I think overall these are bad because they prevent real drivers being made.

Take the linuxant one...
OK, it works BUT the windows card comes with utilities etc. and you only get half the functionality...

Realistically what windows needs is a kick in the place that hurts most, market share.
Currently something like 94% of desktops run windows with the rest dived into Mac and Linux with a sprinkling of BSD etc.

This is the problem. Writing the mac driver and then making a linux one is trivial and for standard devices like USB mass storgae isn't even needed.

There are also legal issues, the firmware for 54G cards can't be published opensource in the US. This effectively means the rest of the world too if the company want to do business in the US.

However its the critical mass of users that is missing.....

I dream of walking into a shop just after payday and buying a webcam with confidence.... I just bought a useless TV card becuase they changed the tuner chip to an unsupported one even though its the same model.....

Also some companies are good and bad....
Take creative. My NX pro webcam refuses steadfastly to work....
My awe soundcards and DXR-3 have opensource drivers!! this from the same company.

I just got a Samsung laser printer .... total install time in Knoppix about 1 minute and its works great but samsung also manufactuer CD drives they don't say works in linux but 'probably do' - Theyre ATAPI so they should!!!


The answer is in your hands....
1) Start copying knoppix cd's to give to friends, aquaintances or just people you pass in the street.

2) when a manufactuer does support linux explicitly email them

3) when a manufacturer makes efforts to prevent a device working under linux (like netgear) email them....

4) keep smiling were getting there