[NMLUG] Re: Better than Knoppix

[NeoSadist]

>> Nvidia proprietary (but free) driver, and a LOT of us - and probably a
>> lot of Gateways - have Nvidia video cards. The XFree-provided "nv"
>No disagreement here.  However, I always had a problem with nVidia's
>proprietary drivers.  Free or not.  They violate the spirit of the Open
>Source agreements (in my opinion).  Furthermore, for reasons of
>practicality, I didn't want to be downloading drivers when I had kernel
>updates or new OS releases.

WHAT?!  They don't violate the spirit of the Open Souce movement for
several reasons:

1) They're not really open source to begin with (DUH, they're binaries).
So your statement already makes no sense and is invalid.  Sorry, but
that comment offended me.
2) nVidia is putting out the driver to support Linux, so you should be
at least a little more grateful.
3) nVidia won't put out the source code for fear of someone gaining
knowledge of trade secrets regarding their hardware.  I don't blame
them.  If the playing field of hardware were equal, then there'd be
no reason to compete with each other.

I'm not against binaries for drivers.  Also, in my opinion, you can use
the open source generic nvidia drivers if you want. But anyways, I 
have no problem with binary drivers, so long as if they want them
formally included with the kernel, that they provide the following:

1) Linus Torvaldes with the source code (for his eyes only)
2) A team of at least two dedicated programmers for the modules
to work with and under the supervision of Linus.

But the kernel belongs to Linus, and you should read his opinion
on this subject.  You might find it interesting.

-- 
" ... and are endowed by their CREATOR
with certain unalienable rights ... "
-- Thomas Jefferson