Emmanuel Michon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
[...]
> > We (MandrakeSoft) will NOT, NEVER, promote this kind of drivers and
> > install them with a Linux-Mandrake distribution.
>
> this extremist attitude is not really useful, considering the following
> facts:
Just imagine if we'd just say: "hey open source is cool but when binary is
nice, why not using it?". Who would there be to defend free(dom) apart
from gnu? :-)
> * what would be mandrake distros and linux now without netscape,
I don't know. Frankly, Linux has been progressing mostly on the server
part, where Netscape does not count. Okay, for Mandrake, we are aiming
mostly at beginner users and they need a browser, but let's have today a
honest look at the competition and you see that we could live without
netscape.
> * the nvidia X4.0.1 ``closed source'' driver is brilliant, almost
> the only one usable with decent openGL.
So what? -- also you accept the risk of trojan/backdoor in the driver, and
it's generally admitted that it is developped slower in that way.
Moreover, that's false, have a look at the 3dfx stuff with XF4, under Q3
for example it's simply brilliant.
Look at the i810 stuff with LM-7.2 under XF4, it's just the same; you buy
a box with integrated video chipset, and you finally discover that you
have nearly a killer for 3d.
> * the closedness of this driver is essentially in a kernel level
> binary only object which is a workable compromise.
Stop smoking and learn about what you're saying. The kernel driver is
recompiled, whereas the GL library is binary.
Also, you talk about workable compromise without providing any
argumentation.
> > One should not use closed-source drivers, even if it's more "convenient",
> > sorry.
>
> If a linux distro wants a decent software dvd player, it must enable
> X4.0.1 with YUV overlay support --- on nvidia hardware, only this
> binary driver will do that
So, we don't want a decent software dvd player.
--
Guillaume Cottenceau -- Distribution Developer for MandrakeSoft
http://us.mandrakesoft.com/~gc/
