What Is In A Sticker?

More often than I might like to admit, I see people frustrated after an attempt to install Linux onto their designed for Windows notebook. And even though 98% of the time it will install fine, there is always that one single show stopping issue for the other 2% that is spoon fed to the media like a bowl full of sugar crack.

Let me save all of you a lot of time right now. If you own a computer designed for one OS (note the sticker), how can we possibly be shocked when their is in some instances a problem that requires a bit of investigation?

Example: I own an old notebook that uses a rather problematic version of the VIA video chipset. While Xorg has drivers for it, there is a 100% failure rate of getting X to configure right. Even after a reconfiguration, it is a massive task to get it working. Does this mean that Linux sucks? No, rather that the driver designed for the VIA chipset does, actually.

I say this as all of my ATI, NVIDIA and Intel video cards do just dandy. The issue is that I rolled the dice with a notebook displaying a Made For Windows sticker and lost. Luckily, there is a work-a-round though.

The point is if you are buying a new notebook and choose one designed for Windows in hopes of dual-booting, you are accepting the results are given. If it works, awesome for you. If does not and you’ve read this article, too bad. The smart money for notebooks is always to buy pre-installed (Dell, System76, ZaReason, etc) unless you are experienced enough to overcoming basic configuration issues. In short, there is a simple, brain dead option available to all those in the market for a new notebook purchase. Just something to consider when complaining about “compatibility” issues. You’re in the driver’s seat.