Linux Desktop Hacks

278

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

Hardware

Hacks #92–100

We’re always told Linux can’t be a viable desktop operating system unless it

has certain pieces of software, but mentioned less frequently is that Linux

won’t be adopted on the desktop unless it can use a broad range of hard-

ware. A high-end sound or video card isn’t of any use if you don’t have the

drivers to run it. Hardware vendors seldom write drivers for Linux—they

prefer to spend their time writing drivers for Windows, because that is what

runs on 95% of all computers sold.

This means Linux hackers have to pick up the slack and write drivers for

various pieces of hardware. As a result, it can be weeks or months before

certain pieces of hardware are well supported under Linux. Even when driv-

ers are available, they might not be integrated into the distributions, because

they are too new, they are unstable, or they were written by a hardware ven-

dor under a license which prevents the driver from being distributed with a

free Linux distribution.

This chapter has a broad range of hacks that show you how to use various

pieces of hardware under Linux. It starts with Bluetooth and USB connectiv-

ity, moves on to optimal monitor setups and a clever method of using Win-

dows to print to a printer that doesn’t have a Linux driver, then covers

power management on a laptop, and finishes up with a couple of hacks on

using portable music players under Linux. ...