[Open-graphics] Vision statement still not satisfying

[Lionel Bouton]

Nicolas Capens wrote the following on 12/10/04 21:50 :

>
>> From what I see, their policy seems to make sure that x86 users with 
>> kernels found in most popular distributions can use their hardware. 
>> It leaves people with kernel-patches providing features for 
>> (relatively) small communities behind (check swsusp for example).
>
>
> People who choose to be a minority will always be left behind. If I 
> become a serial killer tomorrow I hope you're not going to put that 
> much energy in supporting me...
>
> What does swsusp has to do with this? Suspending your laptop is a 
> major feature, not something for small communities.
>

Seems Nvidia doesn't share your opinion, ACPI support has been promised 
for a *long* time in each of their driver release...

>> This is the major problem the open-graphics project will solve : no 
>> one should be left behind because he/she wants to use some nifty new 
>> feature the hardware manufacturer doesn't want to support (or because 
>> the manufacturer goes bankrupt). From my point of view this is mainly 
>> a project for people wanting to free themselves from proprietary 
>> drivers.
>
>
> Yes, that's what I've come to conclude as well over the last few 
> weeks. The idea isn't bad at all, the goals achieved this way are 
> however so minimal that...
>
> ...hey I thought this was about improving the world, not fulfilling a 
> handful of people's fantasies?
>

As always it's a matter of perspective. For Nvidia, making swsusp work 
seems to be fulfilling a handful of people's fantasies. But this 
"handful of people" are a good chunk of the Linux users and for them 
this project is all about improving the world they live in.
"Freeing" the drivers is bringing all the people more freedom to use 
their hardware as they see fit. For some people it will only bring 
superficial benefits, for others it can enable a whole range of new 
possibilities. In the current 3D OSS market, the latter will probably be 
the most common case.

Timothy, did you think of a mobile version of the chip ? As it was 
stated before it will be targeted for passive cooling, it could attract 
the attention of some Linux oriented notebook resellers and maybe the 
market size could justify a motherboard design with this chip...

Lionel.