Linux and USB video devices
The fact that Linux supports a huge variety of devices out of the box is simply one major reason I suggest Linux as an operating system of choice for a desktop or notebook. Contrary to a Windows operating system, simply plugging a USB device into the system running a fairly modern version of the Linux kernel is generally successful: the device driver is automatically loaded and the device is functional. Webcams and similar devices have been problematic. I have plugged all manner of devices into my Linux systems – always, webcams have been difficult or sometimes impossible to get going.
The issue has been with the drivers and these are not generally part of the kernel. Now, an initiative to ensure these drivers become a standard part of the kernel is underway. In an interview with a German IT news site, a kernel developer has indicated that the USB video device drivers are to be integrated into the standard Linux kernel. For those of you who have already downloaded Hardy Heron, you should already have access to that functionality in the kernel. Fedora 9 is set to include the necessary drivers too.
All round, just another great reason to toss those driver disks and be free of worry when installing new devices!
