Hello. Just out of curiosity...

I would like to know from other Linux users and fans which type of hardware (sound cards, video cards, modems or anything) they find the most difficult or tiresome to configure within Linux.

Please forgive me if this question has already been asked in a poll before, but I searched and could not find any similar postings.

My choice is video cards... I have had the toughest time configuring video cards.

I couldn't agree more. Why is the most important part of system the hardest to configure? Can't the Bush Administration enact legislation requiring video card makers develop drivers for Linux? If we can invade Iraq with Stealth bombers and cruise missles, why can't we make video card drivers for a simple operating system?

I'm quite happy not to worry about bush messing with my drivers,

I don't think Kerry supports the Linux community, he seems more like a Windows user.

linux-hardware posters; freightmatcher last post clearly states correctly the
why, collusion between BG & W : monitor, video card mfg. and not including
linux into mix. have any of you (gentlepeople) heard from any body using
w complaining with difficulties with video cards,monitors or W,s? why not?
does not that seem strange.

Freightmatcher -- please keep your responses on topic. Everyone is entitled to his/her own political opinions but this really isn't the place for that, so I ask that you please refrain from interjecting misc political commentary into a discussion about computer hardware and Linux. Threads that do turn political usually end up tunring into flame-wars and getting closed; let's avoid that here. Thanks -- J.W.

J.W; will keep that in mind now and future. thank you with reminder. kiwi to penguin!

I would have to vote for WIFI..

As with most devices it has to do more with the vendors not supplying the needed information (this goes for all hardware).

If it wasn't for ndiswrapper most of us would be up a creek w/o a paddle

lok; amen to that & that is where largest difficult is. hardware mfging unwilling to support LINUX. why not , ah the rub collusion with W & BG. ha
big business $$$$$$$. where it is at.

Here's my top 5 in the list of troublesome hardware to configure in the order of difficulty:
[list=1][*]My Radeon 9600 Pro with full 3d and 2d acceleration enabled (I'm still working on it).[*]Yamaha ymf-724 PCI sound card (this was four years ago before I got my hands on the ALSA sound drivers).[*]My cousin's USB modem (I still haven't figured this one out).[*]My NVidia RivaTNT2 card (again four or five years ago. Now, no probs with NVidia cards).[*]Software MIDI (Yes, I know this is not exactly a hardware issue. But I couldn't play MIDI files with my sound card even after getting my sound to work. I solved it eventually using patches).[/list=1]

Getting WIFI then Linux-Mac-Windows networking scares the hell outta me, since I've only done the WIFI part and that took an entire day of searching through useless howtos (until I found one here on LQ that solved everything ). Video cards aren't hard to get working if you use nVidia, and sound cards aren't that bad. Some USB storage devices don't work (avoid the 4-mini pin!), but that's not so bad, since most already do.

I was only kidding around. I wouldn't expect any political organization to enact anything about drivers or hardware development. The election was on my mind since both candidates are in my home state right now. Could you imagine Dick Cheney or John Edwards trying to figure out what to do with video drivers, or email spam? Oh wait, they already have...

for me communication and network stuff, but that is simply because I don't really know much about those things, mac addresses, crossover cables etc.

Since I have never tried setting up this stuff under the "OS that must not speak it's name" I can't say if it is harder or easier, but I'd be willing to bet harder based on my experiences with the other things on the list.

mark

ps, just for FreightMatcher , and courtesey of netcraft:

originalposter; most difficult is not hardware but firmware, both are man made but firmware is a program for interface. there fore drivers needed.
hardware works off firmware mounted on. just notice how often hardware will not work without driver. (driver no action). state my case!

for me it has always been modems, or winmodems to be more precise. However im on broadband now and use 3Com hardware so i never have any problems any more