Is the Linux operating system for me?

[mommalina]

CNET forums:
Community Newsletter: Q&A
2/9/07 Is the Linux operating system for me?

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-10149_102-0.html?forumID=7&threadID=232718&messageID=2398270&tag=nl.e497

Excerpt:


The first question to ask before getting new hardware or software is always
"what are your needs?" Then what are your resources, and finally, what is
available?

Most home users surf the Web, do e-mail, take and share digital pictures
(well, you will), and trade and print documents with your friends. An
open-source operating system does those things. It's safer on the Internet,
because it doesn't get viruses.

There's one place open-source falls down, and that's running the very
*cheapest* modems, printers, and cameras. If you've still got that ink-jet
printer or all-in-one that came "free" with your mail-order Dell, chances
are you'd have to replace it with a better model that has Linux device
drivers. The same goes for most "software" modems, and Web cams. The
good news is your Linux system will come with drivers for the mainstream
and high-end devices. You should check one of the Linux compatibility
sites or at least ask in a Linux forum before buying hardware that you
expect to use with Linux. (linmodems.org, linuxprinting.org, gphoto.org
and click on "800 cameras.") If that kind of thing is a show-stopper for you,
you're stuck with Windows or Macintosh.

I thought some of you (not me!) who are tempted to experiment with Linux
would get something out of this Q&A at CNET.

Lina

[PeteF]

I thought some of you (not me!) who are tempted to experiment with Linux
would get something out of this Q&A at CNET.


Thanks Lina,
I just read the excerpt and it coincides with my new experiences with
Linux over the past 6 months or so. I quicky came to the conclusion
that to get Linux working it's easier to adjust the selection of hardware
than to attempt to adjust the software to match the hardware. Basicaly,
you do a little research to see what hardware drivers are available in the
distro you are working with and install compatible hardware. It's
smooth sailing from there. It just works. :)

The thing that made it so easy for me to adopt the above strategy,
is that Linux has drivers for the most common plug-n-play cards
so it was real easy to find compatible cards by going through all
my boxes of spare hardware. It's really a good way to put to use
some of those components you have laying around from old PCs
that are no longer powerful enough to run in the latest versions
of Windows.

---pete---