Is Linux still picky about hardware?

[LCTSI]

You've stated before that GPL compatibility was important. Obviously you're fine with nVidia's code license, but what other GPL breaches do you feel are acceptable, and under what circumstances?

 

[Nothinman]

You've stated before that GPL compatibility was important. Obviously you're fine with nVidia's code license, but what other GPL breaches do you feel are acceptable, and under what circumstances?

Of course it's important, but it's not an all or nothing prospect and non-free software is a necessary evil right now. I'm not happy with their choice to keep the majority of their driver closed, but their driver provides enough features and usability differences that I'm willing to make that sacrifice right now. If nv/nouveau actually provided hardware acceleration, proper PM support, easy hot adding/removal of monitors, etc I would use them without hesitation but AFAIK they don't or don't well enough to be used 100% of the time. ZFS doesn't really provide anything over ZFS, LVM and md that I find worth the tradeoff.

 

[LCTSI]

Ah. You're less of a fanatic than I had assumed.

Are there any web sites you won't visit because of their use of closed source code? For instance, this forum uses non-GPL code, while phpBB is licensed under the GPL.

 

[lxskllr]

Imo, strict libre software use is the idealized state. I don't fault RMS for his stance, but I'm not willing to go that far at this time. I'm more particular about core data manipulation than I am with extraneous stuff like web browsers. In other words, my email client MUST be libre, but I'm fine with using Opera on occasion as my browser. Nvidea proprietary drivers are ok because I can fall back to nouveau. They may not work as well, but they do work, and I can get stuff done.

I think the FSF takes a hardline stance to combat apathy. When people say "Fsck it, closed source works well enough", development slows down, and is less likely to start in the first place. If that apathy continues for too long, you lose everything you've already got.

 

[Nothinman]

Ah. You're less of a fanatic than I had assumed.

Are there any web sites you won't visit because of their use of closed source code? For instance, this forum uses non-GPL code, while phpBB is licensed under the GPL.

No, I have no control over what they do to produce their content so if I did that then I wouldn't be able to use the Internet. The Windstream router I'm posting through also appears to be Linux-based, however I don't think I have access to the source since I don't own the router. I don't have access to the source of the firmware or design docs for the laptop I'm typing on either, but I use it.

Ideally, all of that would be openly available to everyone but that's not the case. So practicality means that we have to deal with some level of non-free software.

 

[VinDSL]

But does it get you effective hardware acceleration and power management?

Hardware acceleration: Hot off the press...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTA1Mzk

Power management: I doubt it.

Thing is, Nouveau used to look like grunt!

Last year, I accidentally uninstalled my nVidia drivers and it defaulted to Nouveau for several hours before I noticed any differences (which is a good thing).

Primarily, I noticed that my rig was using a LOT less CPU cycles, and the vid card was running a little warmer than normal.

Anyway, I could live with Nouvea drivers, as they stand. I couldn't say that a year or two ago.

 

[Jodell88]

Hardware acceleration: Hot off the press...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTA1Mzk

That's not hardware acceleration, that's gpgpu compute capability. It's completely different.

In this link you can clearly see that the opensource drivers cannot hold a candle to the closed source drivers. If the open sourced drivers were close to the performance of the closed source I'll use them. However, I currently don't see why you should gimp your hardware by using open source drivers at this time.

 

[VinDSL]

I just did [...] bumblebee.

I went to play a game that enabled my nvidia card. It crashed hard.

I currently don't see why you should gimp your hardware by using open source drivers at this time.

SOURCE: http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers

None of the free drivers fully support 3D acceleration, though the Nouveau drivers have some 3D acceleration. Only the non-free nvidia drivers support full 3D acceleration, but they are more complex and X is more likely to break, you're reliant on nvidia to fix bugs. If X breaks and it seems difficult to get X to work with the non-free nvidia drivers, remember that switching back to a free driver should get X working again.

 

[Nothinman]

SOURCE: http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers

So the answer is no and it contains this little tidbit still:

In addition to vesa and nv, Debian contains the Nouveau drivers starting with squeeze. The Nouveau drivers are reverse-engineered and for NVIDIA cards. These drivers are experimental and not recommended, unless you are having issues with the nv driver and don't want to use the nvidia drivers.

 

[VinDSL]

Exciting stuff, huh?!?!? LoL!

 

[smakme7757]

I've always used Debian, but my latest laptop works awefully on it (HD3000 and Braodcom 4313) unless i jump on kernel 3.1, so i just moved to Ubuntu 11.10- problem solved. The only thing not working is PEAP with my wifi card (ended up using a USB wifi dongle which fixed that)

 

[janas19]

Hey guys, nice thread! I just started getting into a Linux system, so I am a newbie

Riddle me this: Ubuntu is built upon Debian, correct?

 

[smakme7757]

Hey guys, nice thread! I just started getting into a Linux system, so I am a newbie

Riddle me this: Ubuntu is built upon Debian, correct?

Ubuntu and Debian are closely related.

Ubuntu builds on the foundations of Debian's architecture and infrastructure, but has a different community and release process.

About Debian

Debian is 'the rock upon which Ubuntu is built'.
Debian is a volunteer project that works on developing a GNU/Linux operating system. The Debian project began more than a decade ago and has since grown to comprise more than 1,000 members with official developer status, and many more volunteers and contributors. It has expanded to encompass over 20,000 'packages' of free and open-source applications and documentation.

About Ubuntu

Ubuntu provides a system based on Debian with frequent, regular releases and a consistent desktop interface. It is backed by Canonical's commercial services and support on both the desktop and the server. It releases critical bug fixes and is never more than six months away from the latest version of anything in the open-source world.
Learn more about how Debian and Ubuntu fit together.

http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/ubuntu-and-debian

 

[janas19]

http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/ubuntu-and-debian

Wow. Didn't realize that Ubuntu was directed by Canonical, Ltd. Hmmm. And Debian has 1,000 official developers? Neat!