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On Sat, 2 Dec 2006 19:10:27 +0000 (UTC), Duncan wrote: |
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> Of course, here, I purposefully bought an ATI Radeon 9200 series |
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> graphics card since it has free drivers. I couldn't legally run |
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> slaveryware even if I wanted to, at least where EULAs are or could be |
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> considered legal, as I simply don't sign over the rights nearly all |
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> EULAs demand I sign over, viewing it much the same way I'd view an |
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> attempt to restrict my other basic rights, such as freedom of religion |
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> or freedom of expression. Until Nvidia has decent free drivers, they |
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> don't get my money, |
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There is no EULA that you *have* to agree to; Nvidia's installer |
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displays the licence, but has an option to skip this, so there is no |
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binding EULA. Nvidia's driver are free as in beer, but they are not open |
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source. This is because the code for some of the T&L stuff is licenced |
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from another company, and that licence doesn't allow Nvidia to distribute |
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the source. |
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That leaves Nvidia two choices, distribute closed source drivers for |
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Linux, or remove that code from the Linux drivers and have everyone |
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complain that the Linux drivers don't work as well as the Windows |
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drivers, don't work with some games (UT2004 was the one I was researching |
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when I found this out) and are another example of why Linux is inferior |
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to Windows. |
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I know which I'd prefer to have; this way the choice is mine. Choose |
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another make of card if you wish, but trying to influence people's |
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choices with such emotive phrases as "slaveryware" is uncalled for, |
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unless you work for Microsoft (or possibly Novell these days). |
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-- |
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Neil Bothwick |
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KPLA Klingon Radio : All glory, all the time! |
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