<p>I must strenuously disagree with the idea that Linux is not good for general users. The mouse in question was provided with a driver disk. The maker knew it wouldn't work in windows without it. That the huge array of hardware just works out of the box with Linux says clearly to me Linux is past ready for general users. What is missing is the understanding of opensource processes by the hardware makers. A windows only mouse driver would, using the prior disagreeable logic, make the case that macs aren't general user ready. I would strongly suggest that vastly more hardware "JustWorks" with Linux than macs thus making macs far less general user friendly than Linux.<br>
Using windows print drivers for Linux systems doesn't work or even make sense. There's many networkable printers but a few use non-standard ports or protocols. Again, that's not a fault of Linux but of the printer maker. Wait a month and the Linux world will work around the brokenness of the makers engineering.<br>
The age old argument "I can't switch because I need this one windows-only app" is the perfect argument that Linux IS a good general use platform and the others are the special purpose ones.<br>
Linux totally kicks tail in all areas. Microsoft and Apple both know this and see the Linux-led opensource tsunami coming at them. Apple has to advertise its product like perfume and blue jeans; no rational reason to choose us so just "be cool and join us cool people". Microsoft ads look like IBM in the 80's; "people use us because everyone else does".<br>
Join the freedom tsunami. Use Linux!</p>
<p><blockquote type="cite">On Sep 9, 2010 7:53 AM, "Paul Cartwright" <<a href="mailto:ale@pcartwright.com">ale@pcartwright.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><p><font color="#500050">On Thu September 9 2010, Jim Philips wrote:<br>
> Anyway, if anybody knows of a foolproof way to see how...</font></p>and this is why Linux sucks for mainstream users.. I went through the same<br>
crap when I bought a wonderful ( pick your poison) Epson Scanner, Epson<br>
printer..... the Linux drivers aren't ready for prime time. I realize you are<br>
very happy with that particular mouse, but how much is your time worth? would<br>
a $29 USB/Bluetooth mouse solve your problem? I eventually setup my HP 5610<br>
on the network for my wife's Vista laptop, because I got tired of fighting<br>
network printing issue with the Epson. The Epson works fine direct-connect,<br>
but the Epson ( M$) software just sucks for shared printers from Linux.<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
--<br>
</font><p><font color="#500050">Paul Cartwright<br>Registered Linux user # 367800<br>Registered Ubuntu User #12459<br><a href="http://usdebtclock.org/.">http://usdebtclock.org/.</a>..</font></p></blockquote></p>