RTFM
Before you think of flaming me, Read The FM regarding The Linux Kernel.
Drivers for Linux are not a problem, unless the manufacturer has no intention of co-operating with the Linux Community. This is not my fantasy, like I said, read the fcuk faq for the Linux Kernel.
Now the really, really interesting question is why anyone would want to obstruct the kernel community from providing drivers for free...
Although this is one question, it has many answers.
Lets look at Modems, as they provide a historical example, and they are relevant to the modern world and other devices.
Well, for starters, Modem Drivers are trivial, but WinModems are a nightmare. WinModems replace hardware with software, so really calling a WinModem a Modem is a farcial lie. Support under Linux was slow to non-existent, for one blinding obvious reason... Why on earth would anyone want to spend there free time writting an awfull lot of complex code for a bit hardware that is a piece of crap.
Now this issue applies to an awful lot of hardware sold to the public. After all it lowers the component cost at the expense of the consumer. You will find this issue not just with Modems but with Printers, Scanners and a whole bunch of other junk sold in PC World.
So before you next buy any hardware for your windows box, consider checking out if it has any Linux Drivers.
By the way, if says Intel, it will work flawlessly and probably have less bugs and run ever so slightly quicker.
So the moral of this story is get your self educated and do not repeat received wisdom thinking people will think your clever.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
