Digital Extremes did this with Unreal Tournament 2004. They actually put a picture of Tux the penguin on the retail box for the game and included a Linux installer on the discs.

id Software has released Linux-specific versions of Quake 1-3 on retail shelves in the past. Now they generally prefer to let you download a Linux installer instead.

I've not heard of any hardware vendors doing this though.

[ryokimball]

I like Epic games/Unreal stuff. Well, the games. I mean, I like unreal things too --thus imagination, which is...crap, sorry

Anyways, someone, I think Dell, actually has a series of computers that is linuxicated (wow! I like that word...). I know HP doesn't like linux --I talked to the support people when I got my new computer (shiny...) and they "highly do not recommend" putting linix on it. Heh. Funny people.
Then again, I still haven't gotten it fully running....
Actually, I'm putting Sabayon on there , and am feeling optimistic--- crap, sorry again.

Anyways, there's a few companies with brains out there. Perhaps not many, but a few. And even if the Playstations don't "come" with it, they are definitely not unheard of having linux on them.....

[Freston]

I've not heard of any hardware vendors doing this though.

I've got a ScanDisk Cruzer (or vice versa), a USB-stick that had a Linux logo on the box. It was one of the main reasons I bought it, although I knew it was a vanity logo -so to speak- as I wouldn't expect any trouble with any brand of USB-stick. The same goes for Bluetooth devices.

But I bought it mainly to support the consideration they gave.

I know HP doesn't like linux --I talked to the support people when I got my new computer (shiny...) and they "highly do not recommend" putting linix on it. Heh. Funny people.

Strange Many HP printers work out of the box. Why not a logo?? It would make it much easier to choose. Funny people indeed.


--

The reason I asked though, I've got my eye on a Zepto. I've not decided anything yet, but I didn't really see any problematic areas in their hardware except for the TV-tuner (of which I know abselutely nothing) and the home brand wireless card (but they also feature an Intel, of which I read very different experiences).

Anyway, I bluntly asked their support if their hardware is supported by Linux. And their reply was that they have some satisfied customers running Linux. But they featured no support and can't tell anything.

I think that is a lost opportunity. These boxes probably work anyway. All they need to do is test it out and put a logo on their website. Maybe their Intel wireless card works with Linux, and their own works but doesn't have all the features. Certain graphic cards work better than others. I mean. These people build these machines, they aught to know.

I thought I'm gonna tell them that. Who knows what comes of it. I think many people like me don't often feel like googeling all the components of a machine they have yet to buy.

linuxicated

Yep! Gotta love that word!

[FriedChips]

I think that would be a great idea but good luck getting the hardware vendors/computer supplies to do it.

[cousinlucky]

I'd be willing to bet that Microsoft already prevents the vendors from doing this!!

[Freston]

I'd be willing to bet that Microsoft already prevents the vendors from doing this!!

Yes, that would be a problem. And it's very possible.

I think that would be a great idea but good luck getting the hardware vendors/computer supplies to do it.

Well, I wrote a letter. Actually, I think there is a strong argument to be made here. I look at it this way:

Whereas the average Linux user sometimes has to google for hours before having found a machine that he trusts enough to buy it, for the vendor however, all it takes is a simple 15 minute test to know if the model is Linux capable.

The thing is, you cannot return a machine when you've tested an OS on it. And many people will not spend (€|$) 1000,- on a machine that they are only 90% sure about.

So I told them they could hire a student to run these tests and add a couple of lines of flat text on their website saying wetter or not this particular model is 'Linux capable'. That would draw the attention of 15 million Linux users.

---

Actualy, this is a good move I think. Turning the table like that. If I'm gonna spend € 1000,- on a machine, I want to be exactly sure if it can do what I expect of a machine. If you can't tell me that, then I'll find someone who will. They want my money, so it's up to them to explain to me why I want their hardware.

It's a hell of a lot of money. I don't spend it lightly.

---

Feedback? Sugestions?

PS: Don't forget to vote

[carlosponti]

Having the Unreal Tournament 2004 DVD with the Tux logo on it was the reason I purchased it. I solely buy games that have Linux installers now. If it doesn't then I am not interested in it. plus being married with a newborn I don't get much time for games anymore now anyway.

[tommytabib]

At the very least it would get people thinking ""....hmmm....whats a linux?"

[valan]

I definitely like it when companies show that they support linux, or their products are supported by linux. Though, problems arise when it's not always true, or it's much more work than nessecary to get it working, or proprietary drivers are required, or maybe they say it works with linux but that's all they know and can't help you with it.