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Re: Novell Shuns Proprietary Kernel Modules

"George Ellison (undercover)" <notamisfit@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>> __/ [ Mark Kent ] on Tuesday 01 August 2006 16:18 \__
>>
>> > begin  oe_protect.scr
>> > Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
>> >> Novell bans proprietary Linux modules
>> >>
>> >> ,----[ Quote ]
>> >>| In a change of heart, Novell has ceased distributing proprietary
>> >>| software modules such as 3D video drivers that plug into the Linux
>> >>| kernel.
>> >> `----
>> >>
>> >>
>> http://news.com.com/2100-7344_3-6100659.html?part=rss&tag=6100659&subj=news
>> >
>> > Ummm, interesting - no nVidia drivers, then, I expect?  Wonder why
>> > they've changed viewpoint?
>>
>> I'd venture to guess that some suits (and Linus) will not be happy about
>> this.
>
> Doubt it as far as Linus. He's gone on record calling makers of binary
> modules "leeches." He sees no need to stop them, but judging by the
> nVidia driver's perfomance on later kernels, no need to make their
> lives easy either.
>
>  But it might put more pressure on software and hardware vendors, which
>> is good. That said, other distros will have to follow suit. Novell risk
>> staying behind while /even/ Ubuntu moved towards inclusion of proprietary
>> software (Opera) in the repositories.
>
> Ubuntu's hanging on the cusp of a GPL violation by distributing the
> nVidia kernel module in a binary form. (as opposed to the usual GPL'd
> kernel glue/binary blob layer that nVidia puts out). I don't mind
> the inclusion of non-free stuff like Opera because I'm under no
> pressure at all to use it. The more people there are using the binary
> nVidia driver, the less incentive there is to RE/get source.

You are under no obligation to use the NVidia driver either - use
VESA. But then openGL and extended desktops dont work (like the ATI
drivers).

Only a complete moron would advise against shipping something which
allows the new user to *use* the features of his HW. Its not like its
making nvidia any money or anything.


Wake up call for the day : it is NOT trivial for a complete noob to
acquire and then compile from source.

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