I'm not sure if this is possible, but I'd like to come to the defense of everybody.
First, I'm a life long Windows guy, I'd go so far as to say I'm an expert as I've been in the business of networking/building/repairing computers since before there was a Windows (Netware 2 FTW!!). Until recently with LMCE I've had virtually no experience with Linux of any kind. Not that I ever had a problem with it, it just isn't used in my career market.
So, with that in mind I can explain how us Windows people think and why I think there was a misunderstanding in this thread. Windows people are commercial-centric. We pay for everything. You want to add another user? That'll be $100, oh, they need email too? Another $50, and so on. So, as an effect of that, we are typically demanding. The reasoning being "I'm paying you an ass load of money, you better have a patch yesterday and you better support anything I can buy." And usually they do because they want our money. So, having been accustomed to that sort of workings for so long, most Windows people don't really think anything of asking things like: "Why doesn't it already have drivers? What do you mean this hardware isn't supported? When is a patch coming out?" None of that is meant to be insulting or desparaging, we just think like that because it's how we've been conditioned.
Now, having just started to delve into LMCE I've had a huge culture shock. Um, It's free? Really? You're shitting me. Wait, AND I can go online and chat live with the actual developers?!? Get the fuck out a here! This is too good to be true! Well, it is if you don't let go of your conditioning. LMCE is free because people like me and you donate their time and money to develop it. In most cases for no reward other that the project itself. This is a radically foreign concept to us Windows people.
However, the beauty of the project is also it's bane. Free means limited resources and those are being provided by a very small percentage of the community busting their asses harder than the rest of us can comprehend. And you have to bear in mind that I'm sure they get many people everyday that are "Hey, I just saw this video of LMCE and downloaded it. Make all my shit work for me and I'll check in with you later." (Because that's how Windows people are conditioned) From the perspective of the people working so hard on this project that comes off sounding extremely selfish, condescending and greedy. Imagine you spend all week remodeling your kitchen and your Wife gets home, takes one look at it and the first thing she says is: "Couldn't you make the counter longer? My cutting board won't fit on that." You'd be like, "Fuck you bitch, next time do it yourself." Now imagine the people that have been working on this project for years. It's understandable that they'd have a strong reaction to a similar statement.
So, the misunderstanding part is two-fold:
Us Windows guys have to really think about what's going on here, it's a truly amazing thing involving collaboration and support from guys just like us and our "commercial" model doesn't apply. Support is whatever people have time to provide and WE can be those people. You don't have to be a Linux programmer to provide support to others, it can be as small as connecting a previously untested piece of hardware and reporting your experience. The important thing to remember is that it's thankless and NOT what you're accustomed to from a software development perspective. We have to keep in mind whenever posting that these people are GIVING their time, be thankful for whatever help we can get and be willing to do our own research if help isn't available. (Don't be afaid to learn Linux, it's actually pretty cool if you can retrain yourself) LMCE is an awesome home automation solution and as a consequence it is complex. Don't think for an instant that you're just going to plug in your stuff and *poof* everything works. It's like having a super hot girlfriend that's a complete bitch, there's a lot of work involved but the payoff is worth it.
Linux guys, give us Windows people a little margin for error, we don't mean anything malicious. We're just new and have to overcome years of conditioning. For some of us that's easier than others but it does take adjustment and I think most of us are trying. I do realize that you have to deal with a lot of us, but remember, we're here BECAUSE the system is great. Most of us want to help but don't truly understand what's going on and just need a little time and patience. Try to bear that in mind when we say something inappropriate.
