3 ms·

That’s if you can even connect to the internet! Have an older device? It maybe didn’t come with WiFi, or came with an older card you replaced with a better one

by wpm 2y ago

That’s if you can even connect to the internet! Have an older device? It maybe didn’t come with WiFi, or came with an older card you replaced with a better one. Better hope the distro and version of that distro you picked has a kernel with drivers already baked in! Otherwise it’s off to some random git following some random “download this source” and oh wait I’m not connected to the Internet.

kjellsbells 2y ago
I know the jungle of PCs has some strange beasts in it, but I still suspect that there is a very strong Pareto curve, even considering the kinds of PCs that the stereotypical retired parents have. If Ubuntu (say) decided that they were going to release a version for Windows refugees,they could probably mop up 75% of the market by focusing on Dell hardware and Logitech peripherals, and get to 80+ with HP and whoever the number 3 vendor was. Leave the 2005-era Packard Bell junk to Windows, define the base level, and partner officially with these vendors to get access to their build sheets and specs to deliver a solid path out of Windows. It could be done. (It wont be done, though, cos theres no money in it)
- genewitch 2y ago
  Debian derivatives work fine with 99% of older hardware, say pre-2021. 802.11n is fine for HD youtube, too.
vladvasiliu 2y ago
Well, latest windows 11 installer doesn't detect my laptop's touchpad nor trackpoint, nor wifi adapter. Sure, I usually have a mouse lying around which works, but not a network adapter. So I had to go look up on the internet how to convince it to go past the installer without insisting on connecting to the internet. Spoiler alert: it was some obscure command in the terminal. This is a 2020 full-intel, basic enterprise machine, nothing fancy. Worked fully out of the box under Linux, including sleep. The display output was borken for about a year under Windows (wouldn't output 4k@60 without doing a stupid plug-unplug-replug-just-at-the-right-time dance). At one point, installing the latest driver from intel worked, but Windows would helpfully "update" it to an earlier, borked version every other day. My point is that the current hardware situation seems pretty much hit-and-miss, and figuring that running windows to avoid fiddling with drivers and whatnot isn't such a sure-thing as people in this thread make it out to be.
modo_mario 2y ago
I've had very much the opposite experience with old wifi dongles and the like. I can think of only one example where it was the other way around...but at least i got it working.

by wpm 2y ago

kjellsbells 2y ago

I know the jungle of PCs has some strange beasts in it, but I still suspect that there is a very strong Pareto curve, even considering the kinds of PCs that the stereotypical retired parents have. If Ubuntu (say) decided that they were going to release a version for Windows refugees,they could probably mop up 75% of the market by focusing on Dell hardware and Logitech peripherals, and get to 80+ with HP and whoever the number 3 vendor was. Leave the 2005-era Packard Bell junk to Windows, define the base level, and partner officially with these vendors to get access to their build sheets and specs to deliver a solid path out of Windows. It could be done. (It wont be done, though, cos theres no money in it)

genewitch 2y ago
Debian derivatives work fine with 99% of older hardware, say pre-2021. 802.11n is fine for HD youtube, too.

vladvasiliu 2y ago

Well, latest windows 11 installer doesn't detect my laptop's touchpad nor trackpoint, nor wifi adapter. Sure, I usually have a mouse lying around which works, but not a network adapter. So I had to go look up on the internet how to convince it to go past the installer without insisting on connecting to the internet. Spoiler alert: it was some obscure command in the terminal. This is a 2020 full-intel, basic enterprise machine, nothing fancy. Worked fully out of the box under Linux, including sleep. The display output was borken for about a year under Windows (wouldn't output 4k@60 without doing a stupid plug-unplug-replug-just-at-the-right-time dance). At one point, installing the latest driver from intel worked, but Windows would helpfully "update" it to an earlier, borked version every other day. My point is that the current hardware situation seems pretty much hit-and-miss, and figuring that running windows to avoid fiddling with drivers and whatnot isn't such a sure-thing as people in this thread make it out to be.

modo_mario 2y ago

I've had very much the opposite experience with old wifi dongles and the like. I can think of only one example where it was the other way around...but at least i got it working.