Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 18:04:18 -0800 (PST) From: Matthew Dillon <dillon@apollo.backplane.com> To: Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com> Cc: Joe O <joeo@cracktown.com>, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Another EPIA M 9000 update (was Re: More compartive power/performanceresults (was Re: Lower power SMP boxes?)) Message-ID: <200302110204.h1B24IUD027279@apollo.backplane.com> References: <20030210120212.G47233-100000@clubfoot.cracktown.com> <200302102042.h1AKghcu023195@apollo.backplane.com> <3E4855B5.F8C90526@mindspring.com>
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:Matthew Dillon wrote:
:> The "vga" driver works in low resolution modes. The "vesa" driver
:> does not work. Via has a linux driver on their CD for X, called "via",
:> which linux people seem to be using successfully, but I can't find
:> sources anywhere. I don't understand why these companies don't just
:> include sources for their X drivers, it would make life so much easier.
:
:The do not because then people could leverage their work by
:building hardware which does not license anything from them,
:but operates compatably. The same reason Adaptec developed
:their "HIM" layer, to prevent people from using Adaptec SCSI
:drivers with non-Adaptec hardware, and getting all the work
:they did to get the driver into the Windows base OS, for free.
:
:Basically, it's done to amortize non-recurring non-developement
:related collateral business costs.
:
:Or, if you're Diamond, it's done because you hired an EE to
:do your firmware instead of a software engineer, and a third
:party driver could cause your hardware or an external monitor
:to explode. 8-).
:
:-- Terry
This doesn't make any sense to me. There are a huge number of
open-source drivers available, why would a third party want to
"steal" the hardware layer to VIA's hardware just to emulate it?
Why not some other hardware abstraction that is already available
in open-source form? From a business perspective I just don't
see how this could possibly effect VIA's bottom line. It isn't
rocket science we're talking about here, it's a sodding frame
buffer.
-Matt
Matthew Dillon
<dillon@backplane.com>
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