Nvidia is in a really bad spot

Think back several months. Everyone looked forward to leaked Nvidia
drivers, hoping for some additional improvements. If new drivers gave
an extra 100-200 points in 3DMark2001, everyone jumped for joy and
lauded the Nvidia driver development team as geniuses. Usenet and fan
sites were all gaga over the brilliance of the Nvidia software
developers. It was common knowledge that the big difference in Nvidia
and ATI was driver quality, with the hands-down nod given to Nvidia.

Now, any improvements in Nvidia drivers are seen as cheats? I'll be
damned if I can see how Nvidia is going to get out from under this
recent stigma. What were once seen as a brilliant team of developers
is now perceived as a bunch of cheaters. The truth is somewhere in
the middle, but the online press only sees the extremes. Perception
is everything. Nvidia is in deep ****.

I'm not saying that Nvidia didn't bring this upon themselves. What I
am saying is that it is amazing to see the 180 degree perception
switch as pertains to Nvidia's driver development team. From gods to
scoundrels so quickly......