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An open request WHEN I FIRST started using Linux back in the Dark Ages (1995), you had to choose your hardware carefully. Although most motherboards and disk drives of the day worked with Linux, add-ons such as sound cards and video cards had to be carefully checked against lists of supported devices. At the time, it was not unusual to find that one of your cards would need to be replaced under Linux. I bought a genuine SoundBlaster card to get audio and CD-ROM support for my first installation using Yggdrasil Plug-n-Play Linux.
But there are a few trouble pockets. Chief among these are the "Windows-specific" modems and printers. Many modems and printers these days are essentially brain-damaged devices that rely on the operating system to perform tasks that used to be done in hardware. This allows the hardware producer to increase profits on these devices by a few cents per piece, which at PC volumes can add up to some real cash. Unfortunately, this technique also requires that the vendor provide a software driver to compensate for the missing hardware functionality. And, because many companies jealously guard (for unclear reasons) the programming interface to these devices, open-source programmers cannot readily create drivers for these impaired devices. In a few cases, vendors have been forthcoming. HP has released a large number of Linux printer drivers (http://hpinkjet.sourceforge.net). Lexmark also has released a few (see their corporate download site). Some modem chip manufacturers, such as Lucent and Conexant, have released drivers for some modems (www.idir.net/~gromitkc/winmodem.html). But it's still not enough. It's time for peripheral companies to step up to the plate. Yes, I've heard the excuses before: "We don't have the solid demographic data that indicates we'll make more money if we do that." Well, it's wake up time. I've talked to people from across North America. Business after business is evaluating Linux. They are looking for business solutions. And particularly in the SOHO and midrange market, they are trying to use the hardware that came with their systems, much of which is not classified as "business" hardware. They want the printers and modems that came in their PCs to work with Linux. If they end up replacing a particular brand of devices because of missing drivers, how soon do you think they will buy that brand again? The time of waffling on Linux support has long passed. It's time to begin playing the game for real. Hardware vendors that don't start now could find themselves on the outs with a major push in the industry. And that is not a wise move. So, hardware companies: Publish the programming specifications or release some code. You'll be much better off in the long run. Contact Russ at pavlicek@linuxprofessionalsolutions.com. Discuss this article in our online forums MORE > SPONSORED WHITE PAPERS 
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