GNU/Linux World Domination for the Wrong Reasons (Datamation) [LWN.net]

GNU/Linux World Domination for the Wrong Reasons (Datamation)

Posted Mar 13, 2008 7:01 UTC (Thu) by Darkwing (guest, #51043)
Parent article: GNU/Linux World Domination for the Wrong Reasons (Datamation)

In many ways I agree with Byfield that the fight for Linux/GNU should be for free software (as
in free speech). However, I often wonder how the fact that I'm using nVidia's driver is
hurting that fight? I could use the open/free driver but as I see it the only consequence of
that would be that I wouldn't be able to run certain 3D application. No winners and one looser
(me). I don't have the technical skills to modify and improve the open/free driver so from my
point of view it doesn't really matter which driver I'm using with regard to the progress of
free software.

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GNU/Linux World Domination for the Wrong Reasons (Datamation)

Posted Mar 14, 2008 9:16 UTC (Fri) by ekj (subscriber, #1524) [Link]

It hurts indirectly.

If running 3D-applications has importance to you, and you can't do that using Nvidia and free
drivers, you're sligthly more likely to -not- buy Nvidia graphics-cards the next time around.

If the lack of free drivers impact sales negatively for Nvidia, or conversely; if the
availability of free drivers impact sales positively for their more open competitors, this
provides market-pressure in the direction of more free drivers.

If you use the proprietary driver, you're also less likely to contribute to the free driver in
ways other than coding; say by testing it, by contributing bug-reports or similar. If the
proprietary solution works well enough for your daily needs, you're less likely to spend time
and energy on alternatives.