[SOLVED] Buying Hardware -- "MAC compatible" works w Linux?

[benali72]

I'm looking at buying some hardware -- USB disk enclosure, USB pen drive, etc.

I notice many items have System Requirements stating "Windows or MAC OS."

Is it safe to assume that if something works with MAC OS it will work with Puppy (and Linux generally) ?

Thank you.

[Makoto]

I don't know about that... I've had no problem with USB-based mice, that I can recall, but I do have a Mac keyboard (USB) that Puppy wouldn't recognize. (I didn't really bother with trying to get it to work, because I have plenty of keyboards, and was just curious whether or not it would work, offhand.)

If it works with both Windows and Mac (OS X), chances are, you shouldn't have to jump through too many hoops to get it working with Puppy, unless it requires specific interface software. It'll probably require a driver, at any rate.

[benali72]

Thanks, Makoto, for your comment.

I can understand why a MAC keyboard wouldn't work with Linux, just because for years MAC keyboards were incompatible with Windows and everything else... they were Apple only. Whereas MAC mice were not that different once Apple went to USB and wireless.

For the items I was interested in, I tried the "Linux Compatibility List" but couldn't find them.

But here's what I discovered -- Almost any item with a lot of reviews at Amazon, some reviewer will state whether the item worked with Linux or not. So Amazon is a great source of compatibility info (assuming you can trust the reviewers). I never thought of this before but I'll sure use it in the future! I recommend this approach to others like me who had never thought of reviews as a good source of compatibility information.

Thanks.

[bwh1969]

I have never had a USB drive not read in linux assuming it is formatted with a common FS. Even NTFS works without issue.

All of my wireless mice and keyboards seem to work as well (not necessarily the extended features of my wireless keyboard like battery monitor and such).

[sc0ttman]

But here's what I discovered -- Almost any item with a lot of reviews at Amazon, some reviewer will state whether the item worked with Linux or not. So Amazon is a great source of compatibility info (assuming you can trust the reviewers).

It is indeed a good idea... Before I buy PC hardware, I nearly always check a few online stores (amazon mostly), and double check for linux compatibility..

Then I check the Puppy forums, just to triple check whatever I wanna buy will work in Puppy, or even my favourite flavours of Puppy.

I have done this for a replacement gfx card, a keyboard, a netbook, a Wacom drawing tablet, joypads and other things as well..

Using this method, I never had to sit around looking for Linux drivers, or compile any, or change distros when I don't want to..

And the good thing is most hardware is easy to get working in linux, unless it's very old, quite 'cutting edge' or exotic...
I find checking for Linux compatibility before buying does not limit my choice too much either..

[benali72]

@bwh1969 -- thanks for your comment on USB devices. I just bought a USB pen drive that did NOT list Linux as supported on the packaging... just like you suggested, it worked fine. Saved me $10 over the one specifically listed as supporting Linux.

As everyone has suggested here, looks like a lot of devices will work fine, even if their packaging doesn't mention Linux. I've found that it takes some web searching beforehand, but once you do, it's easy to find Linux compatible hardware.

I also bought an IDE-to-SATA converter so I can place an old IDE drive into my newer computer. It's called the "Syba SY-BIR-IDESA IDE/SATA Converter Bi-Directional IDE to SATA" (see http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SY-BIR-IDESA ... 833&sr=8-1 at Amazon).

We'll see if it works. I'll bet it does, esp. since it requires no drivers.