Hardware hassles: Linux vs. Windows

[Christian Convey <conveycj@npt.nuwc.navy.mil>]

Hi guys,

Recently I've spent a lot of time digging through udev / hotplug issues, 
getting to know modprobe, modules.conf, alsaconf, XF86Config-4 etc. 
This was all to get a digicam and a flashdrive to be useful, or to make 
sound/video work.

As much as I like Linux and its ideals, I thought to myself, "I've never 
had to deal with issues like these in Windows.  I buy a product, plug it 
in, and almost always, it just works."

I'd really like to advocate Linux more to friends and family, but I just 
don't feel like I can recommend the OS to non-techies until dealing with 
hardware gets easier.

Do you guys have any reflections on why, for technical / social / market 
/ whatever reasons, this difference exists between the two OS's exists? 
And are those differences necessary or accidental?

Thanks,
Christian

--
Christian Convey
Computer Scientist,
Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Newport, RI