[SWLUG] Re: Starting with Linux -- linux hardware db

[Foeh Mannay]

At the risk of tempting fate...

I've *never* bothered to check linux compatibility on anything I've ever
bought, and I've never had any problems. My machine has 2 of the
cheapest Realtek network cards you can get (very good linux support, but
I bought them because they're cheap, a cheap WiFi card (given to me,
Netgear, works fine), an NVidia Geforce 3D graphics card (cheaper than
the equivalent Radeon at the time, works a treat), the cheapest,
nastiest unbranded TV card ever (left over from old machine -
incidentally can't find any windows drivers for it so it's Linux only!),
unbranded USB pen drive (uh, it was cheap), Brother laser printer...
well you get the picture!

The only thing I've ever not had working on Linux (and probably only
because I didn't try) is my USB only all-in-one copier scanner printer
fax thing. I bet I could get some rudimentary support going for it if I
could be bothered, though.

It's up to you how you take this little ramble - either it means you
don't have to worry about linux hardware compatibility that much, or it
means cheap => generic => well supported :o)

As for the "install or have installed" argument... I've seen a couple of
promising would-be linux users lose interest before the fun starts just
because the install for Debian is hard work. I'm burning up a 7 disc set
for one of them right now and I'm going to install it for him because
otherwise he'll probably never do it - which would be a very sad
circumstance! So I say let the guy have it pre-installed... once he's
used to the benefits of Linux, he'll be far more inclined to fix it when
it breaks!

Foeh

On Wed, 2005-01-19 at 18:51, pbhj wrote:
> It might help to know about the linuxquestions.org database ("HCL") of
> computer hardware? ... there are a few of these around if you
> googlefor them. RedHat / Fedora (and IIRC Mandrake) have good ones,
> though last time I looked they seemed a bit sparse.
> 
> Also a technique I have considered is to start from a spec (eg those
> listed at ebuyer.com, which is great for cheap parts BTW) and then
> adapt and expand as necessary. That way your not worried about
> physical compatability of your mobo and case  or whatever.  Often
> reviews/comments at ebuyer (or your e-tailer of choice) will indicate
> linux compatibility too.
> 
> Alternately, if you post the spec that you're after then perhaps folk
> here with a similar spec can give details of there setup?
> 
> I think, as has already been hinted in Mikey's post, that you'll have
> most trouble finding a cheap linux compatible modem that doesn't
> require proprietary (ie paid for) drivers.
> 
> HTH
> 
> pbhj
> 
> Telsa Gwynne wrote: 
> > On Wed, Jan 19, 2005 at 12:13:46PM -0000 or thereabouts, Michael Parker wrote:
> >   
> > > I would echo the views that buying a computer and installing linux from
> > > scratch is the way forward.
> > >     
> > Way forward to achieve what, exactly?
> > 
> > Perhaps he just wants a working computer.
> > 
> > I am going to go against the prevailing wisd^W opinion here. 
> > If you just want to use the computer to do something, why do 
> > the instal at all? I used Unix for years and years before I
> > ever ventured to install Linux, and I'd say the using helped
> > with the install immensely. Debian is famously the "do the 
> > install once, run for ages" distro. According to half the 
> > Debian proponents I meet, anyway. Have things changed?
> > 
> > And if the original poster has done his research well enough
> > to decide that Debian is best for him, perhaps he's also come
> > to the eminently sensible conclusion (IMO) that the Debian
> > installer is not a good introduction to running a box.
> > 
> > You do not need to install a computer to learn how to run it.
> > 
> > If he just wants to run it, "please, someone, put Debian on it
> > for me" seems absolutely a good way to start. 
> > 
> > And all everyone here is doing is saying "Ooh no, you don't
> > want to do that". Perhaps he does.
> > 
> > Hugh, ignore 'em. I am not the world's best PC builder, but
> > if you have the bits and don't want to put them together, I
> > can have a go. If you decide on the distro in advance, it
> > should easily be possible to pick hardwave which is not only
> > known to work with Linux but known to work with that distro.
> > 
> > I will even venture through the Debian installer. I have
> > survived it a few times. Although I may bring Fedora CDs
> > as a backup. 
> > 
> > And then the rest of the LUG can sit back and tell us both
> > where we went wrong. They're the computer professionals.
> > 
> > Telsa
> > 
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> > 
> > .
> > 
> >   
> 
> 
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