Linux user: please support hardware vendors whith good Linux suppor.

This is a repost: Original post on alt.os.linux.suse
Subject: SUSE 10.0 NVIDIA: how to enable 3D -- temporary conclusions --
==
I think the Linux support on Nvidia, is at best poor: hard to install, often
instable.

Also the Nvidia Linux drivers distribution model is unacceptable: I still
consider that when I purchase a computer peripheral for Linux, then I
should be able to use clean open source drivers for it.

I have purchased several NVIDIA cards, but unless NVIDIA wakes up and
provides a good alternative to the current situation... which has lasted a
long time, I will try ATI (or other video cards/chip vendor) in the future,
hoping that the situation is better there. (Not sure).

It is interesting to note that often new vendors establish a solid presence
in the Linux (and other open source)by providing what is missing.
I am wondering how many Laser printers did sell on the Linux market...
because others printers vendors had poor linux support.
My guess is "a lot ".

note: freely providing the technical product specification, API (application
programming interface) specification is what the open source guys need to
write device drivers.
Reverse engineering is possible, of course... but painful.
==
AnonymousFC4 wrote:

Hello:
boy, did I strike a cord with this posting !

my conclusions:

1) Other people seem to have similar issue, so it is real.

2) Since I downgraded the kernel, (to 2.6.13.5) I did not have a single
crash crash... and they where very frequent.
I did not enable 3D (but I did with SUSE 10 RC3 and had zero problems!

3) The kernel 2.6.13.5.7 may be OK but combined with the NVIDIA driver
there is a visible problem! Since we do not have access to the source code
of the driver, proper identitification is possible, but trickier.

4) I mildly disagree with the accusations of SUSE being lower quality,
SUSE 10.0 is overall excellent... but I would agree and reiterate that
SUSE/NOVELL should more focused on quality and testing, than only eyes
candy and marketing driven cosmetics "a la Microsoft".

Linux is supposed to be about substance, and the distro vendors will do
well to add value to Linux the smart way: add what is missing... like the
RPM manager (Red-Hat) or YAST (SUSE)... or trainings, documentation that
the hobbyists developing Linux don't care for.

5) The new business model (Open SUSE)is a good one, similar to Fedora, but
it fails on one point: proper integration and test of NON-GPL software
like NVIDIA device drivers, etc...

This should be easy to fix if SUSE does the proper "lobbying" to test and
release candidate of SUSE Linux, WITH THE INCLUSION of the non-gpl stuff!.
This includes ACROREAD, MP3 modules, etc....
Also large companies like NVIDIA could allow propre creations of distro
specific RPM's by releasing the "building blocks" even in some compiled
form, they also should amend their user's license to allow free
distribution!

We (users) should vote with our wallet by preferrately purchasing hardware
(here video cards) with open source software drivers...
How will NVIDIA, ATI and chip vendors achieve this? This is up to them!
There are many possible options.

6) The RTFM claim made here, by one posting has some validity... and some
sillyness in it: if I wanted to get in this mode, why should I use SUSE,
or RedHat, I will rather go Debian or derivatives (UBUNTU, possibly).

I have chosen SUSE Linux because I want to be user, not a hacker: my
expectation with it being a Linux Distro well documented, and simple to
use/update.
I would expect SUSE/NOVEL to make money by selling packages (less and
less), but books, training, and sopport.

7) The kids are still nagging...
At some point the kids will grow up and contribute, I am sure.

Thanks for all the posting, and contributions...
AFC4
====================
Roy L. Fuchs wrote:
On Sun, 25 Dec 2005 06:35:09 GMT, Andreas Gave
us: Roy L. Fuchs escribe:
If YOU would learn to READ the SUSE Linux Install HOW-TO on the
NVIDIA website, you would LEARN that the problem is YOU.
YOU as in [Y]ast [O]nline [u]pdate?
Wrong. "YOU" as in the person that posted the supposed "problem".