Intel to cut Linux out of the content market (Inquirer)

Posted Jul 17, 2005 19:57 UTC (Sun) by mmarq (guest, #2332) [Link]

I've the almost the same responsabilitys. I recommend AMD because for many tasks it is already a superior CPU. But boycoting Intel wont do the trick, because the *REAL* lock would be a CPU+chipset+BIOS work.

For years that the Linux/FOSS should have approached the more general hardware industry probably with some kind of "split driver model" (me again) that would cut the fear and avoid the patent ridlled hardare designs of general hardware industry( meaning Nvidia,VIA,SiS,ATI,Creative,...), and launch the possibility of having an evolving Linux/FOSS hardware platform with an Open/Linux BIOS.

But no, the approach was always that harware should bend over, and many with responsabilitys in many projects embraced the campaing! (wonder if those call RMS a zealot?!!) because they feel save in the intensive feature competition of the *if not moribund certainly each time more niched* Big Iron server arena.

In justice it must be said that most of those "hardware should bend over" evangelists, of whom the world must be thankfully for their geniality and altruism, were/are employed by big vendors apparatus that had long time established Linux/FOSS in server, M$ on Desktop & Ubber tier small server, with many *Linux not ready for Desktop* campaigns launched, and now Microsoft wants to make friends(who needs enemys?);... so even if those wanted to do something they have their hands tied. There is no hipocrisy in here or a harsh bashing, only the constatation of facts.

DELL tryed to create some slack by presenting DKMS for the most important FOSS project the Linux kernel. It could(*SHOULD*) have turned into the default module management system, but even that will not do the trick because there is no consistent HAL or HALs, or APIs at each subsystem level or any other interface(not necessarly ABI imperative) differentiating a kernel tree from the *out of kernel tree non derivative modules*; that is, if 'Hardware Device Drivers' specific modules are Open or Closed source in nature should make no difference because either way they can't be considered derivative works;... but even if there were i´m convinced that the *apparatus* would try to severely downplay it.

The official kernel policy is in favor of that "no API" tye, because they lack the vision of common Joe user needs and mentality, and honestly belived they could educate the world in the ways of the better suited hacker developer approach, and so no need for any API compliance since it in fact gets in the way of *FAST & FURIOUS* open source development methods. But true is that common Joe dosen't even want to ear about source code and angers at those that try to enlight them.

The *bad thing* is that *WITHOUT* some critical adoption mass, and for that the desktop and the common Joe behind it are crucial, even Big Iron server is at danger because the DRM lock will be in control from the desktop place, impeaching to collaborate with any server that they dont want to. So Microsoft is approaching the 'Big Vendor'-Unix/Linux/Server/CPU /Others: hey! lets make friends!... our servers for big tasks is a crap(doubt they ever be honest, but anyway...), you can have the market that you already have, you'll have better profits dealling with our insecure desktops since services are central to Linux/FOSS and yours business models, you can also have more profits with a DRM protected web service paradigma;... so jump on our bandwagon, and help us cut the air of the fanatic Linux/FOSS Desktop people that are threatening our business model and *REALLY* competing with us in a market that you are not??!!!...

Of course i'm speculating above, but the scenario fits to the milimeter with the reality, at least the reality i perceive... and Intel seems to be the Big first to jump on it!

Nothing is lost,.. because if at first i also belived that a kernel with a superior hardware detecting mechanism, should have all 'Hardware Device Drivers' completly integrated, because that could simplify insertion and changing and be better suited for even the dumbest common Joe user, the simple fact that the 2 most important Hardware Manufactors Nvidia and ATI wont comply is reason enough to abandon that approach for something more fited, since Graphics are the most crucial piece of any Desktop you could think of!... and though the sympathy and thankfulness we all have for "benevolent dictators" and many many others, the reality is that the Linux kernel is probably the most forked software project ever!... only misses some fork that will not have a "no API compliance what so ever" complex, and a serious try to work togheter with graphic vendors, to start to make Microsoft eat some seriuos dust there in the back.