8. Vendor Relations

• When contemplating a hardware purchase, ask the vendor about Linux support and other user's experiences with the product in a Linux environment.
• Consider supporting vendors that sell Linux based products and services. Encourage them to have their product listed in the Linux Commercial HOWTO.
• Support vendors that donate a portion of their income to organizations such as the Free Software Foundation, the Linux Development Grant Fund, the XFree86 Project or Software in the Public Interest. If possible, make a personal donation to these or other organizations that support open-source software. Don't forget that some employers offer a matching gift program program.
• If you need an application that is not supported on Linux, contact the vendor and request a native Linux version.