[Ilugc] RE: Linux Hardware Support Better Than Windows

[Prem Kurian Philip]

>http://changelog.complete.org/posts/644-Linux-Hardware-Support-Better-Than-Windows.html

One of the comments to the article above refers to the problem a user
would face if any the devices are not natively supported in the Linux
kernel. This comment also included this interesting link to an article by
Shuttleworth which further clarifies this point:
http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/76

I think Shuttleworth captures the problem of device support on Linux quite
nicely in this post. Device support and quality of device support on Linux
is really a function of the market reach of Linux.

The reason Windows does not ship with drivers for *ALL* supported devices
is because:

a) The device manufacturers ship driver CDs on the disks which accompany
the devices.

b) Pretty much any device out there already has drivers for Windows. We
are talking about so many drivers that the drivers alone will fill up many
CDs.

c) Binary drivers are supported on Windows.

d) OEMs load Windows onto PCs.

I know I got flamed for saying this earlier, but frankly I don't care.
This is the truth.

Regards,
PK