4 ms·

>The big difference is that the chance that ALL devices on a brand new laptop will work out of the box (including all the bells and whistles like sleep modes, a

>The big difference is that the chance that ALL devices on a brand new laptop will work out of the box (including all the bells and whistles like sleep modes, audio routing when adding/removing Bluetooth gear, multiple external displays with different DPIs, etc) is nearly 100% on Windows and in my experience nearly 0% on even the most up to date linux distros, at least unless you did very careful research before buying your machine. I'm going to disagree with you on this. But first I need to point out that if you mean literally "out of the box," then I would certainly agree with you; but I'm going to assume by "out of the box" you mean "fresh install." I run a small computer repair/assistance shop and it is my experience that very few laptops, new or otherwise, work 100% with a fresh install of Windows 10 or 7 (we do very little with 8). BUT the crucial difference between the non-working devices under Linux vs Windows is that on Windows the WiFi and/or ethernet card (almost) always works right away which then allows Windows Update to find drivers for the non-working devices. Under Linux, the Wifi card will often not work with a fresh install which then makes getting the other devices working extra difficult. It's even worse if the ethernet port also doesn't work.

alkonaut 8y ago
Yes, I meant including downloaded updates both from Microsoft and from hw manufacturers. Hopefully most of them are automatic but in some cases they are not. Without internet connection I wouldn’t even bother switching on a new laptop, it’s usually a race to get a new firmware before the machine bluescreens. As you say the whole process hinges on the fact that network adapters both wired and wireless usually work out of the box (in the literal sense).
- subway 8y ago
  Ah, yes. Downloading updates from HW manufacturers... Nothing like obtaining kernel mode code over unencrypted http from a random server in Taiwan or even China.
  - alkonaut 8y ago
    This applies to all OSes if you use binary proprietary drivers. But it’s of course the same also in the case of firmware/bios updates that are even lower level than kernel. But on the other hand - If hackers own the hw manufacturers systems in Taiwan, chances are your original firmware was already bad.

alkonaut 8y ago

Yes, I meant including downloaded updates both from Microsoft and from hw manufacturers. Hopefully most of them are automatic but in some cases they are not. Without internet connection I wouldn’t even bother switching on a new laptop, it’s usually a race to get a new firmware before the machine bluescreens. As you say the whole process hinges on the fact that network adapters both wired and wireless usually work out of the box (in the literal sense).

subway 8y ago
Ah, yes. Downloading updates from HW manufacturers... Nothing like obtaining kernel mode code over unencrypted http from a random server in Taiwan or even China.
- alkonaut 8y ago
  This applies to all OSes if you use binary proprietary drivers. But it’s of course the same also in the case of firmware/bios updates that are even lower level than kernel. But on the other hand - If hackers own the hw manufacturers systems in Taiwan, chances are your original firmware was already bad.