This guide explains some rules of thumb for buying hardware to run Linux.  By reading between the lines, you can guess if Linux is for you.  Last updated Jan 17th, 2008.

I have a new guide called "The 2008 Linux Reality Check" that has more current advice about using Linux on the desktop.

Why bother changing operating systems?

Well, if you like using your computer, and think it's fun, Linux can increase your fun.  It's more stuff to learn, and, unlike Windows, a lot of great software that runs on Linux is free.

If you are just a plain old user, a good reason to switch is to get access to a lot of great free software.  This will save you money.  Even if you're inclined to pay for the software (most of which ask for donations), you'll find yourself paying less, and being satisfied more, because you try before you buy.

The main downside is that specialty applications like MS Project are hard to find.

If you're concerned about civil liberties, global freedom, and other human issues, you should try Linux because it's a different kind of software, created by people interested in those social issues.

Rule 1: don't get the latest hardware.

Linux device drivers are often written by volunteers, or by paid programmers who are given lower priority than the programmers creating the Windows drivers.  Thus, there often aren't drivers for the latest, whizzy hardware.  Wait one year, though, and the hardware is likely to work.

If you're a stickler for quality, the good news is that higher-end hardware tends to get Linux drivers now.  Things like RAID cards, high end network cards, major video cards, and network administrator hardware often support Linux out of the box.  BUT this stuff is expensive.

The current el-cheapo system I recommend is an VIA or Intel chipset motherboard with a Sempron 3000 or faster, and 512MB or 1,024MB.  People dog VIA, but, the older VIA graphics chips are supported.  Intel chipsets are pretty well supported.

I personally have an Athlon 64, but recommend against that for novices, because setting up Adobe Flash to work on a 64-bit machine is technical.  So, no 64.  Yes to Sempron.  (Yes to the P4, too.)

Rule 2: get either totally generic, or well known name brand hardware.

Getting a cutting-edge, off-brand device is likely to fail.  For example, suppose you spot a great new card from, say, Diamond.  It's based around a new C-Media chip.  It's not supported by Linux yet, but you can bet that, because there's already a C-Media driver, support may come in a year or so.

Then, you spot a no-name card with the same chip.  It's slightly cheaper than the name brand one.  Odds are good that there will be a driver out for the chip, but, there's no guarantee that your particular card will work.  There might be something quirky about it (and it's fixed in the included driver for now).  There's no way to know.  This quirk may cause a future incompatibility with Linux.

So, in that scenario, it's better to get the name brand.

If you're really a cheapskate, though, you can get the off-brand card, if it's a very generic card.  Things like basic low-end sound cards, network cards, even some video cards, are generic.  Don't get anything "cutting edge."

Rule 3: research on search engines first

Before you buy a card, do a search for "+linux +driver productname".  That'll bring up the latest news about the driver for the device.  It may even state, conclusively, that it works.

Rule 4: if you can, boot up a Live CD and see if the hardware works

If you're in a situation where you can use the computer or part in question, you can test it with a Live CD.  A Live CD is a special bootable CD that brings Linux up from the CD ROM, without installing it on the computer.  It's kind of like a video game CD:  you pop it in and it boots the machine into Linux.

All the big Linuxes, including Ubuntu and SUSE, have Live CDs.  One great distribution, called Knoppix, is the granddaddy of the live CDs, and also has support for a LOT of  hardware.

So, you boot into the Live CD, and see if the hardware shows up and functions.

I hope I haven't scared anyone away from Linux.  It does have some "issues" regarding drivers.  Of course, Windows has them too.  In spades.

If you're running a lot of cool new hardware, Windows will be more convenient to install than Linux. 

On the other hand, if you're on older hardware, or running a lot of generic hardware, Linux will probably install more easily than Windows.  My typical Linux install requires no driver installations -- it just works.