On Thu, Jun 01, 2006 at 07:40:59AM -0400, Bruce Marshall wrote:
On Thursday 01 June 2006 02:31, Per Jessen wrote:
James Knott wrote:
As to whether the GPL vs non-GPL drivers issue will prevent Linux from becoming mainstream, I'm not so sure. Very large European public administrations have already gone Linux - perhaps it's not mainstream, but very impressive nonetheless.
It's a problem if it makes it impossible to use commonly available hardware.
I agree it's a problem, but that's not the same as preventing Linux from mainstream - whatever that means.
Ok, I used the term 'mainstream'. Let's replace that usage with the phrase 'more popular or more used'. In otherwords, if hardware isn't supported then no one will want to or *can* use the software.
Now, if the kernel developers come up with a common and well-defined interface for proprietary modules and make it well known to the hardware vendors, then overall that would be a Good Thang (tm). I guess that is their plan but it seems they jumped the gun a bit and have made the situation worse in the short-term.
The actual way to go is to get rid of proprietary modules. I really wonder why some people want them and not OSS drivers... Ciao, Marcus -- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com