There are quite a number of newsgroups dedicated to Linux. There is much more to using Usenet that I will cover later. Another source to check for hardware compatibility with Linux is the manufacturer. This may not be the most fruitful of sources. Many sales reps have not heard of Linux even though their company offers 24x7 Linux support.
Standard devices do most of their processing in their internal firmware.
It is like continually redlining your engine as you drive your car. The most common WinDevice is the WinModem. These modems will not work with Linux. I know of no effort to create Linux drivers for these modems. Another type of WinDevice that has recently reared its ugly head is the WinPrinter.