__/ [ Justin ] on Wednesday 07 June 2006 04:41 \__
> In order to achieve the goal that we all of us have in mind ,ie Linux
> becoming a mainstream O.S - used by a majority of users , i think it
> should have a very powerful edge over its competitor.
> But there seems to be major differences in the industry, which left me
> really disilussioned and which i thought i will share with you all.
> Linux and and a lot of other programmer from around the world would
> like to incorporate device drivers from the Nvidia and Ati Radeon
> graphic card companies(Only then linux will be able to give equal or
> better visual experience compared to the AERO user interface of VISTA)
> in the coming version of Kernel.
> But since these device drivers are NOT open source , and its very
> unlike that they go open source in the near future , GNU foundation and
> a lot of other programmers have opposed this move. This is a very
> saddening fact , because as I understood this was a clear case of
> idealogical clash. The GNU group wants kernel to remain completely open
> source with not even a single bit of closed source code(If i may say
> so)
> So what is your opinion , When VISTA finally arrives dont you think in
> order to give a tought fight for its stuff dont we need to do the best
> we can ensure that Linux becomes the global leader in O.S . Share your
> thought here
The issue is similar, albeit even worse, when it comes to DRM. You can always
find ways around it. While Linus refuses to embrace (at this stage, at
least) the third revision of the GPL, I very much doubt it will ever take
off among Linux users.
Linux users, by the large, understand the consequence of DRM and will avoid
it like the plague, educating others (e.g. Linux migrants) in the process.
Even the parliament in the UK is now considering labelling DRM content
suitably. So, returning to your point about proprietary drivers, vendors
will emerge who are willing to open up their source code and give affordable
hardware acceleration.
It is a chicken-and-egg scanrio, however, as the existence and prosperity
such a vendor will depend on demand from the Linux community itself, mainly
depending on its scale. Whether one of the existing players in the field
will open up (source-wise) to gain and woo the niche which is Linux users, I
do not know. Surely, something will soon emerge. Linux is expanding very
rapidly and with technologies such as XGL (as well as games that are
constantly ported to Linux), graphics acceleration is higher in terms of
demand and priority.
Best wishes,
Roy
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