* Philipp Thomas (pth@t-link.de) [020902 18:11]:
::Mojojojo [ Thu, 29 Aug 2002 09:21:43 +0700]:
::
::>ATi has planed to develop 1 driver for all it's video card since last year.
::>It's like the nVidia driver.
::
::Oh no! Not another binary only driver! We've had more than enough
::problems with nvidias drivers (latest gag is, that modelines accepted
::by the nv driver are rejected by the nvidia driver) so I'm *not*
::enjoyed to see another of those *%$#*% appearing.
::
::Yes, I know that much knowhow goes into developing 3d drivers but this
::is Linux and not Windows. At least I will definitely *not* let a
::binary only driver run under Linux, period.
Yep. They released the driver for the 8500/8500SE w/ a QTConfig program
about 2 weeks ago. ATI use to release spec for their cards when the
previous one became old enough. So the XFree project has spec for the
7500 but because nVidia has released binary only drivers and people
still use the damn things and swear by them even if they do cause you to
pull your hair out getting them to work...ATI said " well, screw this
giving the specs out..we'll make binary one size fits all drivers ".
It's sad...really sad. What needs to be done is for these big companies
such as HP, IBM and Sun to pay the licensing fees for the XFree
developers so they can get access to the hardware specs in order to
write drivers. Now that ATI and nVidia don't have to give away the
spec..they most likely won't. If IBM, HP and others are making so much
cash from their hardware because of Linux then they should pony up some
cash to get these developers the tools they need. Another idea would be
a sort of defense fund for developers that regular users could
contribute to..you know like $5, $10 or $20 in order to buy the licenses
to get the specs from these graphics card makers. The card/chip makers
don't seem to understand that they don't make money from writing
drivers, but from the sales of chips and cards ..and if users don't buy
their crap they won't make any money and they can go the way of the dodo
bird. :)
--
Ben Rosenberg ---===---===---===--- mailto:ben@whack.org
Tell me what you believe..
I tell you what you should see.
