[Cialug] Linux hardware support

[David Champion]

David Champion wrote:
> 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

I got a call back from someone at the Des Moines CompUSA. He's going to 
do some research into WiFi cards for Linux and get back to me.

-dc