Better Hardware Database

Summary

From what I have heard from others and personal experience I think we need a new Hardware Database for Ubuntu which is more accessible and easier to use then the current one.

Rationale

People around the globe that are using/concidering using Ubuntu are afraid that some of their hardware won't work for them. Sadly but true some hardware could give the user some real trouble sometimes so if the support (in form of drivers) is non-existent it would be advicable to avoid that particular hardware.

Much hardware is though possible to get working with more or less work and if this information is available together with the hardware compatabillity data it would be alot easier to users.

Use cases

Boris speaks only Russian so he find the current hardware database very hard to understand and the data he is able to find and can understand is not enough for him so he decides that Ubuntu & Linux is a no go for him.

Abdullah are thinking of migrating his company's computers to Ubuntu to get stabillity and save money on the long run. He visits the new Hardware Database - which is presented to him in Arabic - and finds that all of his current hardware will work for him.

Hannah is still using Breezy Badger and she is insisting on not upgrading. She really wants to buy a new graphics card (X) that can help her 3D modelling but she is unsure if (X) will work with Breezy Badger so she checks the new Hardware Database and finds that it will work with some minor adjustments (covered in a guide) which she can read by clicking on a link.

John notices many reports of a bug in his program that he is unable to reproduce. He really wishes he could see what video cards were being used by those reporters.

Implementation

• Primarly a PHP-driven website for browsing of data.
  • Possibly a front-end in Python for Ubuntu

== Data storage & layout Yet to come

Comments

• Would be nice if the database also includes suggestions (web links) on where to buy said supported hardware. So in a way, the database will also be our shopping stop Currently, there is no database providing that kind of service (list of supported hardware that you can click on to buy) --towsonu2003

  • Sounds like a good idea. For Swedish users it will work without a problem because there is this big price comparison site (Prisjakt.se) that offers you to show information about a particular product and show the cheapest price, right on your site :). It also would give the site some money (every click(unique IP) gives 0.75 SEK ~ about 0,08€ or 0,11$).
  • Pricegrabber for USA, maybe ebay for abroad- might work? But of course I mean direct links to the sellers product page:) --towsonu2003