Ouch!Nvidia does not seem to want to support the open source community.
I'd say nvidia have been bending over backwards to support us, and they get nothing but grief for it...
I have to agree. Nvidia is certainly supporting the Open Source community by writing drivers for their hardware, and they are apparently doing a very good job. Allowing Linux users to use Nvidia hardware, and allowing people with Nvidia hardware to choose Linux, is the FIRST, FOREMOST, and MOST IMPORTANT way they can support all of us.
It is their choice, and a valid one, to keep their drivers closed. Whether they are simply taking "baby steps" or whether there is code in their drivers which they believe provides them with a key competitive advantage, they are not doing anything wrong by supplying binary-only drivers.
Yes, they could provide even more support to the open source community by opening up their drivers, but perhaps the cost of doing so is not reasonable or acceptable to them. We have a long way to go before Linux can truly be a strong contender against Windows on the desktop, and Nvidia is certainly helping us to have access to more hardware and more users.
Let none of us dismiss or diminish anyone simply because they do not share 100% of our ideals. The fact that they choose to help us further our goals should be enough to thank them, at least. Later on, they may be convinced to open-source their code, but they (and most other companies) will surely be repelled by an "all or nothing" attitude that says "our way or the highway".
My heartfelt thanks to NVIDIA AND ANYONE who supports Linux IN ANY WAY.
-- Rodolfo J. Paiz rpaiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
