Re: NVIDIA driver *taints* kernel???

From: Gain Paolo Mureddu (gmureddu_at_prodigy.net.mx)
Date: 01/21/05

  • Next message: Rahul Sundaram: "Re: Why do I need isdn4k-utils" 
    Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 03:37:37 -0600
To: For users of Fedora Core releases <fedora-list@redhat.com>

    This issue (IMO) is a very delicate one (despite the taint)... simply
    because to some people it will give them the creeps to think of having a
    single piece of proprietary software in their systems... I'm not against
    proprietary (if by that we understand comercial too) software on my
    system, as long as it gets the job done. Sure I'd rather use free
    software (free as in freedom) than proprietary. Still the Open Source
    model is generating a shift in people's perception of how software could
    be developed, delivered, deployed and more importantly used. In this
    regard in particular, besides being one of the areas where Linux needs
    more support, mainly from the manufacturers and possibly vendors to
    broaden hardware support, consumer hardware at that, and whether we like
    it or not, 3D graphics cards fall into this category (from low2mid
    range) because often lower-end graphics solutions from the leading
    companies rely on virtually the same hardware as their top notch
    top-of-the line products counterparts (G6600/X600). The way I see it,
    companies have two options: a) Either they provide the drivers
    themselves (which has been the case for 3D graphics cards from nVidia
    and ATi, heck even Matrox) or b) they provide as much information as
    they can (without violating any treatees they could have with third
    party technology providers... S3TC, anyone?) so the community could
    write pure Open Sourced drivers which will obviously lack both: features
    and performance. These two later "side-effects" may not be a problem for
    those users to whom proprietary, closed-sourced software gives them
    goosebumps, but may lure away from Linux users who are willing to
    consider the system as their primary OS. I could not say for sure, but I
    estimate that a great deal (most?) of the home desktop owners also at
    some point do some gaming (which would justify at least support for the
    low2medium range products), where as on corporate desktops that would
    not be of any relevance, and full 2D power may still be required.

    Sadly, in the way our society has been modeled, mass success and
    pedantic purity are mutually exclusive (refering to pure OSS and mass
    addoption)... For some even the price appeal of OSS is not enough to
    make the switch, if they're not assured that they will still be able to
    use their computer as they are used to... It is difficult to keep
    everyone happy... and in that regard Linux and the broad range of
    distributions is a belssing.

    My 2¢ 

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  • Next message: Rahul Sundaram: "Re: Why do I need isdn4k-utils"

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