Jon Smirl wrote:
On 8/20/06, luc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> We already have an open platform in the ATI R200.
> Do you means that the specs of this card have been released ?
They haven't been released but they are easy to get. Just ask ATI and
after a suitable bureaucratic delay of six months or so you will get
them without having to sign anything except some papers saying you
won't distribute them. That is different than an NDA. The R200 is a
design from around 1996. They are on the R500 or R600 now. Everyone I
know working on Linux graphics has a copy of the R200 docs.
This is a lot like confusing "freeware" (freely downloadable, not
modifiable) software with "free software". It's an evolutionary dead-end,
whereas an OGC is a new beginning. I think there's a certain niche
market that will buy OGC for this reason alone (though it's not the
strongest reason, and wouldn't support a huge price difference).
Another point is that R200 cards are getting harder to find, so it's
questionable whether they will be on the market long enough to
seriously compete with OGC. The prices may actually go back up
again due to scarcity.
I agree however, that OGC will have a better marketing chance
if it includes a few "gimmicks" (i.e. marketable unique features). I
think it already has better connectivity options (assuming it will
resemble the OGD1 in that respect), which I know
snares me when I'm shopping for hardware (I tend to keep hardware
for a long time, swap it from system to system, and often benefit
from unconventional uses -- in any case, I like the flexibility to even
if I'm not likely to use it).
Cheers,
Terry
--
Terry Hancock ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Anansi Spaceworks http://www.AnansiSpaceworks.com
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