Message-ID: <69eb2a5f@news.ausics.net> From: Computer Nerd Kev Subject: Re: AI Is Killing Some Legacy Hardware Support Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc References: <10sbn6f$2kkkk$8@dont-email.me> <69ea9ec7@news.ausics.net> User-Agent: tin/2.6.5-20251224 ("Glenury") (Linux/2.4.31 (i686)) NNTP-Posting-Host: news.ausics.net Date: 24 Apr 2026 18:31:27 +1000 Organization: Ausics - https://newsgroups.ausics.net Lines: 35 X-Complaints: abuse@ausics.net Path: csiph.com!news.bbs.nz!news.ausics.net!not-for-mail Xref: csiph.com comp.os.linux.misc:85889 rbowman wrote: > On 24 Apr 2026 08:35:51 +1000, Computer Nerd Kev wrote: >> Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote: >>> As a result, the Linux development community has decided that, to >>> maintain its sanity, they have to start dropping those old drivers >>> completely from the mainline kernel. >>> >>> support-for-older-network-drivers-due-to-influx-of-false-ai-generated-bug- > reports-maintenance-has-become-too-burdensome-for-old-largely-unused- > systems> >> >> Yikes, and I see as well as network drivers they're starting the process >> of dropping PCMCIA support: >> >> https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-7.1-Drops-Old-PCMCIA-Code > > I have a laptop that uses PCMCIA -- a 1995 Compaq Concerto At the linked page the proponent says themselves "PCMCIA is almost completely obsolete (the last computers supporting it natively were from ~2009)". The late 2000s laptop I run Devuan on has PCMCIA. The early 2000s laptop I'm posting from now has PCMCIA too, though I don't try to run a current Linux distro on it anymore. I've got a stack of PCMCIA cards within reach and they can still be purchased new. The ethernet card in the stack is a Xircom one which I just confirmed uses the xirc2ps driver proposed for removal at the link in the Tom's Hardware post. If 2009 is too old for the Linux devs then Linux isn't for me anymore. Stuff 'em, I liked Linux because I didn't need to worry about this sort of thing. The BSDs have the same price tag so it's time to check them out. -- __ __ #_ < |\| |< _#