Ubuntu

Insufficient Packages on Default Install

Asked by nghuiyi

I am using a USB wireless adapter that is not supported by Kubuntu on default installation. As such, will need certain packages to built the driver, packages like:

build-essential
gcc-3.4
linux-headers
sysutils

Luckily I am able to borrow a friend's USB wireless adapter that is supported by Kubuntu and downloaded all the required packages and proceed from there.

Would like to suggest that such packages be "squeezed" into the default install so that Ubuntu is truely user friendly.

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Mark Reitblatt (mark-reitblatt) said : 		#1

If you need to build a kernel module for a wireless adapter, then the "User Friendlyness" level is near 0 already. Instead of including those packages, you should create a specification ( https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+specs ) to get the driver included in the main distro.

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nghuiyi (nghuiyi) said : 		#2

I always had the impression that those who are willing to come near Linux are those who are willing to take a little effort to get things done. So I was googling around for weeks to get the info to learn how to get a USB wireless adapter (RT73 chipset) working. Guess I shouldn't be doing that huh :-)

Anyway, just to share a little of my experience hoping that someone may be able to help future users:

1. I borrow a USB adapter from a friend (DWL-G122) and used with Linux without no problem.
2. Thinking that it is fool-proof and buy an exact model (DWL-G122) BUT cannot use with Linux.
3. After weeks of googling and asking in forums, then understand that a hardware revision change Version B1 and Version C1 can cause a living hell for most user.

How can these info be made know to (brand new) users ?
Personnally one gets to understand these things only after its too late
Somehow these traps should be highlighted with neon lights :-)

Else, it will only scare away new users.

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Dean Sas (dsas) said : 		#3

There are currently discussions to include build-essential in future versions of Ubuntu.

I'm not sure how ubuntu can highlight the fact that the hardware manufacturers broke Linux compatability without making it obvious. If you have some specific ideas you could make a specification https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+specs

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