nVidia drivers and TV-OUT
Sam Varshavchik
mrsam at courier-mta.com
Sun Apr 29 13:40:42 UTC 2007
Andrew writes:
> On Sat, 2007-04-28 at 23:13 -0400, Sam Varshavchik wrote:
>>
>> If you want to run closed, non-free binary software, there are plenty of
>> other operating systems you can choose, which will give you as many non-free
>> binary blobs as you wish. But that's not what Linux is all about.
>>
>> > They provide linux drivers for free (and have for years)
>>
>> Only for one specific definition of "free".
>
> What are nVidia taking?
Your money.
> They are giving everything necessary to use their cards on Linux
> but not have to pay money for the drivers.
You certainly paid something for their hardware.
> How are they asking you to make your software non-free?
That's not what I said. That's a fairly-well constructed strawman you've
just built.
> Got a copy of that email from them?
> ... And yes I know what your answer is going to be ...
Ok, then you should've saved me the trouble of posting it.
> should I already rebut it?
Knock yourself out.
> You think that since their software cannot be included in a
> 'your definition free' distribution that it matters?
> Why?
Because it does.
> We all have definitions of free.
Yes, and there's two of them, in the English language. Much of the
confusion stems from merging the synonyms for "liberty", and "without cost",
into a single word. This unfortunate historical accident must be blamed for
causing constant confusion, on the part of simple-minded folks, ever since.
But, other languages managed to evolve past that point; hopefully, some day,
the King's English will do as well.
> RedHat linux ... is that free?
Yup.
> No - you must pay for it and they claim copyright over it and
> also consider it a violation of their agreement to have their
> distribution without paying money for it.
You don't know what you're talking about. Look up. See there? High up in
the sky? Way above your head? It's a big, honking clue, and it's called
"CentOS".
> That's not free either in the 'money' definition of the word.
That's more free than Nvidia's definition of free.
>> > - better than many companies ...
>>
>> I wouldn't say that.
>
> Why?
Because.
> There are many companies who do not ever offer linux drivers,
> nor support developers to produce them.
They don't need to offer a Linux driver for their USB mouse.
Just to join _that_ thread into this one, for efficiency's sake.
>> > Do you provide the linux community with something as good as they
>> > do that is used by so many people for free? ...
>>
>> I would give a ballpark estimate of around million people worldwide who are
>> using my free software. I don't know how that stacks up to the Nvidia's fan
>> club.
>
> You think courier mail is that popular?
> I have no idea :P
Well, you can begin with imap.spamcop.net, as a starting point, and go from
there.
>> > Reading your comment seems to be very critical of nVidia.
>> > Though, of course, I could have read your comment wrong ...
>>
>> Nope, you've got it pretty much nailed.
>
> Meh - feel free to reply once more - but I shall not continue this
> since it has been debated before.
Come 'ere, and I'll bite ya kneecaps off!
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