This is wonderful news

Posted Sep 29, 2007 21:25 UTC (Sat) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link]

The difference between Linux vs Windows (or if you prefer oss vs closed) is that users for Linux can solve problems while users for Windows pay Microsoft to maybe solve problems.

But in this case it's a bit different. It's not for free, Novell is paying Gregkh to work on it full time.

Novell isn't doing it for free also. People pay them for Linux support, they are trying to make linux more supportable and thus increase their market.

And the manufacturers are not doing it for free either. They have to pay people, during the work day, to draw up documentation and to work with Gregkh to develop drivers. Just because they aren't paying for the programming doesn't mean it doesn't cost them money.

And Linux end users aren't benifiting from it for free either. In order to use the drivers they have to go out and pay for the hardware. They have to spend time installing linux. The time may not cost money, per say, but time is a cost (and a much much reduced cost compared to dealing with Linux just 2 years ago) in itself since it's being extracted from people's lifetimes.

The ultimate end result though, through self-interest, is that everybody benefits. These small costs/sacrifices are going to, hopefully, provide a whole host of very positive benefits for everybody involved at a significantly reduced price compared to the alternatives. It'll increase the quality of software, quality of life (in it's own way), and profits ($$$) for everybody involved. And it's still going to be Free. :)