MSI: Don't buy our webcam

[Dotan Cohen]

>>> Usually, it is not the hardware vendor who provides the Linux support,
>>> it's the community!
>>
>> Well, then, I suppose that you are right. We shouldn't expect nor even
>> request that vendors support our choice of OS, we should all learn to
>> program drivers in C and get our code either submitted to the linux
>> kernel, or forever patch our own kernels.
>
> Actually, sadly but true, this is the case. Fortunately, the Linux
> distributer do most of this.
> The Linux user group is just to small for a hardware vendor to make
> money with us.
>

I would have no problem if the tech told me "we do not support Linux"
but he simply told me that he does not know if they support Linux. I
asked him other questions, such as "does the webcam support UVC" and
he told me that he does not have that information either. He lied to
me (he said that they have no supervisors) and refused to help me
direct the questions to a body that could answer. Then he was rude
hung up on me. Is that reason enough to warn the community away from
the company?


> You didn't mention that you were investigating.

Because that was irrelevant to the point that I was making.


>> Bus 004 Device 002: ID 0c45:60fc Microdia PC Camera with Mic (SN9C105)
>
> The SN9C102 bridge is supported by gspca. I am not sure about the SN9C105.
>

They seem to be similar, and with Ekiga (but nothing else) I can get a
terrible picture out of it now. However, even that picture is
completely useless.


>> Thanks, Thomas, I will ask there. I must stress that the purpose of
>> this message was to warn potential MSI / Linux victims but of course
>> if someone could help with a solution then I am more than grateful.
>> However, I do not believe that community support frees the
>> manufacturer from responsibility to support his products. By "support"
>> I am not even referring to providing Linux drivers, I am referring to
>> MSI's refusal to refer my questions to a higher level of technical
>> support with answers, even if the answer is "no".
>
> They have to provide the support they claim to provide. But as soon as
> you talk about Linux and Linux is not an OS they support you are on your on.
>

The problem is that the tech did not tell me that they do not support
Linux. He refused to answer my question or refer me to someone who
could.


> BTW, I never saw a webcam where you could find something about Linux on
> the box. Even Logitech does not write something about Linux support on
> there box but there are open to Linux (at least they provide information
> to write drivers for Linux).
>

It might not be on the box, but Microsoft and A4 tried to help me find
a webcam that would work when I called them. Logitech outright said
that they do not support Linux. MSI was just rude and evasive.

I should note that of all the hardware companies that I have been
contacting over the years, none have made such an effort to help me
find Linux support as has Microsoft. It really is always a please to
speak with them on the phone. Go figure.


-- 
Dotan Cohen

http://what-is-what.com
http://gibberish.co.il