nVidia OK for 2D [LWN.net]

nVidia OK for 2D

Posted Sep 10, 2007 2:54 UTC (Mon) by mdomsch (subscriber, #5920)
In reply to: nVidia OK for 2D by bfields
Parent article: LCE: Linux, hardware vendors, and enterprise distributors

In fact, yes, we do carefully choose what hardware to sell in systems sold with Linux. Free drivers make it easier to develop, test, debug, and fix than non-free drivers. We intentionally made sure that Intel video chips, with their completely free drivers, are available in all the systems told, though one can choose to buy the nVidia cards if you wish. Likewise for wireless - we include the Intel wireless solutions in the notebooks because of their excellent support of open source drivers. The only closed-source driver provided is for the modem in the notebooks, which is present though relatively few people use modems any more.

See http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Ubuntu_7.04 for technical details on Dell's offerings.

Thanks,
Matt
Dell Linux Technology Strategist, Office of the CTO

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nVidia OK for 2D

Posted Sep 10, 2007 16:39 UTC (Mon) by bfields (subscriber, #19510) [Link]

We intentionally made sure that Intel video chips, with their completely free drivers, are available in all the systems told, though one can choose to buy the nVidia cards if you wish.

That's not what the ordering system says: I go to dell.com, choose "home and home office", then "open source pc's", and "shop for ubuntu" (from the "Helpful Links" sidebar on the left), and I get this page. The two desktops listed are "Inspiron Desktop 530 N" and "XPS 410N". The 530N gives a choice of "128MB NVIDIA GeForce 8300GS" or "256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT-DDR3". The 410N only offers the former.

If that's a mistake, I'm happy to hear it! Let me know how to order one with the Intel hardware....

nVidia OK for 2D

Posted Sep 18, 2007 2:52 UTC (Tue) by mdomsch (subscriber, #5920) [Link]

I need to post a correction. I was mistaken about the XPS 410n, it does only come with nVidia graphics, not Intel as I believed.

As for the Inspiron 530n, Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty doesn't have drivers for the Intel 82G33/G31 Express Intel Graphics Controller that is available in that system with Windows; so for the current product offering with Feisty we had to restrict (meaning not sell) that controller when sold with Ubuntu; Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy is expected to have those drivers. We'll revisit the list of supportable hardware if/when we announce plans to deliver Gutsy.

I apologize for the confusion my earlier comment caused.
-Matt