__/ [ Lobo ] on Friday 31 March 2006 04:12 \__
> On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 23:59:01 GMT, The Ghost In The Machine
> <ewill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>In comp.os.linux.advocacy, Lobo
>><not@xxxxxxxx>
>> wrote
>>on Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:28:22 GMT
>><5ueo22ho1r22nrl8kev9v16ct4t9al16h4@xxxxxxx>:
>>> On 30 Mar 2006 11:43:16 -0800, "Grug" <grug2005@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Ubuntu has been the best so far, but the default drivers didn't take
>>>>advantage of all the features that Windows XP does.
>>>
>>> That is the fault of the hardware vendors, not Linux.
>>
>>Is it? Hardware vendors respond to demand, and almost
>>everyone has Windows; therefore there's more demand.
>>Perhaps Linux users have to make more noise...? :-)
>
> It's the chicken and egg thingy....
It is; But one can always select the pieces that are known to work with
Linux. If Linux only accounts for 10% *raises head* of the world's computer
userbase, a vendor can sweep a large majority of that 10% and make huge
profits without much competition for the particular niche. Look at HP for
example.
The "put horse before carriage" attitude is that which ought to be embraced.
We had some Linux flames in the Palm newsgroups recently (partially my
fault) and there are morons who expect every little device they have ever
purchased _for Windows_ to work under Linux without any consumption of time
(notably driver assemblage). Making a transition is a first step. Selecting
compatible hardware is the next. it's an investment. Since all my computers
run Linux, I never ever have problems with incompatible hardware. I surround
myself by Linux-friendly gadgets.
>>Creative Labs in particular may need to be beaten with a
>>clue-by-4, though not so brutally as to cripple their
>>kneecaps. But apparently they're not all that comfortable
>>in releasing specs and/or software for their newest sound
>>products to the world at large. Why, I don't know.
I have only heard negative about Creative Labs and Linux support. I use to
love that company in the age of the Sound Blaster, back when Adlib was far
more common and some of the game I played as a child only made use of the PC
squeaky speaker. Creative Labs seem to be suffering from on-(mother)board
support for sound. So it seems, anyway.
>>Nvidia might need a feather tickle. Their binary stuff
>>works reasonably well but is problematic from a GPL standpoint.
>
> I don't see any problem with this. When I load WinXP, I only get the
> basic stuff. Then I stick in a CD that came with my hardware to get it
> to work properly. I don't see much of a black market for these drivers
> as they are only of value if you have bought the hardware. In any
> event, they become coasters within 6 months as I usually have to
> download new drivers for the "upgrades".
http://www.phoronix.com/?page=news_item&px=MTYy
,----[ Snippet ]
| ...If NVIDIA continues in their roughly 4 month/3 week Linux release
| cycle, we will also likely see yet another driver set coming in
| late April or early May...
`----
> Do the same for Linux. In fact, I have a driver disk for a NIC card I
> bought 6 months ago and it's got drivers for Win95,NT,ME,XP and Linux.
>
>>Of course, part of the problem might very well be support
>>overload; if Creative Labs techie types are so busy
>>debugging Windows problems (as opposed to actual hardware
>>issues and/or driver issues), they might not have the
>>bandwidth to release a Linux offering. OK, make that a
>>Nerfclue-by-4... :-)
All of these issues will be resolved if you buy a machine with Linux
pre-installed. With XGL, OpenGL support is a must and thus will be catered
for 'out of the box'.
> I'm sure if they released a buggy Linux version, they would soon be
> swamped with fixes for it. Maybe they don't want to look bad?
>
>>And Microsoft is not helping all that much by releasing --
>>what was it, 3? 4? -- driver models since 1995.
>>
>>But never mind that; Vista will Fix Everything(tm).
>>(Either that, or put everything in a fine fix.) And
>>with my luck it will introduce yet another driver model.
>
> You definitely count on that with Vista.
*LOL* @ "Vista will Fix Everything(tm)"
>>>> So you still have
>>>>to go and hunt for better drivers even with Ubuntu (or settle for less
>>>>functionality or performance).
>>>
>>> Linux distros are at a distinct disadvantage through no fault of their
>>> own when it comes to drivers for hardware. But, I expect great strides
>>> in this area within the next year as vendors get with the program.
>>> With Linux users on the upswing, they now have no choice. The writing
>>> is on the wall.
>>>
>>> BTW, I was able to get on the net, burn DVD/CD's, listen to my music
>>> files, use my camera and use my Lyra right after installing Ubuntu and
>>> automatix.
>>>
>>> With WinXP, I had to physically change NIC to get on the net, install
>>> third party DVD software, third party video drivers, third party
>>> camera drivers and third party MP3/video player stuff (lots). I hate
>>> Windows player. I don't have the computer resources and I'm not about
>>> to go out and buy more hardware.
>>
>>But...but...that'll totally crash the economy! You...you...Linux user
>>you! :-)
*LOL*
It all bogs down to philosophy and social-type analysis, I guess. With less
demand for new hardware, waste is reduced. Then again, how will the poor(er)
get unused hardware if all suits a certain purpose? The economic effect of
no hardware purchases can be balanced in a whole variety of ways. Society
had endured the process of automation and accepted the introduction of
Luddite (even outsourcing at present).
Look at us today. Rather than working in switch rooms, connecting people's
telephones; rather than doing production line jobs; rather than washing our
clothes one by one, we can finally just write some E-mails, push papers
around, play more games and engage in some sports.
> I guess I'm a socialist. I like to spread the wealth around a bit
> more. You don't get people pissed off as much when you do that. ;-)
We are a spoiled society. It ought to be changed. FOSS would be an excellent
start, which will make the (financial) entry barrier to computing vanish.
This will give equal opportunity to folks in third world countries. Rather
than toss some change at them (Gates) we can give them tools, which in turn
will enable them to innovate and help us too.
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | Useless fact: ~70% of organisms are bacteria
http://Schestowitz.com | SuSE Linux ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
7:25am up 22 days 21:10, 10 users, load average: 0.77, 0.56, 0.71
http://iuron.com - next generation of search paradigms
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