TL-WN722N support on FreeBSD.

[Jerry]

On Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:22:09 +0200, Polytropon stated:

>On Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:39:56 +0300, atar wrote:
>> So you give me additional reason to stay with Linux and
>> not to migrate to FreeBSD since even a basic wireless
>> adapter which came with your Sony isn't supported by
>> FreeBSD. To be honest, I don't know if your Sony wireless
>> adapter is supported by Linux, but in general, I think
>> linux is more flexible and supports more devices than
>> FreeBSD (and more than all the rest of *BSD variations).
>
>Of course this is a problem in FreeBSD, and it's a known
>problem. There is a workaround (which isn't really helpful
>afterwards, but beforehand): First check if the hardware
>is supported, then buy it. Especially wireless devices
>are subject to the tricky game of "driver lottery". You
>will have more luck with Linux in this regards, as it
>covers hardware with working drivers more than any other
>operating system does, and usually, it keeps the support
>for devices that "Windows" has long dropped (if you happen
>to insist on using specific hardware, such as video grabber
>cards, DVB sticks, sound cards or other "non-mainstream"
>equipment).
>
>Up to this point, I was always lucky with the hardware I
>purchased: FreeBSD's support for WLAN components was
>excellent. I've been using IBM / Lenovo, Dell, Siemens-
>Fijutsu and Sony laptop hardware, and FreeBSD did not
>have any trouble getting the buildin hardware to work.
>Still there are models which cause problems: Some of
>them use chipsets not supported by current drivers, others
>just use f*cked up ACPI implementations, and others
>delegate hardware functionality to proprietary drivers
>which make the actual devices "appear" and "work", and
>as you will guess, those are only available for specific
>versions of "Windows".
>
>It depends on you if you want to:
>
>	a) purchase other hardware to replace what is
>	   not supported,
>
>	b) relapse to using Linux which supports your
>	   hardware, or
>
>	c) accept that it's not working and make a better
>	   choice next time you buy something. :-)
>
>Many manufacturers are already regognizing that "Windows"
>usage is decreasing, and Linux support becomes more and
>more important to sell a device. They provide drivers or
>build their devices so they support existing standards.
>But of course hardware is evolving, and the OS needs to
>provide the interfaces for the new. FreeBSD isn't exactly
>blazing fast in this regards, but to me, never buying "the
>newest" for having "the newest" for few weeks (instead
>buying "good" in order to have "good" for several years),
>it doesn't really matter, so my opinion doesn't matter much.

There is a serious flaw in your thinking Poly. It is the same flaw, or shall
we say fallacy with dealing with alcoholics or drug addicts. By accepting the
situation, and in fact encouraging it by purchasing lessor quality or
older/obsoleted hardware, you are “enabling” FreeBSD to continue to
distribute an operating system that is subpar. You have in fact become an
enabler. If FreeBSD is ever going to get its act together and become as fully
functional OS, people like you have to demand it stop this practice of
procrastinating in the development of up-to-date drivers for the latest
technology. You cannot. Although you will, blame the manufacturers. I have
spoken to Brother USA and asked why they do not make a more complete set of
drivers available for their product. I was told that due to the cornucopia of
flavors of *.nix, etcetera, there is no way that they could reasonably or
financially support them. They choose to support the ones who offer them the
most support and whose market they can reasonable be assured of reaching.
Microsoft, as I was told, has a whole department that actively deals with
hardware developers and works with them to develop drivers/peripherals that
work on their OS. I am not aware of such an entity with FreeBSD.

I remember just a few years ago, when everyone had drivers for “n” protocol
wireless cards, except FreeBSD. I had a machine that had just such a card
installed. I now had a choice, remove the card and use a cheap quality or ‘G”
protocol card, or use another OS. You are a smart person Poly, guess which
route I choose.

*********************************************************************
Enabler: one that enables another to achieve an end; especially, one who
enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse)
by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of
such behavior


-- 
Jerry
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