[RobDude]

I'm a newbie, so forgive me if this is stupid. As I understand it, 'Linux' is the kernel, and the different distro's are the kernel + software. The software is what puts the GNU in GNU Linux?

If that's true why is it that different distro's detect different hardware? Like a wireless card will work on Ubuntu but not on Slackware. Does that just mean the distro doesn't include the drivers, but if you've got native Linux drivers - it will work universally among all distributions?

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by RobDude

I'm a newbie, so forgive me if this is stupid. As I understand it, 'Linux' is the kernel, and the different distro's are the kernel + software. The software is what puts the GNU in GNU Linux?

You are correct.

If that's true why is it that different distro's detect different hardware? Like a wireless card will work on Ubuntu but not on Slackware. Does that just mean the distro doesn't include the drivers, but if you've got native Linux drivers - it will work universally among all distributions?

If there are Linux drivers available they should work the same regardless of your distribution-- as long as they're installed. Some distributions include drivers for some devices and some don't. Wireless drivers are notoriously spotty because unlike some other devices (wired network cards for instance) the companies that make wireless cards are very protective of their technology, and aren't always friendly to the idea of someone seeing the internal specifications of it, which is necessary for a Linux driver to be designed.

If there is no Linux driver, some distributions include ndiswrapper, which essentially translates the Microsoft Windows driver into something Linux can use. It's an imperfect solution, but it generally works.

Since, as you mentioned, the only thing needed to call a distribution "Linux" is the kernel, choices in what software and drivers are included out of the box are solely up to the maintainers of the distribution. Some are pickier than others.