Linux lacks in hardware support


Recommended Posts

  C:\Smoke> said:
I think that linux really lacks in hardware support!

Also, anything you can do in linux can be done in Windows...

Not everything you can do in Windows can be done in Linux. (tis getting better tho)

You can't get ahead if you have yet to catch up...

Just my 2 cents.

586416209[/snapback]

Hardware support is great!

Even my cheapass scanner works with linux.

what hardware did not work?

please be specific.

Maybe it works out of the box , but that you have to edit a config file.

  mr_demilord said:
Even my cheapass scanner works with linux.

586416229[/snapback]

There you have it. Linux only has the most basic support for most hardware, that's acceptable for cheap hardware but if you got expensive hardware you want to use your hardware to it's limits, something you can usually never achieve with reverse enginreering.

  mr_demilord said:
Hardware support is great!

Even my cheapass scanner works with linux.

what hardware did not work?

please be specific.

Maybe it works out of the box , but that you have to edit a config file.

586416229[/snapback]

Not all scanners do.

http://hardware.linuxfaqs.de/view.php?tab=peri&ctype=Scanner

For me, though, my Canon IX-4015 works in Linux just fine. Does not work in XP at all.

  pappmasta said:
Glad someone said it.....

No its dosent becauase people dont work for free or give ideas away for free.

Yes there is freeware but i cant think of much free that got real popular and didnt have some sort of money making scheme

which is ok, cause i dont expect to have dazzling features handed to me for free.

Linux is more then capable of dazzling me but people who work for free have yet to do it...

586416243[/snapback]

Why is it that people still think no one who works on Linux/Open Source is employed... :no: Edited by markjensen
  Quote
I think that linux really lacks in hardware support!

Contrary to popular belief, Linux has the best hardware support of any OS. For every piece of hardware unsupported on Linux, I'll give you two devices unsupported on XP (for XP x64, I'll even give you 5 devices, 10 for XP ia64 :-) )...

  Quote
Also, anything you can do in linux can be done in Windows...

Not quite sure what you mean? In reality, I know of nothing important Windows does that Linux doesn't, but I know lots of things that can't be done on Windows. And don't mention 3rd party software, because there's also some 3rd party software unavailable for Windows (Apple Shake, for example, is only available for Linux and OSX) - that's up to the vendor, and has next to nothing to do with the OS.

  Quote
You can't get ahead if you have yet to catch up...

Care to elaborate?

  mr_demilord said:
Hardware support is great!

Even my cheapass scanner works with linux.

what hardware did not work?

please be specific.

Maybe it works out of the box , but that you have to edit a config file.

586416229[/snapback]

TV tuner support is horrible.

All in wonder's dont work!

Gyration Keyboard/mouse support = non existant!

Biometric security support = non existant.

Winmodem support = horrible!

USB WiFi support = horrible...

Need me to keep going?

Smoke,

what TV tuners don't work? AiW's are supported, check GATOS[1]. Gyration stuff should work out of the box[2], if it doesn't, you'll only need to configure the hardware properly. Biometry support is available[3], but not for all devices (granted - blame the vendors). WinModems are a POS, any Hayes AT modem is cheaper, works better, they are all supported, and they are more efficient. Anyway, most WinModems do work[4], even though the driver may be commercial closed source software (LinuxAnt)[5]. And USB WiFi just works on most recent distros, may need LinuxAnt drivers[6] or NDISWrapper[7], but that's the users fault for not buying properly supported hardware in the first place. Still, they work, so who cares...

[1]: http://gatos.sourceforge.net/supported_cards.php

[2]: Quote from http://www.gyration.com/intl/uk/testimonials_uk.htm :"Fantastic product hope you sell millions, you have my vote, and for you Linux users this is the best key board I have ever used even better than the little Linux keyer."

[3]: http://linuxbiometrics.com/

[4]: http://linmodems.org/

[5]: http://www.linuxant.com/drivers/

[6]: http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/

[7]: http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/

  LaNcom said:
Smoke,

what TV tuners don't work? AiW's are supported, check GATOS[1]. Gyration stuff should work out of the box[2], if it doesn't, you'll only need to configure the hardware properly. Biometry support is available[3], but not for all devices (granted - blame the vendors). WinModems are a POS, any Hayes AT modem is cheaper, works better, they are all supported, and they are more efficient. Anyway, most WinModems do work[4], even though the driver may be commercial closed source software (LinuxAnt)[5]. And USB WiFi just works on most recent distros, may need LinuxAnt drivers[6] or NDISWrapper[7], but that's the users fault for not buying properly supported hardware in the first place. Still, they work, so who cares...

[1]: http://gatos.sourceforge.net/supported_cards.php

[2]: Quote from http://www.gyration.com/intl/uk/testimonials_uk.htm :"Fantastic product hope you sell millions, you have my vote, and for you Linux users this is the best key board I have ever used even better than the little Linux keyer."

[3]: http://linuxbiometrics.com/

[4]: http://linmodems.org/

[5]: http://www.linuxant.com/drivers/

[6]: http://www.linuxant.com/driverloader/

[7]: http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/

586416426[/snapback]

No, i know for a fact that the gyration keyboard suite doesn't work with linux... There may be a version that does, but the one i used to have never ever did. I had my college professors try to configure it, and they couldn't...

I agree that most issues are the fault of the vendor, but it still affects the OS's hardware support... Regardless of who's fault it is, it still doesn't support the hardware...

My old AIW 9700 pro never ever worked with linux... i tried everything...

  CaKeY said:
Does windows support those devices out of the box without 3rd party drivers?

586416281[/snapback]

The gyration keyboard suite worked in windows out of the box since windows 98...

There are no drivers (besides the standard mouse and keyboard drivers windows uses)

yes you can use webcams on linux, it depends on the chipset that the cam uses. my quickcam pro 4000 dosnt work properly with suse 9.3pro

but if you look around the net you will find some good support sites. http://www.linuxquestions.org/ is a good place.

http://rpm.pbone.net/ is good for getting packages for your chosen distro.

and http://linux01.gwdg.de/~pbleser/ if you are a suse user is good as well.

Smoke,

well, either you tried the Gyration stuff on Linux 0.99, or on a b0rked distro, or even your professors were quite clueless - I know for fact that everything Gyration built works on Linux. Anyway, like I said, pretty much every piece of hardware you listed does work, I'm sorry if it didn't work for you. And the 9700 is explicitly listed as supported on the GATOS page, so I'm sure you didn't try everything...

BTW, do you expect OSX, SUN, or sgi hardware to work on Windows? I didn't think so... :-)

  Quote
Winmodem support = horrible!

Ever wondered why they are called winmodems? I'm sure if they made linmodems the windows' support for them would be rubbish.

Anyhoo, the fault for lack of hardware support is not the fault of linux. It's the fault of the product vendors for not making their products work in anything other than windows. Linux does however have more generic drivers than windows. It will recognise most devices as what they are. Eg, in Windows, it detects my digital camera as a USB Mass Storage device. In linux it gets every detail right down to the model number - using generic drivers in both windows and linux.

the only problem that I had making the switch was sound, but with enough reading I got it working. I blame the vendor for my sound problem, because their drivers support an older sound system, however, the generic drivers I'm using now completely detected my onboard sound, and they work like a charm.

Windows only has good hardware support because hardware vendors support it. This is starting to change, and you can see that in Nvidia and ATI. I read somewhere very recently ATI expanded their Linux driver team very recently, to improve their Linux support.

  MGS3-SS said:
[..] you are just too dumb to know how to set up your own hardware.

586417598[/snapback]

There is no need to start down the road of personal insults here. :crazy:
  Tomo said:
It's not that Linux lacks in hardware support, its the manufacturers cannot be arsed to support their hardware! It's not the fault of Linux!

586417612[/snapback]

While I agree that it isn't Linux's fault, it is, however, tied directly people's experience with Linux. While Linux does support a huge array of hardware, it is the Windows-based consumer pieces that cause problems. You can argue that there is better overall support for all hardware in Linux, but if user xyz's DSL adapter gizmo isn't supported, it is a problem for that user. Even if it is supported with a 10-step series of commands and downloads at the command line, the new user is going to have some serious concern about their ability to configure and use Linux.

This is an area of improvement (whether Linux leads Windows in hardware or whether they trail Windows).

I do agree with the thread title. First it was the installer not recognizing my hdd because it was in SATA mode. Then it was not recognizing my video card until I booted in VGA 4bit color mode and downloaded the NVIDIA drivers. Then it was the 50 steps I had to take to get my Live! 24-bit soundcard to work.

It's just so much easier in Windows.

  dueY said:
Then it was not recognizing my video card until I booted in VGA 4bit color mode and downloaded the NVIDIA drivers.

586417978[/snapback]

While I agree that there are areas where Linux detection and automatic installation could improve, I find it nearly impossible for an nVidia card to not work with the default open source "nv" drivers included with every standard distro, and require setup in some bizarre 4-bit mode. :blink:

(by the way, commercial distros can include the propriatary drivers that 'free' releases cannot, so Linspire and others will auto-detect and run propriatary video and wireless that require extra steps on 'free' versions).

  dueY said:
I do agree with the thread title.  First it was the installer not recognizing my hdd because it was in SATA mode.

Except you have to insert a fscking floppy disk during XP installation for it to recognize even the most basic SATA drives. I haven't had a floppy disk in my computer for AGES.

Vista amazingly supports loading drivers from a CD. Amazing, such progress.

Oh wait, no it's not. :no:

  daPhoenix said:
Except you have to insert a fscking floppy disk during XP installation for it to recognize even the most basic SATA drives. I haven't had a floppy disk in my computer for AGES.

Vista amazingly supports loading drivers from a CD. Amazing, such progress.

Oh wait, no it's not. :no:

586419318[/snapback]

I didn't need a floppy to install Windows. I don't even have a floppy drive.

And the nv drivers didn't work for my 6800, that was one of the first things I tried.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • DayZ is getting a desert map with new Badlands expansion, set to be its biggest yet by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe It was only last year that developer Bohemia Interactive brought a snow-covered map to the multiplayer survival game DayZ with the Frostline expansion. The long-time supported, post-apocalyptic title is now aiming to take players to a region a little hotter with the next expansion. Touting extreme heat and war-scarred landscapes, the Badlands expansion is set to launch next year. Watch the announcement trailer above. Landing as the third expansion for DayZ, Badlands is set to deliver the biggest map ever developed for the hardcore survival experience. "With an enormous size of 267 km², DayZ Badlands introduces the largest official map in the game’s history," says the studio, describing the incoming content and setting. "Set west of Chernarus and bordering Takistan’s frontier, the terrain offers a desolate blend of cracked soil, sand-swept plains, and mountainous divides. Here, every inch of land tells a story of failed invasions, abandoned cities, and the silence that followed decades of war." The desert environment of the new Nasdara province brings its own survival elements for players to endure. This includes droughts and hydration management, as well as encounters with new types of infected zombies. New loot types, cosmetic items, and region-specific weapons are being added as a part of the expansion, too. As usual, with all the tools and environments in place, it will be the players who make up their own stories and adventures in the multiplayer title. Bohemia Interactive did not announce a release date for the DayZ Badlands expansion today, but it did attach a broad 2026 launch window to it. The expansion is being developed for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. While pricing information has not arrived yet either, judging by previous expansions, it may cost around $30 at launch.
    • NetLimiter 5.3.25.0 by Razvan Serea NetLimiter is an ultimate internet traffic control and monitoring tool designed for Windows. You can use NetLimiter to set download/upload transfer rate limits for applications or even single connection and monitor their internet traffic. Along with this unique feature, Netlimiter offers comprehensive set of internet statistical tools. It includes real-time traffic measurement and long-term per-application internet traffic statistics. Main NetLimiter features: NetLimiter shows list of all applications communicating over network it's connections, transfer rates and more. You can use NetLimiter to set download or upload transfer rate limits for applications, connections or groups of them. With limits you can easily manage your internet connection's bandwidth (bandwidth shaper or bandwidth controller) Statistical tool lets you to track your internet traffic history since you've installed NetLimiter. Additional network information: NetLimiter provides you with and additional information like WHOIS, traceroute etc. Rule scheduler, Remote administration, Connection blocker, Running as WinNT service, User rights, Chart, Advanced Rule editor and scheduler, Zone based traffic management... NetLimiter 5.3.25.0 changelog: Massive translation update. Many new text translated to all supported languages. (If you find any translation problem, please contact us at support@netlimiter.com) More robust and reliable domain name filtering system, especially when using domain names without wildcards. More info about filters. Many minor internal fixes. Download: NetLimiter 5.3.25.0 | 10.3 MB (Shareware) View: NetLimiter Homepage | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Lol, that's where it's made and hosted, how else were they expecting the "cloud hosted" model to work? Alas, guess it's the same rule that every other service provider in the EU must follow; all data processing must be handled within EU borders. That's a welcome move for privacy. Deepseek's devs would have to find an EU host if they want to provide the service in the EU.
    • This is why the Year of the Linux Desktop has become vaporware imo
    • Save 76% on this lifetime subscription to SwifDoo PDF editor for Windows by Steven Parker Today's highlighted deal comes via our Apps + Software section of the Neowin Deals store, where you can save 76% on a lifetime subscription to SwifDoo PDF. SwifDoo PDF is a comprehensive PDF editor software that serves as the ultimate solution for all your PDF management needs. SwifDoo PDF for Windows comes with various features to help you organize your PDFs and get the most out of them. It provides you with standard editing features, including the ability to split and merge documents, edit their style, cut/insert text, and more. You can also convert to and from various formats, including Word and different image formats. It’s better to spend your time on other meaningful activities instead of frowning at an editable PDF, wondering if there’s something that can make PDF tasks easier. All the PDF tools you need Open/Create/Read PDF: Open/create PDFs from blank pages, images, files, scans, CAD, and HEIC in simple steps. Edit/Annotate PDF: Empower your productivity with edit/annotate PDFs, allowing you to mark up, insert text, highlight, and edit PDFs. Merge/Split PDF: Merge lots of PDF files or images into one file in your wanted order. Split or separate PDF pages into individual PDFs ideally. Compress PDF: Compress a PDF to reduce the file size by your desired compression level and image quality. Convert PDF: Convert and save PDF to Word DOC/DOCX, Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, HEIC, EPUB, CAD, and more formats and vice versa. Remove/ Add Watermark: Add predefined or custom, text or image watermarks to PDFs for protection. Remove watermarks from PDF pages in one click. Encrypt/ Sign PDF: Protect PDFs with passwords from being opened, copied, edited, or printed. Sign PDFs with handwritten or uploaded signatures. Print PDF: Print double-sided PDFs, print a PDF as a booklet or to grayscale and print PDFs with comments. Add Link/ Pages/ Images: Add links to PDFs to quickly access other pages, files or webpages. Add a file or pages to a PDF. Insert and edit images in PDFs. Advanced features Recognize Text in Scanned PDFs: Powerful OCR to recognize and extract text from scanned and image-based PDF documents to make them editable and searchable. Or, convert images and scanned PDFs to editable file formats such as Word using OCR, without losing the original formatting and layout. Batch Process PDFs: Support simultaneously batch converting between PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TXT, CAD, images, and HTML, and compressing numerous PDFs, while preserving the original formats and layouts without quality loss. Encrypt, split and print PDFs in bulks. Good to know Length of access: Lifetime Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Access options: PC (Windows only) Max number of device(s): 1 Only available to NEW users A single license key can be only activated once Version: 2.0.5.9 Updates included A SwifDoo PDF perpetual lifetime license normally costs $129, but you can pick this up for just $29.97 for a limited time - that represents a saving of $99 (76% off). For a full description, spec, and terms, click the link below. Get SwifDoo PDF editor for just $29.97, or learn more Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. Other ways to support Neowin Whitelist Neowin by not blocking our ads Create a free member account to see fewer ads Make a donation to support our day to day running costs Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: Neowin benefits from revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site powered by StackCommerce.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      emptyother earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      DarkWun earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Very Popular
      valkyr09 earned a badge
      Very Popular
    • Week One Done
      suprememobiles earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Marites earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      561
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      176
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      169
    4. 4
      Xenon
      124
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      118
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!