http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/item/2718/
It would be really helpful if a sticker on the outside of the box of a scanner/printer/usb-dvb-tuner/mp3(ogg)-player/digicam/... simply said "works with ubuntu" or "designed for GNU/Linux" to guarantee that the product runs "out of the box" with Ubuntu or other Linux distributions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkomen/155060941/
http://forum.ubuntuusers.de/topic/88743/next/

Edit (2008-03-04): This project seems to be on the road already: http://www.ubuntu.com/partners/hardwareprogramme


[2161 votes] Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #2718


]]> en-us Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:39:55 +0000 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:01:24 +0000 QAPoll module http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/2718/
idea #2381: Form an Ubuntu Hardware Alliance similar to the Open Handset Alliance]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:28:45 +0000
Just wanted to add this to the list of similar ideas:
idea #2230: Reward hardware manufacturers that create drivers for linux


...and after you bought your new Ubuntu-capable hardware:
idea #2090: send "powered by ubuntu" stickers in cd´s]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:10:06 +0000 1.- Proprietary driver
2.- OpenSource driver
3.- Generic driver

Mostly for option 3, as it would be a pain for a non-geeky user to install the hardware and see that it doesn't work with all the characteristics or something. Maybe that third option shouldn't be considered a "Works with Ubuntu".

Anyway, I think this, and the whole thing about the sticker, could be a double edged knife. Look what happened with the "Vista Capable" sticker, and it's Windows.

A lot of thinking should be put in this issue before deciding to go forward with it.]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:31:20 +0000
I think they give out free ones on their site too (somewhere on system76.com)]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:57:40 +0000 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:26:23 +0000 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:30:16 +0000 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:30:57 +0000 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:33:20 +0000
It would probably be better to try to collaborate with other distributions to design a distribution-agnostic sticker program.]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:17:20 +0000
I think we have seen the issues Microsoft had with this.

Ubuntu shouldn't do the "works with [x hardware]" thing because it opens them to major problems when something doesn't actually work very well. So Ubuntu would have to put major resources into making sure their claim is correct, then deal with the effects of it not being correct.

In other words, I think the idea is great, but the implimentation would be terrible. ]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:32:11 +0000 Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:03:26 +0000
One - Make sure hardware doesn't break from version to version.
Two - Put forth an amazing amount of effort to make sure the product works fully and as intended to work. This is easy to do for some devices (A speaker set for instance), but harder to do for others (Graphics cards, ATI, I'm looking at you).

On a side note, why limit this to Ubuntu only? I'm aware it's easier to make something work when the drivers are in the repo, but why not have OEMs include a disk with the device drivers in different flavors (source tarball, deb, rpm)? Then there can be a "Compatible with Linux" sticker instead of Ubuntu only. I believe this would be better for the entire Linux community as a whole instead of just Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a heavy hitter, why not spread the love?]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:20:48 +0000
i sooo wanted that sticker when i first saw it and 2 minutes later u provide me with a link. awesome!

and yes, i totally agree but there are issues as others have mentioned -- lets put stickers on some of them and slowly move onto more n more, thats my solution =]]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:32:59 +0000 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:23:00 +0000
An independent certification body should be established, which manufacturers can pay to have their hardware tested for Linux compatibility and the right to use the logo. In order to pass, the manufacturer would have to provide Free, open-source drivers which allow 100% of the functionality of their Windows counterparts (unless somehow limited by Linux itself, in which case it must be clearly printed on the outside of the box).]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:26:29 +0000
......the manufacturer would have to provide Free, open-source drivers which allow 100% of the functionality of their Windows counterparts.

But!

This simply isn't going to happen (yet) linux just is not popular enough for it to be an incentive businesses to spend money creating software then releasing there (usually patented) software to the community to be modified. This is just an alien concept to most manufacturers at the moment.

All we can do is just keep on doing what we are doing grow this community and when (not if) we are big enough. They'll be running to us arms open lol. ]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:27:12 +0000
I also have a feeling that Canonical will not want to adopt this, no matter how many up votes this idea receives.

If this does go ahead though, I think it should be limited to hardware which is either supported with a default installation, or requires only packages from the "main" component to function. It should also function at least as well on Ubuntu as it does on any other operating system.

I just think it's a bad idea though.]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:28:44 +0000 http://www.canonical.com/services/certification]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:00:23 +0000 Ubuntu certified.

It was the first time I based my purchase decision exclusively on a label instead of thorough internet research, and all I can say is it felt good and still does. It's a great computer and works flawlessly with Ubuntu, as advertised. So I do wish we had this option for more products. :)]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:18:02 +0000 => "This project seems to be on the road already: http://www.ubuntu.com/partners/hardwareprogramme"
Now it's the manufacturers' time to move!
Setting to Done.]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:24:02 +0000 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:05:35 +0000 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:00:55 +0000 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:38:32 +0000
And if the hardware didn't work on a certian version, they could put: 'Works With Ubuntu 6.04 +'

Jam :)]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:21:39 +0000
Great idea! It would eliminate "X-Fi" type of deception.

I have finally come up with a solution for my X-Fi card. I am selling it on eBay and replacing it!]]> Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:32:38 +0000
There are devices out there that work easier than with Windows (read: no driver install, no fiddling around with install CDs) and it should show on the package.

Get the manufacturers to include the logo. It will also boost their sales and make their product more attractive.

Opposition and sneaky blackmail has to be expected from M$ on this one, pushing the OEMs to not show this logo
The desktop is the holy grail for M$ and they are fighting tooth and nail to loose it. (but they will)]]> Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:57:42 +0000 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:03:51 +0000
Our list of partners is small..... 10 partners? How effective is this campaign so far?

I hope it takes off, it would be nice to buy more hardware like this.]]> Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:50:26 +0000 ) just talks about desktops, servers, laptops (ie whole computers).]]> Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:16:02 +0000 look at the number of votes. XD]]> Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:40:23 +0000
-1: Labels such as Works on Ubuntu, Works on SUSE, Works on Debian, Works on Fedora, Works on Linux Mint, and so forth create confusion:

1) When the box of a hardware device contains 10 such labels for 10 different Linux distributions, the user will be confused.
2) When a specific distribution version is listed, the user will be uncertain whether or not the device will be supported in more recent versions of the distributions. As Linux distributions are fast moving, it is very likely that this will happen.


"Works on Linux" is meant to reduce all this confusion. Using such a label, the hardware vendor and Linux distributions supporting this program, both will *guarantee* the customer that the hardware device will work out of the box (no unfriendly driver installation needed as on Windows) for (let's say) 10 years.

So, when Aunt Tilly buys an advanced bluetooth mouse that has the "Works on Linux (2008-2018)" label on the box, she will know:
1) All basic features will work
2) All advanced buttons of the mouse will work
3) The mouse will work for sure in *any* Linux distribution supporting this program (*) released in 2008 until 2018

(*) Of course, the usage guidelines for the label will require Linux distributions who want to use the label, to actually support the label. If they don't, the Linux Foundation can and should sue them in order to protect the value of the label.]]> Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:30:30 +0000