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In Linux Magazine Issue #51 / February, p24, you've featured USB WLAN adapters. I have a D-Link DWL-G122 adapter, and I would like to get it working with my Debian laptop, but I can't find the drivers you mentioned.
Ben Hill, by email
We've got some beta-drivers from D-Link for testing, but they haven't been released yet. It isn't even certain whether the drivers will be released under an Open Source license. The stick has a Ralink chip; there are Open Source drivers available for some of them: http://rt2x00.serialmonkey.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
Where in the US can I buy Linux Magazine?
Michael, by email
For trademark reasons, Linux Magazine is called Linux Pro Magazine in the US. You can find Linux Pro Magazine in many chains, including Barnes & Noble, http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com, Borders, http://www.bordersstores.com/locator/locator.jsp, Fry's, http://www.frys.com/localframe.html, and Micro Center, http://www.microcenter.com/at_the_stores/index.html.
I have an IBM ThinkPad 380XD Pentium II with 64 MB memory. It currently runs Windows 98, which is slow but usable.
I know nothing of Linux and wondered if a version/flavor of Linux would give better performance considering the limitations.
Vitto Trinca, by email
There are a couple of specialized small distros out which are aimed at running on "minimalistic" hardware. You can find an overview in the article "Linux on a Stick" in Linux Magazine Issue #51/ February, p44.
Damn Small Linux, as an example, has reportedly been successfully running on a machine with a Intel 486DX2 and 16 MB RAM, see http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/486.html.
Just don't expect a big performance plus with a Linux GUI desktop system. Measured by today's standards, Windows 98 has a relatively small footprint.
One of the things that I am finding most frustrating about Linux is that USB seems a lot messier and frustrating compared to Windows.
If you could do a feature on USB in Linux that would be great. If you have already done one, it would be great if you could point me to it.
Ewan Slater, by email
We just featured an article on Hotplugging in Linux Magazine Issue #53 / April, p48. The article describes what happens behind the scenes when you plug in a USB device. It's a good starting point for anyone who wants to understand USB in Linux.
The article is available in the Linux Magazine Archive here: http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/53.
What would you think of publishing an application comparison list for Windows/Linux?
I am sure that a lot of people coming from the MS Windows world do not know of similar applications on Linux for their Windows programs.
I found these pages quite interesting:
Even after 3 years on Suse I still discover new programs on the Suse DVD. Speaking of Suse, the new `Cool Solutions' page from Novell really deserves its name and provides a wealth of great information:
Peter Vogt, by email
Thank you for the links! It is a nice idea to have these apps sorted in a list.
We are happy to publish the links here with the letters, but a comparison of this kind isn't something that would normally be the subject of a Linux Magazine article.
This type of information works best on the web, with links to the project websites and other additional information. Our own focus is on more detailed, value-added discussions of specific tools.