Hi Guys,

I haven't been around the forum for a while and have to admit I have all but given up with Linux (temporarily). I still try to keep up with developments on a regular basis but have come to the following conclusions regarding Linux implementation:

My main reason for dropping Linux is mainly to do with the poor hardware support. Now I know there are plenty of people out there willing to help and I have read countless 'How-To's' and received a lot of help from this and other forums, but the fact remains it is not always an easy task to add some pretty standard hardware, scanners, USB modems, Graphics Tablets, Firewire Devices to name but a few.

I appreciate a lot of the problem is down to hardware manufacturers not making the appropriate drivers available to the Linux community but it seems to be a problem area which tends to pushed into the corner with distro developers.

To me, it appears that all current distros, new and old seem to concentrate on supplying a vast array of software, often with multiple programs to do the same thing which is wonderful to have such a wide choice, whether it is really necessary for ALL these programs to bundled with a distro is another matter.

I may be wrong but I get the impression that a large number of Linux users are not really interested in gaining Windows converts to the cause. As long as the software runs on their PII 266 Mhz PC, with 4 Mb Graphics and 16Mb Ram who cares?

Maybe my impression of Linux is wrong. I hoped to be able to use Linux as a genuinely viable alternative to windows, with the ease of use that windows can actually provide (if you know how to set it up correctly) and to be able to use it in a working environment to do other things than create email, surf the web or write letters. Is it perhaps mainly for the hobbyist, programmer, developer or minimalist user?

Is there a distro anywhere which puts the emphasis on hardware support?
Just look through the hardware forum to see the number of unanswered posts regarding hardware problems and not all of them are to do with obscure pieces of kit.

Oops, seems to have gone on a bit, so I'll leave it for some comments and NO I am not a troll, MS advocate or looking for an argument

Regards,

Jim

You bring up some good points and I suspect there are others that have given up on Linux prior to finding a fix to their problem(s). However, the above quoted point of yours leads me to believe that a trip to www.distrowatch.com would uncover a plethora of distros that are pretty simple to install and share alot of features/characteristics of a Windows environment for just what you are looking for. These distros make it easy for windows-bound people to ease into the tasks necessary to maintain a linux/bsd/unix run machine.

Unfortunately there is no overall answer to any hardware question, and you'll find by visiting some windows-based forums that there are problems with hardware there. Sure it may not be about drivers or manufacturer support but there are still unresolved issues with alot of hardware while using windows also.

The only thing keeping Windows on my computer taking up precious hard drive space is because there isn't any programs for my PocketPC that utilize syncing with Linux and the software I need to program and tweak my Home Theater remote control (mx-700).

Just my 2 cents

rberry88