> A binary only driver locks you into a particular kernel
> version as well.
In general True, but not in Nvidia's case. Their use the wrapper middle man
method to overcome this problem (and the license problem too).
The drivers ship in object file form with source code which wraps the kernel
API. Thus the user can recompile and link the wrapper with the driver
against any supported Kernel version (all of 2.2.x I believe). NVidia
provide SRPM which do the compile/install for you.
They've open sourced their 3.3.6 driver BTW.
Still I'm with you - I own an GeForce256 SDR and would love to see open
sourced drivers for it ....
-Gabi
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Anton Graham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2000 1:40 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [expert] Dual Athlon Processors
>
>
> Submitted 04-Sep-00 by Asheesh Laroia:
>
> > What about the latest NVidia chip? Reviews I've read
> > (www.tomshardware.com) say they're faster.
>
> Until they stop providing binary-only drivers, no Nvidia chip
> is going to
> see the inside of a box I build. Linux support for both the
> Voodoo series
> and for SB-Live! is phenominal. The reason for this is the
> open source
> drivers. The original driver from Creative sucked. Might as
> well have not
> had sound. Within a month of it being open sourced, quality
> was up to the
> standards people expected of the card.
>
> A binary only driver locks you into a particular kernel
> version as well.
> OSS gets around this by recompiling everything everytime
> there is a new
> kernel release (2.2 series). But look at the poor souls who
> had Aureal
> sound cards and depended on binary only drivers for them when
> Aureal went
> out of business. I'm not suggesting that NVidia is in danger
> of bankrupcy.
> I am suggesting that you're going to be screwed if they decide to stop
> updating the drivers.
>
> --
> Anton Graham GPG ID: 0x18F78541
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> RSA key available upon request
>
> "First things first -- but not necessarily in that order"
> -- The Doctor, "Doctor Who"
>
>
