Wallet vote, but painfull [LWN.net]

Wallet vote, but painfull

Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:32 UTC (Thu) by eru (subscriber, #2753)
In reply to: Free Intel i965 graphics drivers released by danieldk
Parent article: Free Intel i965 graphics drivers released

Thanks! I will vote with my wallet.

As I am currently looking for a new home Linux system, I will also consider Intel-based systems with highest priority, even though in my corner of the world an all-Intel system seems to have an about $100 premium over an AMD system with comparable specs. (Some added cost also comes from my wanting to exclude anything with bundled Windows, which removes all supermarket discount offers from consideration...I can avoid Windows only with local "no-name" PC assemblers, or using the screwdriver myself).

I wonder if it might be worthwhile to send a note to Intel if and when I buy the system, noting my decision was based on their open source driver policy, and definitely not price? I mean, some positive feedback might encourage them to stick to this.

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Wallet vote, but painfull

Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:40 UTC (Thu) by Wol (guest, #4433) [Link]

If you send a note, make sure it goes to MARKETING, not tech.

Any feedback you give to any manufacturer, if it's stuff that affects your buying decision you send it to marketing. I've heard of a couple of campaigns where, even just *days* after people were asked to fax their receipts for competing goods to the victim's marketing department, the victim changed their policy VERY quickly.

Cheers,
Wol

Wallet vote, but painfull

Posted Aug 10, 2006 13:47 UTC (Thu) by pflugstad (subscriber, #224) [Link]

I will also consider Intel-based systems with highest priority, even though in my corner of the world an all-Intel system seems to have an about $100 premium over an AMD system with comparable specs.

I expect the introduction of the new Core 2 Duo's will change this equation a bit? And even so, $100 extra for fully free drivers, less hassle, etc - seems like a reasonable price to me...

Hey, NVidia/ATI - I planning to buy a new system in the next 3 months - I can guarantee you that it'll have Intel graphics on it because Intel has free (as in freedom) drivers and/or publishes their specs...