Roccat Linux Support Keeps Coming

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Roccat Linux Support Keeps Coming

Roccat, the European manufacturer of various gaming peripherals like keyboards and mice, actually has rather good Linux support for their hardware...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=OTg3NA

[pankkake]

Too bad it's a rubber dome keyboard.

[crazycheese]

Very nice, their support is extremely welcome.
In Germany, if you contact Logitech and say you have Linux, they will block you after mentioning it is not supported OS. Ridiculous. This is why I didn´t buy Logitech.

[AnonymousCoward]

Very nice, their support is extremely welcome.
In Germany, if you contact Logitech and say you have Linux, they will block you after mentioning it is not supported OS. Ridiculous. This is why I didn´t buy Logitech.

My Logitech keyboard and mouse work just fine under Linux.

Custom Linux drivers are not the solution, adhering to standards is.

[RealNC]

My Logitech keyboard and mouse work just fine under Linux.

That's not the issue. The issue is that if you have a problem with the keyboard, you don't have any warranty if you're using Linux.

[Zhick]

Ah I rememer that news artice about roccat providing support for linux. It was the reason I got a roccat pyra mouse.
Can't complain, to this day it's been holding up quite nicely... though I just realized I didnt bother trying to use any of the advanced functionality yet. But I'll do so now, as I wanted to control amarok with it anyways. :>

[JanC]

That's not the issue. The issue is that if you have a problem with the keyboard, you don't have any warranty if you're using Linux.

In the EU you get a mandatory 2 year hardware warranty as a consumer, and they can't revoke that right just because you use linux (or your own self-written OS, for that matter). If they try to pull that one on you, tell them you will inform the "economical inspection" of your country. (But note that the shop that sold you the hardware is responsible for this warranty, not the manufacturer or importer!)

[crazycheese]

My Logitech keyboard and mouse work just fine under Linux.

Custom Linux drivers are not the solution, adhering to standards is.

Standarts written by microsoft, I suppose? Cause newer ones tend to be copyrighted, patented or closed/NDA.
Feel free to contact them on ANY peripheral issue and just you mention "Linux" - just sit back and relax as they ignore you.

The exact problem with keyboards is for example their G-15, tested here on phoronix. Pay attention to word "community spawned". Now compare to when company itself not even publish the specs, but works together with community for opensource software, without difference be it windows, linux, mac or wherever you port it to. You see, before this community project, G-15 was NOT WORKING under linux. And if you call them to ask how to make it work, you will be straight ignored. And if you try to return the keyboard outside of EU 14 days warranty, cause it does not work with linux - well, forget that, it will not work, linux is not supported at all, its not existing for them.

My friend for example, purchased logitech keyboard(forgot exact model, but I can ask him if needed), payed ~60€ for it and all additional keys simply didn´t work in linux. He mailed them and the only thing he got was "Sorry, we don´t support Linux. Have a nice day."

I was in need for small 89key radio-controlled 2.4ghz keyboard and accompanying laser wireless mouse. Logitech, although overpriced, offered interesting solution - there was only single dongle needed. But guess what? Yeah, I don´t buy products from companies that ignore my needs and try to force theirs upon me instead. Logitech is one of such BS companies.

Thumbs up for Roccat!

[AnonymousCoward]

Standarts written by microsoft, I suppose? Cause newer ones tend to be copyrighted, patented or closed/NDA.
Feel free to contact them on ANY peripheral issue and just you mention "Linux" - just sit back and relax as they ignore you.

Modern mice an keyboards are usually USB devices. So they probably should build their devices around the USB HID class specs.

http://www.usb.org/developers/hidpage/

The docs are open and AFAIK the USB patent situation is actually quite good.

The exact problem with keyboards is for example their G-15, tested here on phoronix. Pay attention to word "community spawned". Now compare to when company itself not even publish the specs, but works together with community for opensource software, without difference be it windows, linux, mac or wherever you port it to.

If they make their devices compliant with USB HID specs, then they do not have to write drivers and it will work with any OS which has USB HID drivers. Having dozens of keyboard, mice and game controller drivers because every vendor just does its own thing is not good. USB device classes were invented for a reason, use them.

[AJenbo]

As a thank you for there support I moved all the Roccat products we sell to a nicer position in our web store