Linux would really TAKEOFF if...

[PrinceSharma]

^ Perfect reply MASONTX.

[Etna]

What would really make linux take off? IMHO manufacturers would need to start installing a beginner friendly version of linux, such as Ubuntu, Mint, etc. and selling the units cheaper than the Windows counterparts. Most people are cheap, and for a $100 difference many would try linux and get hooked.

as long as manufacturers refuse to release complete Linux drivers for WiFi cards/TV tuners/printers/scanners, no sane average joe in his right mind will take the plunge over a mere $100 difference.

And don't start to tell me about how well driver support in Linux has improved. It may be a huge achievement compared to earlier versions of the kernel, but as long as there is near zero manufacturer support for drivers, it's pointless.

[MASONTX]

Kind of a chicken or the egg question. Manufacturers say that linux isn't wide spread enough to justify the extra expense of creating a linux driver, and users say that there isn't enough driver support so why use linux. I am encouraged by the increasing number of wifi drivers in linux. Evidently they have found that they could make a buck by writing linux drivers for their prducts. Maybe the rest of the industry will eventually get the word.

[Jonathan183]

What would really make linux take off? IMHO manufacturers would need to start installing a beginner friendly version of linux, such as Ubuntu, Mint, etc. and selling the units cheaper than the Windows counterparts. Most people are cheap, and for a $100 difference many would try linux and get hooked.

Just sell the PC without the Windows tax, and provide support for all devices provided ... that would be all that's needed. Linux drivers from hardware suppliers would also help.

It's about time suppliers were forced to sell a PC with an operating system or without an operating system (with the genuine cost of the operating system taken off).

[Etna]

Just sell the PC without the Windows tax, and provide support for all devices provided ... that would be all that's needed. Linux drivers from hardware suppliers would also help.

OEMs do not write drivers. Go and look closely at every single OEM out in the market today: Acer, Asus, HP, etc etc. They all use drivers supplied by the manufacturers of the respective hardware used in the building of a PC. OEMs are only responsible for assembling and servicing the PCs/notebooks they purchased off the ODMs, and writing custom software (like backup and reformatting tools).

What OEMs are allowed to do are customize the drivers to perform certain extra features if need be, but even this is dependent on the drivers supplied by the hardware manufacturer themselves. You cannot expect an OEM to write a Linux driver out of a Windows binary. If a hardware manufacturer refuses to produce a Linux driver, there is nothing the OEM can do.

[MASONTX]

He can buy linux friendly hardware, or threaten to switch to hardware that is linux friendly if the manufacturer isn't willing to supply a linux driver.

[Jonathan183]

as long as manufacturers refuse to release complete Linux drivers for WiFi cards/TV tuners/printers/scanners, no sane average joe in his right mind will take the plunge over a mere $100 difference

pay an additional 1/3 of cost on a netbook ... dont think so ...

OEMs are only responsible for assembling and servicing the PCs/notebooks they purchased off the ODMs, and writing custom software (like backup and reformatting tools).

No - they are responsible for providing a package that works and they will support. I purchase the system from Acer etc and expect them to provide adequate support. If they are not willing to do so then why should I pay them anything?

He can buy linux friendly hardware, or threaten to switch to hardware that is linux friendly if the manufacturer isn't willing to supply a linux driver.

Yes - exactly what they should do.

It's about time that consumer stopped accepting that they must pay M$ a pile of cash every time they buy a PC, to get inadequate service and be told it's not the problem of the people who sold them the system. We don't need to accept the way it is ... Linux offers a different way - freedom. I pick freedom

[Etna]

No - they are responsible for providing a package that works and they will support. I purchase the system from Acer etc and expect them to provide adequate support. If they are not willing to do so then why should I pay them anything?



Yes - exactly what they should do.

It's about time that consumer stopped accepting that they must pay M$ a pile of cash every time they buy a PC, to get inadequate service and be told it's not the problem of the people who sold them the system. We don't need to accept the way it is ... Linux offers a different way - freedom. I pick freedom

The OEM is only obligated to bundle in the respective hardware's drivers. As someone who owns a huge collection of notebooks, i can say this definitively.

The responsibility of the OEM with regards to drivers is only limited to the hardware used in the machine and the OS it is 'supposed' to support. If Acer claims that the notebook is compatible with Linux, then yes, they are obligated to provide Linux driver binaries or source code, OR tell its users where the driver source code can be downloaded from.

Same way how if Acer claims that the notebook will only work with Windows, you cannot logically expect them to create Linux drivers for the notebook out of nothing. Especially when there are so many different pieces of hardware in components market in which their respective manufacturers only provide Windows binaries for the OEMs.

And if you don;t want to accept for it is in the corporate world, go build your own garage PC or notebook. Nobody is stopping you. Assembling a PC is child's play anyway in today's age.

[Jonathan183]

Assembling a PC is child's play anyway in today's age.

desktop - yes, laptop - no