Linux kernel hardware support was garbage in the 90s. Linux UX was garbage in the 90s (not much has changed).
Yeah, I remember how TUIs were the “friendly” way to install distros. Or configuring X11 for my specific CRT and video card…
Sure, Microsoft did illegal things to keep competing OSes off of OEM desktops, but Linux was never a contender in the 90s.
Note how the author blames the user for any and all faults with Linux. That’s poor form.
Between around 1993 and 1999, there were huge improvements on all fronts.
You can't really generalize about 90s Linux.
HW support was still garbage.
People had good experiences,l running Linux. What's true is that you could not just shop for hardware, especially new model hardware without first checking that it would work.
All the HW support was done by reverse-engineering volunteer coders.
Garbage is not really a word that fits.
And yes, while video cards certainly did work, often they were restricted to non-accelerated modes. Hence, "hardware support was garbage".
If we're gate keeping because the drivers were developed by volunteers, please keep me out of the gate.
You speak as if I have zero experience of Linux back in the dark ages. Please don't do that. I was there. I configured these things. It was not "easy" relative to other contemporary operating systems. And I enjoyed it!