"Today, you can do everything you want with a Linux desktop, except play the latest games. Even there, Linux is catching up. So, why do only a handful of people run Linux instead of Windows? Here are my top-four reasons why Windows wins and Linux loses."
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Member since:2007-01-04
If they do, it is violating the distribution terms of the GPL. I'm quite sure that you cannot distribute GPL products with proprietary products if their intended purpose is to be used together.
This is why Kororaa Linux was forced to stop distributing their LiveCD with the NVIDIA and ATI drivers, and stop distributing all violating ISO images.
Member since:2006-01-09
This is partially correct. The GPL does not prevents one from shipping proprietary software together with GPLed stuff. You just cannot link against GPL software (libs) nor use GPL code on non-GPL software as the result would have to be also licensed under the GPL. Thatīs all.
Thatīs the reason that the Kororaa guys had to pull up their distro with AIGLX/XGL/Compiz/whatever enabled by default.
You can and in fact a few distros do ship propritary bits here and there.
Your previous post along these same lines was factually correct therefore I modded it up +1.
Member since:2006-12-15
[quote].....and the ATI driver is unusable.[/quote]
Not true at all.
Bugs, sure some,unusable,no!
Today also,most livecd distributions have graphical installers and one click installation of graphics card drivers.More and more are going this route to help those that want an easy fully functional desktop enviroment/OS that works.Some just do not want to learn how linux works,they just want to be able to do what they did in windows.
The easier Linux gets for these types of people,the more will flock to it.
Games is a major problem for the gamer types as well.
Member since:
2005-06-29
Actually they'll likely just make intel graphics a lot more popular with Linux users... Which is fine with me!
Or they'll push open graphics driver development, which is also fine. The Nvidia driver is ok, but it's still fairly buggy and the ATI driver is unusable.
And there are distributions that ship nvidia drivers.