OSNews

Hi,

I'm a long time Linux user, 6 years at least. Well I agree there are many
drivers for Linux, but the truth is they tend to suck compared to those made
for Windows! Many are not as full-featured, or optimized as what you usually
get with "CDs" on Windows (And that's one of the reasons why I still need to
have Windows).

I'll take a simple example of hardware that is widespread: A 3dfx voodoo 3 gfx
card. This card has 16 Mb of RAM. First the kernel module tdfx.o has been kind
of abandonned no one is fixing the bugs or maintaining it. With XFree86, your
desktop (2D) can't have only maximum 1024x768 if you want to able to use 3D,
which kind of sucks if you have a 17" monitor. But they even recommend to set
the desktop at 800x600 because even 1024x768 is unstable. Try a Linux desktop at
800x600 some day and see how usable it is. On Windows you can have 1280x1024 or
more and use 3D without problems. For me that is an issue. And last time
I asked if there were plans to fix that, I just got flatly ignored or some
idiot replied something like: tough for you, buy a new video card. Heh well,
I guess you don't pay for Linux, but you pay for the hardware that works with
it.

Second example: yet another video card which is not supported correctly. I
have a Compaq laptop with a SiS video card in it. Windows can do 640x480@16bpp,
XFree86 can only to 640x480@8bpp. Have you ever tried Linux at 8bpp? Needless
to say you don't just replace video cards on laptops.

Third example: I have another PC which I use for recording which has a
S3 Virge DX in it. This card has some 3D capabilities... of course they're not
supported in XFree...

Fourth example: My sister has a PC with some other SiS video card in it which
support 1024x768 on Windows, and only 800x600 on XFree.

4 PCs: 4 video cards that are not supported to the full extent. Now ain't there
something to worry about?

In addition many sound cards, even with ALSA, are not fully supported. Even a
plain emu10k1 isn't supported entirely. That was admitted recently on LKML.
Linux on Desktop? What about a usable Direct Connect client and a an office
suite that doesn't take 2 minutes to load? (Well actually KOffice, I have high
hopes for it, but it's not there yet). What about working file transfers
for MSN, AIM, Yahoo, Jabber (Without having to use 4 apps)?

On a positive note, with KDE 3.2, Linux has made a BIG step forward on the
Desktop. Now one can have a snappy, easy to use (although not for system
tasks yet), coherent desktop.

As far as "you can't demand from developpers" stuff. Well of course you can't,
but if Linux has pretentions to be a desktop OS, then some things have to
be addressed. Else Desktop Linux will be hot air.