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Drivers for Linux Distros
The commercial success of Windows is directly related to the availability of drivers. If you look at the history of PC software, originally drivers were required by APPLICATION rather than OS. You had to load drivers for Lotus 1-23, WordPerfect, dBase III, etc.

By adopting an environment-level (Windows originally was an application, remember, not an OS!), then OS-level driver strategy, and providing strong DDK (driver development kit) support for ISVs, Microsoft changed the entire landscape. Microsoft provided generic drivers for many new types of hardware (what was a "mouse," anyway?) that opened up new ways to use your PC (remember the MultiMedia PC?) Windows programs that used the system-wide drivers were preferred above their non-Windows competitors. And the ISV race to Windows was on ...

Although AutoCAD can still command "private" drivers for its application, most other Windows programs are satisfied to use either the driver bundled (or in the case of HP, written) by Microsoft with the OS, or the ones that come on the CDs that come with the hardware. Knowledgable Windows users update their drivers from Web sites regularly.

Since Linux is not centrally controlled, I don't know how this could possibly play out. In addition to plotter drivers, we're talking low-level video and chipset drivers. These make a tremendous difference to Windows performance. Hardware companies will despair with a requirement to support multiple versions of a platform, as they did with Unix.

I don't think that Linux will ever have good driver support, due to splitting, and therefore will never progress above the state it is now, an interesting / irritating hobbyist playform (sic).
Posted by: PMC-CON   Posted on: 09/13/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Seems like there is more to like everyday.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 09/13/05
But that's not good enough  voska | 09/13/05
Hmm...Yes, Like Now Instead Of Three Versions to Choose From  itanalyst | 09/13/05
RE: Hmm...Yes, Like Now Instead Of Three Versions to Choose From  HerbieHightower | 09/13/05
Ok this made me laugh  voska | 09/13/05
Riight.  mockylock | 09/13/05
What do you mean "THREE?"  Wolfie2K3 | 09/13/05
XP Tablet PC Edition (nt)  PMC-CON | 09/13/05
Seven? Or Server? Might Want to re-read ...  PMC-CON | 09/14/05
I've been in this biz from well the beginning and I  Laff | 09/14/05
Yes, it does seem to be getting...  dsentman@... | 09/18/05
MS the 'preview' company  michael_t | 09/13/05
Similar to Google the BETA company  TrueSpeak | 09/13/05
Dr. Michael -- Comments?  PMC-CON | 09/13/05
More info about the atempt to monopolize the internet every day.  DonnieBoy | 09/13/05
Don't Use Pliers, Use Vise Grips  itanalyst | 09/13/05
RE: Don't Use Pliers, Use Vise Grips  nightshade0143 | 09/13/05
And there is more apps then office suites and browsers  osreinstall | 09/13/05
It's a snowball effect  brble | 09/13/05
Another "chicken abd egg" situation  Michael Kelly | 09/13/05
RE: Another "chicken abd egg" situation  nightshade0143 | 09/13/05
And they'll NEED those rich benefactors...  Wolfie2K3 | 09/13/05
Most people are end users, not programmers.  osreinstall | 09/13/05
True...  brble | 09/13/05
why do you need a new computer  zzz1234567890 | 09/13/05
Oh, I don't know  brble | 09/13/05
To add features  osreinstall | 09/13/05
Sigh....  brble | 09/13/05
Just stating facts guy  osreinstall | 09/13/05
You missed the point on Insight II  brble | 09/13/05
We were talking about drafting software. At least I was.  osreinstall | 09/13/05
I guess my question is  brble | 09/13/05
I think you are overly defensive.  osreinstall | 09/13/05
After this, I give up  brble | 09/13/05
Just give it up. Not everyone can migrate.  osreinstall | 09/14/05
I am giving up  brble | 09/14/05
Whatever dude  osreinstall | 09/14/05
My apologies  brble | 09/14/05
Don't let it bother you.  osreinstall | 09/14/05
Good advice  brble | 09/14/05
SeeYa  osreinstall | 09/14/05
Drivers for Linux Distros  PMC-CON | 09/13/05
Exactly  Fujikid | 02/16/06
If you want to go back to DOS, be my guest  Mark Miller | 09/13/05
Excellent points  brble | 09/13/05
Guess I didn't read whole thread  Mark Miller | 09/16/05
AutoCad  voska | 09/13/05
It is interfaced with Access  osreinstall | 09/13/05
Google is more likely to monopolize the Internet  TrueSpeak | 09/13/05
Them and E-Bay  Mark Miller | 09/16/05
And here we see the "IT is a cost center" response  Mark Miller | 09/13/05
Getting Started  rmac_z | 09/13/05
WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) is an attempt to create a proprietary  DonnieBoy | 09/13/05
BORING!  vdraken | 09/13/05
But...  Wolfie2K3 | 09/13/05
Hopefully it's an improvement  Mark Miller | 09/13/05
Open letter to rmac  Mike Cox | 09/13/05
Microsoft expands Vista testing  Loverock Davidson | 09/13/05
Probably cause your a nobody... (NT)  widge_z | 09/13/05
I could have told you that (NT)  Loverock Davidson | 09/13/05
XP sp 4  Reverend MacFellow | 09/13/05
Another dim witted response  IT Scion | 09/13/05
Another dim witted response  plumnilly | 09/14/05
You need to read a little bit  IT Scion | 09/14/05
I have been getting builds every week anyway..  Mike Cox | 09/13/05
Weekly Install Fest  justmeinok@... | 09/13/05
Nice, but Mr. Cox is still the master (NT)  el1jones | 09/13/05
RE: Nice, but Mr. Cox is still the master (NT)  nightshade0143 | 09/13/05
Awesome progress!  slingzenarrowzuvowtrayjissforchin | 09/13/05
So....  Wolfie2K3 | 09/13/05
1x7=1  No_Brain_To_Think | 09/17/05
8.6 (nt)  el1jones | 09/13/05
Figures  tty0 | 09/13/05
Makes Perfect Sense  amperlson | 09/13/05
Re: Microsoft expands Vista testing  CobraA1 | 09/13/05
Is office 12 like blink 182?  ArtMac | 09/13/05
I could care less.  the_slash | 09/13/05
Vista and Office  waltharvey@... | 09/13/05
Horrific GUI  uno@... | 09/13/05
umm...  mockylock | 09/13/05
Redifined beta?  uno@... | 09/13/05
Hardly  IT Scion | 09/14/05
*Yawn*  mockylock | 09/13/05
Still copying MacOS for fun and profit  frabjous | 09/13/05
IF those were THE only reasons...  Wolfie2K3 | 09/13/05
Copy copy copy!  bugmenotznet | 09/13/05
Soon enough....  mockylock | 09/13/05
the whole pot  cremepuff@... | 09/13/05
New Office suite  Mark Miller | 09/13/05
OUCH!!! Who Bit Mike's Tongue  jkratzer3 | 09/16/05
I predict Windows Vista release date to be.  msims@... | 09/22/05

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