On Thu, 2005-20-01 at 23:36 -0600, Jonathan Berry wrote: > On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 18:51:47 -0500, Sam Varshavchik > <mrsam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Guy Fraser writes: > > > On Tue, 2005-18-01 at 21:37 -0500, Sam Varshavchik wrote: > > >> There are many graphics cards with reliable, open source, native x.org > > >> drivers. I suggest that you pick one, and support the vendors that support > > >> open source. > > >> > > > Again you are so wrong. > > > > What's wrong with supporting vendors that support open source? > > Nothing. But as Paul pointed out, ATi does not support open source either. > > [snip] > > Well, these closed source drivers may be there today. Will they be there > > tomorrow? When a new kernel comes out, is there any chance that NVidia > > might change their mind, decide not to invest any more resources into > > support AMD64, and stop providing bug fixes and updates? > > This is always possible. Of course, you could also give this argument > for Windows. They could decide not to support x64, or Longhron, or > other Windows updates. This, of course, would be unthinkable, and > yes, dropping Linux support would be *much* more likely, but one can > still make the argument. One could also argue that nVidia could > decide to open source their drivers. Again, not very likely, but it > is possible. Likewise, I think this is not very likely as long as > nVidia sees they can make money by supporting Linux. Anything can > change, so let's evaluate what we have now. Right now, nVidia > provides good support for Linux with closed-source drivers. > > > I know I won't have that problem with an open source driver. > > But will that driver continue to support the video cards that are out > there? Eventually ATi will stop making the chipsets that are > currently supported. Then ATi and nVidia will truely be in the same > boat, and I think nVidia (right now) has the more stable Linux ship. > > Probably the best thing we can do is support the video card companies > that support Linux at all. Maybe if we show are support and are vocal > enough, they will open source their drivers. At least they will > continue to support their products and give Linux the respect it > deserves as a viable operating system. If we turn our backs on those > who try to support us, but do not give us exactly what we want, who > will benefit from that? > > Jonathan Well put.
