
Why do it? I am asked this question more often than I expected, even by existing Linux users who I expected to know as well as I the reasons for building a next-generation desktop Linux for the home user. So here are some of my reasons for thinking that we must spend the effort to create a better desktop on Linux than any existing version now has.
Editor's Note: Due to a technical glitch, the first segment of this article was ommitted for some readers. If you missed the "why" section, before, you can read it now.
Correct me if I'm wrong here. Isn't the next Linux kernel (2.6) including ALSA support by default? There is a backward compatibility layer that makes OSS programs work with ALSA. Currently Linux sound can be pretty hard to configure (especially with some cheap on board sound). My hope and expectation is that ALSA support will improve once it is the standard.