Linux Device Drivers 937

I understand the point you all are making and it is a good one, but here's an example for you. I bought a cheap "micro innovations" webcam for $20 at a retailer. under windows I plug it in and it is detected and works perfectly. Under Linux, I plug it in, had to tell the computer I had it (even though it shows up in the usb registry) have to add a kernel module to use it, there is no software which configures it correctly. No matter what I try the picture is to dark or to green.

Sure I could write my own driver & tweek each peice of hardware I own myself, but that's just my point. For Linux to be viable as an alternative (in a business-enterprise desktop sense) It needs to just work - without two much tinkering.

and said "you need to modify your kernel to use this device....etc..." What happens is that I plug it up, it doesn't work, I go off on an internet search to figure out how *anybody* else got it to work via some kind of rigging or work-around, etc...

I have been using Linux for 6 Years, so I am not just talking as a "newbie" here. I just don't see how anyone can honestly say otherwise.