[ Thanks to Franck for
this contribution. ]
I don’t want to make this contribution a rant but I think it is
time to clear the situation on the announcements made from various
vendors, including HP, about their support of Linux.
Their idea of support seems to mean to these vendors that some
of their hardware is going to work with Linux and at best that
their server line will work with Linux.
But it appears that when a new product range is designed,
choices are made around the availability of drivers for Windows,
not Linux.
It is especially true with laptops, which include
state-of-the-art hardware to minimize space while maximizing
capabilities. When you browse on the Internet, you will see that
the most difficulties between Linux and hardware surround laptops.
Take, for instance, the HP nx9110: the hardware is based around ATI
chipsets. The modem, sound, and wireless (not ATI) are not
supported by recent Linux kernels.
While a new product is developed, it would be easy to work with
the kernel developers to integrate the drivers for new hardware. By
the time the product hits the shelves, the Linux kernel would be
ready.
Will vendors make their choices at design time to ensure that
Linux runs on their hardware? It would be nice that they practice
what they preach: Linux support.