More hardware manufacturers than ever support Linux in some way- they supply binary drivers, or support and sponsor FOSS drivers. Even better, some actually admit it publicly. Though some still act like you want to peek up their skirts when you ask about Linux.

Linux hardware support is one of those best of times/worst of times scenarios. It supports more hardware platforms than any other operating system, except perhaps NetBSD- everything from tiny embedded devices to mainframes and supercomputers. Alpha, amd64, ARM, HPPA, ia86, ia64, MIPS, MIPSEL, PowerPC, and Sparc. Some folks give Linux credit for saving the Itanium.

But there is a big consumer-level middle ground where it's a bit trickier.

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