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Binary-only modules not to be banned - this timeBinary-only modules not to be banned - this timePosted Dec 14, 2006 22:01 UTC (Thu) by michaeljt (subscriber, #39183)Parent article: Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time
See this page - https://launchpad.net/bounties/free-nvidia-drivers - for
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Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 0:18 UTC (Fri) by lamikr (guest, #2289) [Link] What was the status for Intel's free video 3D drivers that were announcedsome time ago. Are they really gpl, I remember reading something about big binary blob? And even more important, is it possible to buy a core 2 duo laptop with those Intel graphics cards?
Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:10 UTC (Fri) by Arker (guest, #14205) [Link] It's a mix of GPL and MIT (GPL compatible) licensing, and yes, there are several laptops for sale using that video set, and several with the coreduo CPU and intel video:
- the Apple MacBook
and, I'm sure, many more. I didn't want to spend too much time hunting them down for you, I'm sure you can figure out how to use google too.
The key is just to search, and make sure you know exactly what you're buying. Different laptops are often given the same or confusingly similar names.
Emperorlinux.com, linuxlaptops.org, and linuxquestions.org may be useful in the search.
Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 3:24 UTC (Fri) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link] Goto system76.com and get one for intel onboard chipset. They are pretty good.
I am not sure about the wifi if it's one that requires the intel 'regulator' binary blob or not. It would be nice to avoid that.
A couple notes on the Intel stuff to keep in mind:
There was a small binary blob for the Intel driver, but it doesn't affect the operation of the driver if you use it. Basicly it's for things like 'Macrovision' content protection and such, you can safely ignore it and I don't think anybody is shipping it.
Also another downside is that Intel only makes the documentation aviable under NDA, which limits what people can do to fix problems.
This is unfortunate, but it is still much better then what we get from either ATI or Nvidia.
Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 10:59 UTC (Fri) by Arker (guest, #14205) [Link] Nice tip, thanks.
Do you know who actually manufactures their laptops?
Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 11:25 UTC (Fri) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link] I would hazard a guess that Quantas would, or maybe Asus.
I haven't owned one, but they are pretty cool abotu things in interviews that I've heard. Even though they ship nvidia binaries I don't think it can be held against them. Consumer demand and all that.
Even they go so far as to try to help out developing open source drivers for their unsupported hardware, such as the onboard camera.
Their support seems good. A year. Then they have a 'Ubuntu driver' which they maintain that has the drivers that aren't aviable in the default Ubuntu kernel that their hardware may need. They seem to just stick it all in one big deb file you can install.
On the TLLTS they interviewed one of the developers on Show #163. So you may want to listen to that first and make your own opinion.
On show #171 one of the show hosts ended up actually buying one of the laptops. I am listenning to that right now so I don't know how it went yet.
they even have ogg feeds. (makes me happy)
Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 12:00 UTC (Fri) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link] Actually I was googling around for it and appears that System76 is ASUS-based laptop.
Which sounds good for me. I have a couple Asus things and I've liked them so far.
Keep in mind that there are 'ODM's vs 'OEM'.
ODM are the people that manufacture the actual device..
Dell, HP, System76 (or at least the people they work through), Apple, Leveno are all 'OEM's.
ODM are places like Asus, Quanta, and Compal.
I think that Quanta is the biggest one. (for instance I beleive they make Apple's stuff)
Asus is nice because you can buy a barebones stuff directly from them, but it's a bit difficult as there is no standardization. For instance DVD drive of one type may not fit into a laptop and it's difficult to figure out what works before you buy it.
Tuxmobil has a partial matrix of relationships between OEM and ODM.
Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 7:48 UTC (Fri) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link] I have found tuxmobil.org to be fairly useful, for used laptops at least.
Binary-only modules not to be banned - this time Posted Dec 15, 2006 9:42 UTC (Fri) by Arker (guest, #14205) [Link] Linuxlaptops.org and tuxmobil.org appear to be the same site.
R-cubed is another supplier of pre-installed Linux laptops Posted Dec 15, 2006 17:34 UTC (Fri) by ofeeley (subscriber, #36105) [Link] R-cubed sell a Core 2 Duo laptop with the Intel 945GM chipsethttp://www.shoprcubed.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GW1460&...
January's Linux Journal has a very postitive review of R-cubed's (Pentium-M 760, 915G) LS1250 machine.
The base machine seems to be an Asus Z33Ae.
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