IIIIIIIMMMM BAAACCCCKKKKK! just responding to the nvidia example... look at ati they dont even release drivers. but there are still drivers for ati radeon cards out there that work to par or even above the windows drivers, gatos is a project that specifies on the tv tuner part specifically to ati cards. the problem is some hardware (mainly usb) is a real pain to disassemble and then recode to fit the linux kernel. furthermore it depends on how much the hardware is needed... and about the printers http://www.linuxprinting.org is a fine way to get yer printer working.. i got two dot-matrix printers working on my linux box and they go zoom a zoom beep blah etc
-------Original Message------- > From: Tim Fournet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [brlug-general] to the point > Sent: Feb 06 2004 03:13:37 > > I use Linux as a desktop machine, though I also have a Windows machine > on my desk to easily take care of windows-only stuff. The main case > where hardware only works on Windows is software-driven hardware. There > are some printers, and many modems that don't really have controllers, > and rely on the host computer's CPU and software to operate. Also many > hardware manufacturers don't release the specs of their hardware, so > writing an open source driver is either impossible or very difficult. > For instance, the specs for 3D acceleration in nvidia cards is > patent-encumbered due to agreements between NVidia and Microsoft. So, if > it weren't for NVidia writing their own drivers, there wouldn't be any > that do real 3D acceleration. > > Many times in the history of computers, people have said things about > computers reaching their maximum potential with current science, but > they've all been proven very wrong. And then laughed at. Moore's Law > seems to keep steaming along undefeated. > > > On Thu, 2004-02-05 at 20:50, Phil Waring wrote: > > Who, if any of you, rely on linux as a desktop machine? It has been > > represented to me that some hardware, i.e. certain modems and printers, > > only run on Microsoft windows. While I accept the statement on its face, > > I wonder why. Are the codes to make appropriate drivers impossible to > > write using unix or linux, or has a means to write an appropriate code > > just not yet been discovered, or what? Further, with respect to the > > truth, do any of you think that we have reached close to the potential of > > existing hardware in the world with software currently available, given > > all the nonsense and superstition that even I suspect? And, that in > > mind, would it be impossible to rewrite linux afresh with better code and > > tell detractors like the SCO group to get a new idea? Piracy has existed > > in many forms for a long time. Lies have existed for a long time, also. > > I believe that the best things in life are free. > > > > How about China and its purchases of linux packages? What might China do > > with such? And it seems that few are afraid. Perhaps minimal fear is > > good, but Iraq did not scare me. I did appeal to a linux users group for > > help. Do you think that I should have asked IBM? > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > General mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net > > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > [email protected] > http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net -------Original Message------- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://oxygen.nocdirect.com/pipermail/general_brlug.net/attachments/20040206/c2c8cb25/attachment.htm From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thu Feb 5 20:56:40 2004 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Hebert) Date: Thu Feb 5 22:56:10 2004 Subject: [brlug-general] to the point In-Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --- Phil Waring <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Who, if any of you, rely on linux as a desktop > machine? I mostly use Linux for server stuff. I have 1 Linux console I use as my main box to get stuff done, because I like the keyboard. :) My laptop is setup to dual-boot; I probably spend about 60% of my time in Windoze (cause I get paid to do so) and about %40 of my time to get other stuff done. > It has been > represented to me that some hardware, i.e. certain > modems and printers, > only run on Microsoft windows. While I accept the > statement on its face, > I wonder why. Are the codes to make appropriate > drivers impossible to > write using unix or linux, or has a means to write > an appropriate code > just not yet been discovered, or what? Like Tim said, if the hardware manufacturers don't release the specs, you better be damn good with a multimeter. > Further, > with respect to the > truth, do any of you think that we have reached > close to the potential of > existing hardware in the world with software > currently available, given > all the nonsense and superstition that even I > suspect? Nope. Nonsense and superstition is how Wintel makes its money: 3 year upgrade cycle. Most of my home boxes are 5 years and older. > And, that in > mind, would it be impossible to rewrite linux afresh > with better code and > tell detractors like the SCO group to get a new > idea? Sure, that's how it is done with every major kernel release. If SCO ever actually identified the code that is supposedly stolen, the kernel maintainers would immediately replace it. > Piracy has existed > in many forms for a long time. Lies have existed > for a long time, also. > I believe that the best things in life are free. Remember that Linux is free as in freedom, not just free as in beer. > How about China and its purchases of linux packages? How about Microsoft and its agreement to let China look at its source code? http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-990526.html How about Cisco and its purchase of firewall hardware to take away the liberty of Chinese citizens? http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/4/30/163555.shtml > What might China do > with such? And it seems that few are afraid. Free source code means it is free for everyone. When some may have while others can not, it is no longer free. To me, Linux is a tool that belongs to everyone, because everyone built it. Finland, or the US, does not have an exclusive right to control Linux. > Perhaps minimal fear is > good, but Iraq did not scare me. I did appeal to a > linux users group for > help. Do you think that I should have asked IBM? No, unless you have lots of $$$ to blow. ===== John Hebert 'cat /dev/random | perl' __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html
