3 ms·

>Buy compatible hardware. A lot of people have hardware and aren't looking to buy something shiny and new just to use Linux. It's an immediate no-go for me to

by zaarn 9y ago

>Buy compatible hardware. A lot of people have hardware and aren't looking to buy something shiny and new just to use Linux. It's an immediate no-go for me to recommend anyone Linux when their machine is not support out of the box (sans nvidia blob, some people insist on it)

StudentStuff 9y ago
Buying shiny new hardware isn't needed, any old Thinkpad is bound to have good Linux support, plus it'll be upgradeable and durable! Use the right tool for the job, avoid assuming you need the most expensive tool possible!
- zaarn 9y ago
  There is plenty of old hardware that won't properly work for modern linux distros, either by missing firmware packages or software not running on the CPU anymore (such as on an old Thinkpad of mine from 1998, modern distro's don't properly run, a lot of stuff fails with invalid opcodes or segfaults. An ancient copy of knoppix runs (with kernel 2.3)) Even then, most people don't buy with "it must run linux" in mind, they grab whatever has good sounding numbers on it.
  - StudentStuff 9y ago
    Heh, wasn't thinking of going that old, more like a Thinkpad T430 (can be had for $150) or newer depending on budget. Any of that line will run your distro of choice without issue.
michaelmrose 9y ago
The manufacturer of the machine or components thereof who has all the specs and time put in the work that enables windows to support the hardware. Free software development time is finite and information on some hardware is notably absent. If you desire better support pool money to pay for improvements to particular hardware. Anything else is hoping people are willing to expend their resources for free so that you don't have to. In the meantime I'm guessing most people intend to eventually buy a new machine. Upgrade time is a great time to think about trying Linux. Instead of Linux it will run on whatever terrible machine you got on sale at Walmart with a Vista certified sticker. Think instead... Make your next computer a Linux machine.
- zaarn 9y ago
  Microsoft pays good money to vendors to improve the hardware for windows. Outside of hardware primarly used under Linux, you won't have much luck paying any vendor money to improve that situation. You'll have to suck it up and make it work anyway by patching the kernel. >Linux it will run on whatever terrible machine you got on sale at Walmart with a Vista certified sticker. Vista? I have upgraded people to Linux with 98 stickers and earlier. These people won't buy new machines, the current machine will have to work. There won't be a "next computer" for some of them.

by zaarn 9y ago

StudentStuff 9y ago

Buying shiny new hardware isn't needed, any old Thinkpad is bound to have good Linux support, plus it'll be upgradeable and durable! Use the right tool for the job, avoid assuming you need the most expensive tool possible!

zaarn 9y ago
There is plenty of old hardware that won't properly work for modern linux distros, either by missing firmware packages or software not running on the CPU anymore (such as on an old Thinkpad of mine from 1998, modern distro's don't properly run, a lot of stuff fails with invalid opcodes or segfaults. An ancient copy of knoppix runs (with kernel 2.3)) Even then, most people don't buy with "it must run linux" in mind, they grab whatever has good sounding numbers on it.
- StudentStuff 9y ago
  Heh, wasn't thinking of going that old, more like a Thinkpad T430 (can be had for $150) or newer depending on budget. Any of that line will run your distro of choice without issue.

michaelmrose 9y ago

The manufacturer of the machine or components thereof who has all the specs and time put in the work that enables windows to support the hardware. Free software development time is finite and information on some hardware is notably absent. If you desire better support pool money to pay for improvements to particular hardware. Anything else is hoping people are willing to expend their resources for free so that you don't have to. In the meantime I'm guessing most people intend to eventually buy a new machine. Upgrade time is a great time to think about trying Linux. Instead of Linux it will run on whatever terrible machine you got on sale at Walmart with a Vista certified sticker. Think instead... Make your next computer a Linux machine.

zaarn 9y ago
Microsoft pays good money to vendors to improve the hardware for windows. Outside of hardware primarly used under Linux, you won't have much luck paying any vendor money to improve that situation. You'll have to suck it up and make it work anyway by patching the kernel. >Linux it will run on whatever terrible machine you got on sale at Walmart with a Vista certified sticker. Vista? I have upgraded people to Linux with 98 stickers and earlier. These people won't buy new machines, the current machine will have to work. There won't be a "next computer" for some of them.