OSNews

If people want better support for hardware for Linux it needs to be more widely adopted. Most users NEED wizards and the like to guide them through certain processes, most users NEED automation. If there is a distro that can offer this ease of use for installing printers, digital cameras, scanners and most other common hardware, ease of use for installing and removing software, ease of use for installing fonts, configuring the display, getting on to the internet, reading e-mail. Drives need to be able to be automounted/unmounted. The desktop interface needs to be simple and consistent, software needs to be just what is needed for the target audience and no more.

If all these can be in place and with an install as simple as the BeOS install (that was the most fantasticly easy install program ever and no Linux distro comes close) then the average user may be convinced enough to move to Linux and as it takes off, the hardware and software developers may become convinced to start moving to Linux.

I belive that some distros are on their way to achieving this goal, though I've not been able to try them as they don't play nice with my hardware - very few distros like my soundcard and hang when they try to use it.

For those who don't want this, use another distro and shut up with your elitist bull, not everyone can or wants to be a Linux guru - most just want a system that works and can get a job done. Treat every Linux user with respect, even the ones who don't have a clue, and the Linux 'community' will grow. At the moment it is becoming entrenched in various camps that can only be described as 'denominations' - you only have to look at the Christian church to see how people with essentially the same belief can't get along with each other! Let's keep Linux together and give our blessing to Linux becoming more accessible.