[Cialug] Linux hardware support

[David Champion]

David Champion wrote:
> This series of articles posted on /. got me thinking...
> 
> http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1134910,00.html 
> 
> http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1134908,00.html 
> 
> http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1134909,00.html 
> 
> 
> I think what needs to happen is for people to get the attention of 
> hardware companies and vendors, to make them start paying attention to 
> the lack of Linux drivers.
> 
> A few ways to accomplish this:
> 
> Obviously emailing or calling them and requesting the drivers is one 
> method. We could do a petition, but I've never been a big fan of those.
> 
> A subversive way of doing it would be to have people keep going in to 
> the vendors and asking for a WiFi card that will work with Linux, for 
> instance. According to the article, there were no cards available at 
> either CompUSA or BestBuy that said they were Linux compatible. I know 
> there are some that are, but a lot of times that requires you to either 
> download & compile drivers, or to use ndiswrapper.
> 
> Might be something to discuss at the meeting, or afterwards over a few 
> beverages. :)
> 
> -dc

Follow up:

I went to CompUSA last weekend and spent about 20 minutes looking 
through all of the network cards. The only one I found that listed Linux 
support was the Netgear FA311 10/100 card.

I've emailed CompUSA.

Next stop: Best Buy.

:)

-dc