5 ms·

typically you check for linux compatibility before buying the actual hardware/software.

ziddoap 3y ago
>There’s an entry in nut‘s hardware compatibility list for “Back-UPS (USB)” of “supported, based on publicly available protocol”. I made the order.
- gpderetta 3y ago
  Well, good point. In addition of wrong or incomplete compatibility lists, sometimes internal details of products change without even changing SKUs, breaking compatibility.
angry_moose 3y ago
I probably spent 20 hours this week trying to get a not-that-obscure piece of software that explicitly states "Debian 12" support on their website working on a freshly-installed (as in - install Debian 12, update system, install software); and it still just doesn't work. After hammering my way through 4 different errors, and hopelessly out of date (and wrong) documentation, I finally got them to issue a refund this morning. "Linux Compatibility" often means "someone got it working once 6 years ago, on an extremely out of date version of the OS, but its probably still fine".
- graemep 3y ago
  Not often. I have nit rub into that problem, ever.
- dingnuts 3y ago
  This is why you do an internet search instead of just looking at what the vendor says, and/or look at what the vendor actually ships for support. If you see something like a binary blob, run away. If you see stuff shipped upstream, go ahead. As a counterpoint to your experience, I've had great luck buying laptops off of Canonical's approved hardware list. As a corollary, I've had worse luck buying computers that come with Linux pre-installed, only to discover that the pre-installed distribution is very specifically and carefully configured and includes proprietary bits and it's impossible to install any other Linux on the device or upgrade it.
bravetraveler 3y ago
Once you learn a few soft guidelines (not rules, nothing is perfect), you don't really even need to research. Intel/AMD: probably fine. Realtek: works, one driver codebase for everything means weirdness is likely. Broadcom: don't even bother. Nvidia/mobile: what kernel/stack are you intending to use? I haven't had to care about compatibility with desktop or server components in over a decade. It's fingerprint readers and dual-GPU laptops that really bum a lot of people out.
justsomehnguy 3y ago
Ah, yeah, the typical "you should had checked for the compatibility, it's you who are the problem, not Linux". And yes, I never check for Windows compatibility before buying the actual hardware/software. Not even /s.
- graemep 3y ago
  Lots of devices do not support Windows. I am typing this in an ARM based tablet that does not,but does run Linux. Can you install Windows on all Chrome books, or Apple Macs? I do not usually check for hardware compatibility with Linux either. The only things I have checked that I have bought in the last few years have been graphics cards and USB wifi, and the latter was just a matter of reading product descriptions. A lot of software I use either does not run on Windows, or is harder to install or is less mature on Windows. Obviously lots of server side stuff, but even some desktop stuff I would be doubtful about because the bulk of users are on Linux.
  - jrockway 3y ago
    The post you're replying to doesn't say that Windows runs on everything. He's saying that every piece of commercial software runs on Windows, and that every widget has a Windows driver. I have found this to be quite true. If you have Windows, you can impulse-buy pretty much anything and end up OK.
  - PxlatedIgnoranc 3y ago
    [dead]
  - justsomehnguy 3y ago
    And look how you immediately pivoted from the compatibility with Windows to the compatibility with running Windows. > The only things I have checked That's great but nobody needs to check if it's compatible with Windows. The whole step - it's just not needed. So if the "everything just works in Linux!" people say "oh you should had just checked" then the former was clearly not in a good faith or outright delusional. > A lot of software I use either does not run on Windows, or is harder to install or is less mature on Windows. Obviously lots of server side stuff, but even some desktop stuff I would be doubtful about because the bulk of users are on Linux. And most of the people houses and people themselves can't run the welding equipment, so what? How from discussing compatibility of widgets and gadgets of a regular Joe you moved on to a highly specialized and a very narrow scope of the server software?

>There’s an entry in nut‘s hardware compatibility list for “Back-UPS (USB)” of “supported, based on publicly available protocol”. I made the order.

gpderetta 3y ago
Well, good point. In addition of wrong or incomplete compatibility lists, sometimes internal details of products change without even changing SKUs, breaking compatibility.

angry_moose 3y ago

I probably spent 20 hours this week trying to get a not-that-obscure piece of software that explicitly states "Debian 12" support on their website working on a freshly-installed (as in - install Debian 12, update system, install software); and it still just doesn't work. After hammering my way through 4 different errors, and hopelessly out of date (and wrong) documentation, I finally got them to issue a refund this morning. "Linux Compatibility" often means "someone got it working once 6 years ago, on an extremely out of date version of the OS, but its probably still fine".

graemep 3y ago
Not often. I have nit rub into that problem, ever.
dingnuts 3y ago
This is why you do an internet search instead of just looking at what the vendor says, and/or look at what the vendor actually ships for support. If you see something like a binary blob, run away. If you see stuff shipped upstream, go ahead. As a counterpoint to your experience, I've had great luck buying laptops off of Canonical's approved hardware list. As a corollary, I've had worse luck buying computers that come with Linux pre-installed, only to discover that the pre-installed distribution is very specifically and carefully configured and includes proprietary bits and it's impossible to install any other Linux on the device or upgrade it.

bravetraveler 3y ago

Once you learn a few soft guidelines (not rules, nothing is perfect), you don't really even need to research. Intel/AMD: probably fine. Realtek: works, one driver codebase for everything means weirdness is likely. Broadcom: don't even bother. Nvidia/mobile: what kernel/stack are you intending to use? I haven't had to care about compatibility with desktop or server components in over a decade. It's fingerprint readers and dual-GPU laptops that really bum a lot of people out.

justsomehnguy 3y ago

Ah, yeah, the typical "you should had checked for the compatibility, it's you who are the problem, not Linux". And yes, I never check for Windows compatibility before buying the actual hardware/software. Not even /s.

graemep 3y ago
Lots of devices do not support Windows. I am typing this in an ARM based tablet that does not,but does run Linux. Can you install Windows on all Chrome books, or Apple Macs? I do not usually check for hardware compatibility with Linux either. The only things I have checked that I have bought in the last few years have been graphics cards and USB wifi, and the latter was just a matter of reading product descriptions. A lot of software I use either does not run on Windows, or is harder to install or is less mature on Windows. Obviously lots of server side stuff, but even some desktop stuff I would be doubtful about because the bulk of users are on Linux.
- jrockway 3y ago
  The post you're replying to doesn't say that Windows runs on everything. He's saying that every piece of commercial software runs on Windows, and that every widget has a Windows driver. I have found this to be quite true. If you have Windows, you can impulse-buy pretty much anything and end up OK.
- PxlatedIgnoranc 3y ago
  [dead]
- justsomehnguy 3y ago
  And look how you immediately pivoted from the compatibility with Windows to the compatibility with running Windows. > The only things I have checked That's great but nobody needs to check if it's compatible with Windows. The whole step - it's just not needed. So if the "everything just works in Linux!" people say "oh you should had just checked" then the former was clearly not in a good faith or outright delusional. > A lot of software I use either does not run on Windows, or is harder to install or is less mature on Windows. Obviously lots of server side stuff, but even some desktop stuff I would be doubtful about because the bulk of users are on Linux. And most of the people houses and people themselves can't run the welding equipment, so what? How from discussing compatibility of widgets and gadgets of a regular Joe you moved on to a highly specialized and a very narrow scope of the server software?