In a change of heart, Novell has ceased distributing proprietary software modules such as 3D video drivers that plug into the Linux kernel. The change came with Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise Server 10, released in July. With the move, Novell is aligning itself with the Free Software Foundation, which shuns proprietary software in general but in particular loathes proprietary modules that run as a component of the open-source Linux kernel.
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Member since:2005-11-18
What are you trying to prove? Why should I have to round up all the drivers that might be proprietary BEFORE installing just because RMS doesn't like the idea of keeping them within reach or easily installable? Just do like ubuntu, asinine as it still may be IMO to do, and differentiate proprietary from free in software repos. If I need to go around getting drivers to make my hardware work, I might as well just go back to windows.
Member since:2006-03-17
> Just do like ubuntu, asinine as it still may be IMO to
> do, and differentiate proprietary from free in software
> repos.
This is exactly the wrong way. Ubuntu does exactly the wrong thing here.
Separating the drivers into their own repository is legally NOT an excuse. They are provided on Ubuntu webspace, so they are distributed by Ubuntu. The name of the FTP directory does NOT matter. Ubuntu becomes legally attackable this way. In other words, Ubuntu shares the legal risk with NVidia and ATI although NVidia and ATI should carry it alone.
> If I need to go around getting drivers to make my
> hardware work, I might as well just go back to windows.
Go ahead, nobody prevents you from doing that.
Member since:2005-07-07
What are you trying to prove?
Exactly what I said. On the other hand I don't know what you want.
Why should I have to round up all the drivers that might be proprietary BEFORE installing just because RMS doesn't like the idea of keeping them within reach or easily installable?
Not RMS. GPL. And GPL is the license GNU/Linux is under
Just do like ubuntu, asinine as it still may be IMO to do, and differentiate proprietary from free in software repos.
When did I said that it shouldn't be like that. This is EXACTLY how it is supposed to be. Clean shipping version with trash excluded to a place which is easy accessible. But at least shipping version has to be clean.
Fedora has livna. Ubuntu has multiverse (although I have doubts about multiverse as part of ubuntu). Yes, I like that. But shipping versions already contaminated, NO THANKS.
If I need to go around getting drivers to make my hardware work, I might as well just go back to windows.
Not saying that, but if you demand on distro proprietary drivers maybe you should consider OpenSolaris or BSD. Both are under closed driver friendly license.
btw. This rather sad, you would rather see all people (a lot prefer free and clean) get windows like os, than install drivers.
/*PERSONAL*/
My only non-free piece of hw is NVidia (and even this one as proprietary only where I really need it), but as soon as first open spec graphic card pops out NVidia is history for me. I like NVidia, but I like open even more.
Edited 2006-08-01 19:44
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Member since:
2005-07-07
Give me a break. They didn't only removed 3D drivers, but also NETWORK drivers.
So? If you've bought your machine against HCL, yours weren't removed.
And yes, I DO want to run any driver that makes my hardware WORK. I don't give a flying monkey if it's open or closed.
Nobody is banning you to post install those.
And while some of you don't give a flying monkey about what kind of drivers you use, some of us do.
btw. Don't you think it is easier to add drivers than to remove? So this is completely right, ship clean so users like you can trash your OS and some have clean. Why would everybody have trashed and unclean system just for a few users like you?