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Message-ID: <3E1A1A2C.2000409@walrond.org>
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 00:07:08 +0000
From: Andrew Walrond <andrew@walrond.org>
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To: Matthias Andree <matthias.andree@gmx.de>
CC: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: Re: Honest does not pay here ...
References: <200301041809.KAA06893@adam.yggdrasil.com> <avaa2r$ggr$1@forge.intermeta.de> <3E18B76B.8050803@cox.net> <avae9i$gv1$1@forge.intermeta.de> <3E18CC4D.1020604@cox.net> <20030106234116.GH10752@merlin.emma.line.org>
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Matthias Andree wrote:
> On Sun, 05 Jan 2003, David van Hoose wrote:
> 
> 
>>The impression I am getting from the GPL argument is that people want 
>>100% opensource drivers. Well, to be frank, I'd rather have a driver 
>>that isn't 100% opensource to no driver at all. I think most everyone on 
>>this mailing list agrees. If not, I'd like to know why.
> 
> 
> You're at the author's mercy if you need to upgrade your kernel or if
> the driver doesn't work for you. I'd rather know before buying a product
> (modem, GFX board, ...) if there's either non-NDA'd documentation or
> better an OpenSource driver or at least support for such.
> 

Fine for us developers, but 99.5% of users wouldn't recognise a c 
function if it jumped up and bit them on the ass. If it doesn't say 
"linux supported" on the box, they won't buy it. Google? Source Forge? 
./configure? WTFIT?. Where is their freedom?

Until the manufacturers start providing good quality supported drivers 
for their hardware, binary or source, linux will stay exactly where it 
is now; a server room tool and a hobbyists playground.

I for one think thats a real shame

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