Re: [SLUG] Cheap'n good laptops for Linux

From: Paul M Foster (paulf@quillandmouse.com)
Date: Tue Nov 14 2006 - 09:17:56 EST


Bob Stia wrote:
> On Monday 13 November 2006 15:42, Paul M Foster wrote:
>> Bob Stia wrote:
>>> On Monday 13 November 2006 09:26, Robert Snyder wrote:
>>>> On 11/13/06, Jonathon Conte <thesicktwist@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> <snip>
>>
>>>> If Free Software is important to you and/or you don't want to have
>>>> to deal
>>>>
>>>>> with proprietary video drivers then get a laptop with Intel, VIA,
>>>>> or ATI (Radeon drivers for models up to 92xx work well, newer
>>>>> Radeon models have experimental 3D support so avoiding cutting
>>>>> edge ATI) video. _Avoid NVIDIA_.
>>> And Why ???? Would you avoid NVIDIA ??? It is clearly superior to
>>> ATI and is supported in Linux,uncluding 3D.
>> Jonathon started out that paragraph with:
>>
>> "If Free Software is important to you"...
>>
>> NVidia drivers, although they work with Linux, are *proprietary*. In
>> fact, kernel developers are having a debate currently about
>> proprietary drivers like this. If you use one currently, you'll get a
>> message that the kernel is "tainted" (meaning that if you have
>> problems with Linux while running one of these proprietary drivers,
>> don't call them). But some kernel developers want to take a harder
>> line. What that will entail, I don't know.
>>
>> Yes, NVidia drivers are pretty good, and NVidia cards deliver nice
>> performance. But they've steadfastly refused to release source for
>> their drivers. Thus, if you're further toward RMS than Linus on this,
>> you'll want to avoid them.
>>
> Hi Paul,
>
> Welllllll.....yes and no. True, Nvidia wants to control it's sources.
> But, it is still free and available to any and all in the Linux
> community. And they are serious about it because they are continually
> upgrading drivers as new kernels evolve. I mean, what more can you ask
> of them? Why would you hold that against them?
>

Don't get me wrong. I was just arguing Jonathon's point. I don't take
the same position he does; I use NVidia cards and their drivers (sorry,
purists).

Paul

-- 
Paul M. Foster
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