Subject: Re: [mhvlug] Finally bit the dust > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:14:22 -0400 > From: Chris Knadle <[email protected]> > > Consider the way that Nvidia drivers currently work -- they're periodically > split off into separate packages which are then not supported, and the > newer > drivers deprecate older cards. Then what happens is that both the Linux > kernel and X.org are updated such that the old drivers that are no longer > supported require updating before they will function again. :-/ (I'm > currently dealing with this problem with several older Nvidia cards, all of > which are in different states of brokeness.) Repeat that cycle a few times > and > you can understand why having an open source driver that others can support > is > a big deal. And this also explains why binary blobs can _never_ fully fit > our > needs. > > I think this also explains why ATI went away from the binary-only model -- > because it similarly creates forced obsolescence and thus pisses people > off. > > > -- Chris >
Okay, let's agree that the Linux enthusiast, when re/building a new system from scratch, should seek out components that are open-source friendly. But what about the business of satisfying customers who need a functioning OS in their workplace (but happen to have problematic cards) or the political movement of empowering widespread adoption of free-as-in-beer OS'es? I had Ubuntu 8.04.1 on a box, and decided to upgrade. I got a message that said because I had an Nvidia card, I would lose features upon upgrading, because there was no driver available for 8.10. My solution? Linux Mint! I don't know if Linux Mint will later hit me with exactly the same problem when I upgrade it, but I was agitated enough to switch. I'm just wondering how many n00bs (businesspersons included) would just go to Vista upon seeing such a message (provided no one told them about Linux Mint.) Were there no alternatives? I'd imagine any other option, perhaps even forking a distro over the card version, would be better than giving a new adopter such a screen. -- Greg M. Johnson http://pterandon.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Jul 1 - Linux High Performance Computing Aug 5 - TBD Sept 2 - Linux and HDTV
