What do you think?

[dragon1964m]

It has become a debate amongst friends. I would like to pose two questions to you. First: Why won't more hardware and software vendors produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform? Second: What can we as a comunity do, to persuade more hardware and software vendors to produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform?

[simonn]

Why won't more hardware and software vendors produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform?

- Not enough people use Linux to make it a worthwhile prospect.

- The linux community will probably end up writing their own drivers anyway

- They do not want to release 'Trade secrets' by publishing the spec/apis


What can we as a comunity do, to persuade more hardware and software vendors to produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform?

- Buy only from manufacturers that do support linux

- Do not buy anything from manufacturers that do not support linux and let them know that you chose their competitor because they support linux

[aysiu]

Why won't more hardware and software vendors produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform? It's not considered by the company to be worth their time and effort. Releasing the driver code may be seen by some people in the company as being a security risk. Fear and lack of motivation, basically. What can we as a comunity do, to persuade more hardware and software vendors to produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform? Buy products that are designed to function with Linux. Then write a letter to the offending companies and say, "I really like your X product. Unfortunately, I was unable to purchase it, as you do not have Linux drivers, so I went with competitor Y's product. Please consider opening up your driver code or making Linux drivers."

Edit: simonn beat me to it. "Trade secrets" was the term I was looking for, too.

[3rdalbum]

First: Why won't more hardware and software vendors produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform?

I think a lot of them are unaware that Linux is being used on the desktop. Probably a few of them would write for Linux if someone in the office could write it rather than have to get another person in.

Second: What can we as a community do, to persuade more hardware and software vendors to produce products designed to function on or with the Linux platform?

Saying "I would've bought your product if it worked with Linux" is a good idea. I encourage the idea of "I am pleased that your product works with Linux, please put compatibility information on the box so other Linux users know".

TellThemAboutIt (http://wiki.ubuntu.com/TellThemAboutIt)