Quote Originally Posted by nitsuj
I just find it hard to believe that with how much Linux guys rave about how much better Linux is, something as simple as getting connected could be this hard. Perhaps it will be possible to connect with my Linksys USB wireless card, but I assume I have to find this stupid inf folder first.
Even when an OS is superior, if manufacturers build propritary hardware and only make Windows drivers for it, there are serious problems for Linux to support it. This is even more the case for a new generation of interface devices that use firmwre that is contained in the drivers and downloaded at boot time. If the manufacturer doesn't allow the copyrighted code to be included in Linux drivers, the developers just can't include it. And even if the manufacturer did release hardware specs for the device (very few do), this approach requires a lot more work and testing for every driver released.

The answer is for customers to let the manufacturers know they are not happy with the lack of open Linux support, and to vote with their purchases. Rather than say "Perhaps it will be possible to connect with my Linksys USB wireless card", do some research before buying a wireless NIC (or other device) and be sure that there is Linux support, or don't buy it.